JR 137

I haven't come across any MA schools requiring a doctor's release upon enrollment. It reminds me of my graduate sport law class - as long as as you're doing what's considered the norm and in your field (could be interpreted as MA teaching), you shouldn't be held liable. Meaning if pretty much no one requires it, it's not a liability on your part. Regardless of this, ask your legal team what they think. All MA schools I've come across require students to sign waivers. What did I learn in sport law? Waivers never hold up in court. To be honest though, you should probably require one from everyone. I don't see the 16-18 year old crowd being any more of a risk that anyone else. Actually, I see them being the lowest risk. If I ran a dojo and were to require any age group to have a doctor's release, it would be 50 and up (no offense to you "old people" ). I'd also require it from anyone who discloses health problems to me, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, etc. I wouldn't require this as a way to protect myself (although it would), but to protect the prospective student. Putting liability aside for a minute, do you want someone having a catastrophic incident while training? At the end of the day, ask your legal team. They'll know how to protect you better than I will.

Many Chinese systems don't use belts. I'm pretty sure there are more that don't use them than those that do. In a strictly yes or no answer to the question of if they're needed, the answer is no. The larger the school becomes, the more necessary IMO. If you have 400 students and 10 instructors all teaching at different days and times, it's tough to know exactly where a student is in the curriculum if he/she's not a regular in your class. It reminds me of when I tested last time - I thought it was going to be just me. In walks a 15 year old girl I've never seen before testing for her brown belt. She had no idea who I was either. We've never been in the dojo at the same time. What if instead of being a student, I was teaching that night? I could work with it, but just looking at the belt immediately tells me how critical to be, who to pair her up with, what material I should expect her to know, etc. Keep in mind there's about 40 students total in my dojo. Not having belts can drive students away too. You may lose out on a few students who'll become very good students. Just because the belt thing attracts them initially doesn't mean they won't grow to see it's not anything magical like they thought it was. Belts are a good thing. They can make things easier for a teacher, they can motivate beginners (and even experienced students who shouldn't need that motivation), they can help signify leaders of the school, and so on. While they're not necessary for me nor my training, I still like them. I'd rather have them than not, but I certainly wouldn't walk away if I didn't. They briefly motivate me when I'm ready to promote; I look forward to the test and to learning new material. They help me focus on where I am currently and where I want to be by X date. I don't care about the new belt itself nor what color/level it is, I care about the process of earning it (if that makes sense). If you're contemplating keeping them or getting rid of them, put yourself in the mindset of your average target kyu students.

Welcome aboard Mandarin

Have you washed and/or worn the K-10 yet during training? As crazy as it sounds, it's not as hot feeling as other 12 oz gis. Not that I'm trying to force you to try it by any means. I love my K-11. It's the perfect weight for me.

I have no experience with the KC-10 nor any other blended gi. Every cotton gi I've owned shrunk quite a bit at first, then slowly continued for some time. Most notably the jacket length. I used to think I was gaining weight because the jackets were getting shorter. Thankfully it wasn't the case.

A website doesn't have to be anything elaborate. It can be a minimal thing listing who you are, where you are, when you have class, and how to get ahold of you. My dojo's website, for reference... https://www.adirondackseidokarate.com We also have a Facebook page that's basically a way of communicating with students regarding closures due to weather, reminders of events and times, and posting pictures of events. Nothing fancy, just the basics... https://m.facebook.com/AdirondackSeidoKarate/ I don't have a Facebook page (I am one of those 15 adults between 15-85 that don't have one ) but I check the dojo's Facebook as a reminder for upcoming stuff and if the weather's bad. It saves me a phone call and/or a wasted trip. Just some thoughts. The internet is this generation's yellow pages. Edit: I highly doubt having your age policy on your website will keep people from inquiring about their 5 year olds. Let's be serious, no one reads anymore.

As Hannibal from the A-Team would say, "I love it when a plan comes together."

Thanks, Danielle!! Thank you for the questions. Things just cost a lot, I suppose, especially medical. However, let the experts explain the differences between the two, other than me... A Nuclear Stress Test is... http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/nuclear-stress-test/basics/definition/PRC-20012978 http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/nuclear-stress-test/basics/why-its-done/prc-20012978 http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/nuclear-stress-test/basics/risks/prc-20012978 On an average, this test takes about 3-5 hours to complete. The Radioactive Chemicals cost $250, just for the chemicals. EKG Stress Test is... http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/exercise-electrocardiogram#4 On an average, this test takes about 15-30 minutes to complete. One gives a much more clearer picture, or idea, of how ones heart is doing, than the other!! One's a Rolls Royce, while the other is not!! The sooner I take one or the other, the better. Especially after I've JUST had an Cardiac Inversion...shocking the heart. Waiting isn't advisable, but I've no money tree in my back yard, and my new insurance, well, has little to be desired. Right now, I'm waiting to see what type of payment plans my Cardiologists' office has: Cardiologist isn't involved with financials, per his office staff. Ahem, he's the doctor, AND it's his practice!! My fingers are crossed. Cardiologists office called while I was writing this post. Now, the NST [Nuclear Stress Test] is $700.00, including the chemicals. Good news, being it's not the $5,000, as I was lead to believe, at first. Still, his office has to get with my insurance, oh what fun!! Nonetheless, a payment plan has to be decided upon, as well as the down payment. Doctors are good at doctoring (at least we hope), and not good at businessing. That's why they hire office managers. I've been around plenty, and they're clueless when it comes to that stuff. Most have assistants who have to pretty much hold their hand and lead them to where they're going next. Their schedules are chaotic and billing is a nightmare; at least they're smart enough to realize these things and have someone take care of them.

I have the feeling he