JR 137

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Congratulations! Still my favorite screen name here

Interesting JR, I'm diggin that Gi jacket!!!!! Yeah, kind of like a hakama jacket.

Mas Oyama most likely learned Sanchin from Gogen Yamaguchi and/or Nei-Chu So (Goju Kai). People love to say Oyama trained under Chojun Miyagi, but I’m pretty sure it was minimal; as in when Miyagi visited Yamaguchi’s and/or So’s dojo. I’m pretty sure he learned all Goju kata from them two. Oyama did exaggerate the movements iIn Sanchin a bit, like he did with practically every kata he taught. Yamaguchi performing Sanchin: Yamaguchi performing Sanchin then Tensho before Sanchin ends (notice the breathing):

Outside the dojo, I train in whatever is my current workout shoe. Typically an older pair of sneakers that have been replaced by a new pair. Several reasons for that: training in shoes that I regularly wear is far more realistic than training barefoot (what are the chances of being attacked barefoot?); and I have bone spurs and plantar fasciitis in both feet, making support crucial. When my feet are acting up, I wear wrestling shoes in the dojo. They don’t get worn anywhere else, so they’re clean and acceptable in the dojo when I need them. They allow movement and offer some support for my arches. If you’re looking for a specific recommendation, ASICS Matflex. Good and cheap. I’ve worn various pairs for decades between wrestling, coaching wrestling, and karate. ASICS Aggressor are quite popular for their heavier and more supportive soles. Far more expensive. I keep telling myself to buy a pair for extra support but haven’t done so.

I’d be surprised if Elizabeth Shue does make an appearance, but I wouldn’t be shocked. I think actors do stuff like this often enough to say so, but I don’t think it gets publicized that often. They do stuff like theater, so why not a quick extended cameo here?

The difference between a teacher and a student might not be that the teacher is a better practitioner (technique-wise) and/or more knowledge even. Often enough, what separates a teacher from a student is the teacher knows how to teach. The teacher can explain things is a logical and realistic way. The teacher is capable of saying “you’re struggling with that because you’re not doing this” or “this is how you can make that better/more effective.” The non-teacher simply says and/or thinks “how can you not figure this out?” Allegedly, Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura has said he’ll never accept a 10th dan because he’ll never stop learning. I’m not 100% certain he said that, it was something someone told me someone else told him. But knowing Kaicho Nakamura and his track record, it definitely seems to be the case, regardless of if he actually said it or not.

Should have left it another day...here was the "evidence" of my prize: The countertop in one of my bathrooms even looks like this. No rubber duckie for me though. I have the same countertop in my bathroom too. Didn’t realize it until you pointed it out. Edit: Sorry... congratulations!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard!

Happy birthday, Devin!

Now I understand what you meant. And no, I never thought for a second that you were doing a disservice to anyone. I knew it was simply a matter of miscommunication/misunderstanding on everyone’s part. When someone’s significantly bigger, stronger, faster, et al, everything changes. Everything except one thing - you do what you need to do to get out of there. You do it as quickly and instinctively as possible. If that means fighting, talking, running, whatever. The situation always dictates the course of action. All you can ever do is be proactive and try your best to keep yourself and those close to you away from a situation before it starts. Within reason, of course. If someone’s going to attack me, size doesn’t matter. I’m going to proverbially “die simply because I ran out of bullets in the gunfight.” No way am I going to let someone beat on me solely because he’s bigger. Or stronger. Or crazier. Nor any other -er.

Size ABSOLUTELY matters. So does strength. So does agility/athleticism. They’re all physical attributes. Every physical attribute matters. If it didn’t matter, we wouldn’t have to alter anything. Technique nor strategy. If I’m fighting a guy a foot taller (with proportionately long reach), the stuff that works with someone my size isn’t going to be the best bet. I’m going to have to get inside that reach and take it away from him. If I’m fighting a guy smaller than me, I probably want to keep him at a range that’s too long for him but not me. This is for striking. In grappling, techniques need to be adapted as well as strategy. When I was wrestling, I wouldn’t wrestle a tall lanky guy the same way I’d wrestle a stocky guy. My takedown and throws selection would change somewhat, as well as my technique because leverage points (not sure what exactly to call it) would change. If I outweigh and out-muscle someone, I’m going to make them “carry my weight.“ I’m not going to go Sugar Ray Leonard on them; I’m going to go Butterbean. If I’m at a reach disadvantage, I’m going Mike Tyson. Reach and strength, Sugar Ray Leonard. Training with a variety of partners teaches the subtlety and I guess gross changes that must be made for different fighters. Some people are like an enormous tree that needs to be chopped down. Others need to be taken out like a wrecking ball. But above all that, the situation and environment dictates what can and needs to be done more than anything else. A drunken idiot family member acting stupid gets a different response than the guy who tried to pull a gun on me. And the way the guy tried to pull his gun dictated everything. A few feet further would’ve gotten a different response than a few feet closer. All physical attributes must be taken into consideration. The less physical attributes one has, the smarter and harder they must train to level the playing field.

Welcome aboard, Chris. There are so many different approaches to training MA. There’s no right or wrong, IMO; only right or wrong for the individual practitioner. There have always been very formal schools, very laidback schools, and everything in between. Some view that as old-school, traditional, etc. I think the term formal fits better, but I guess that’s a different discussion. You say you want to train with your son, and the sensei is a good person. Honestly, I say give it a shot. What do you have to lose? Work out there for a little while with an open mind. If it’s the right place for you, you’ll know it. If not, you can move on. I wouldn’t get into any long term contracts until you’re sure though. Another thing on my mind is no where is going to be exactly like the place you “grew up in.” Even if your old teacher is still teaching, it won’t be the same. Not necessarily a better nor worse thing, but it is what it is. We tend to romanticize “the good old days” a bit as we get older. When I restarted training after a 15 year hiatus, I started out looking for what I left. Not intentionally, but subconsciously. I quickly realized the past is the past, and I kept an open mind and visited a lot of places that I wouldn’t have. Some were great, some not so much. In the end I found a place that feels like home. Sure, it’s pretty close in curriculum to what I trained previously, but that’s not what drew me in. It was the people. The chief instructor and his wife (co-owners), the senior black belts, and everyone else. It’s a great atmosphere. That’s what got me to try it out and what keeps me there. Valuing styles and training approaches are great and all, but IMO makes the difference between being someone who trains for a period then leaves and being a long term student is if the atmosphere and people there are people that you want to be around. Best of luck whichever way you choose.

Merry Christmas to my KF family!

Congratulations to all!

Welcome aboard!

My hands are registered weapons. However, I’m not allowed to put my hands in my pockets because I don’t have a concealed weapon permit. Not yet anyway. I made sure wearing gloves is ok though.

Happy birthday, Bob! Sorry I’m a day late

The jab may well be the most versatile strike. It’s used offensively, defensively, from the outside, can be used on the inside, etc. As Bushido man was stating, in a SD situation it’s not going to have the same effect as in a sport/sparring scenario. In SD, there’s no “feeling out your opponent” and/or setting him up for later rounds. You get in and end it as quickly as possible. But the jab is still quite effective in SD; use the jab to get the opponent’s hands where you want them. Get the opponent backpedaling. Get the opponent off balance. Throw the jab and follow it up with what you really want rather than throwing haymakers right off the bat. Throw the jab on your way in, then throw a hook to the body followed by the same hand uppercut or hook to the head. Throw the jab then initiate a clinch. Double up on the jab then follow it up. Stuff like that. Just don’t fool yourself into think you’ll be able to throw individual jabs and dance around like Sugar Ray Leonard in a true SD situation. Maybe against a truly uncommitted attacker you’ll be able to, but that’s about it.

Welcome aboard!

Somehow I linked to Title twice, when I wanted to link to McDavid... https://www.mcdavidusa.com/search?q=Shirt&_=pf&pf_pt_product_type=Protection

I don’t wear chest protectors, so I don’t have much advice. While we’re at it, are you looking for chest protection, rib protection, or both? Working as an athletic trainer (sports med, not personal trainer), I put a lot of my athletes in McDavid padded shirts. Mainly football, lacrosse and basketball guys. Others like Nike and Reebok make them too, but McDavid makes a better product in this instance and for less money. A few reasons they might not be exactly what you’re looking for: They don’t do ribs AND chest; only one or the other. They may have padding in places you don’t want it, like the spine The padding may not be heavy enough for you They’ll take the sting off, but they’re not like the huge TKD pads. I’d try them, as they’re relatively inexpensive and are probably returnable. https://www.titleboxing.com/title-ultra-light-molded-chest-guard?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuMPQ0Zj85AIVk4vICh3s5QdzEAQYDCABEgJYAPD_BwE Title boxing makes a light chest and rib protector. No experience with it, but I own some other Title stuff like gloves and a small bag. Everything I’ve seen has been great quality and value, so if this is more what you’re after, they’re a safe gamble IMO. https://www.titleboxing.com/title-ultra-light-molded-chest-guard?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuMPQ0Zj85AIVk4vICh3s5QdzEAQYDCABEgJYAPD_BwE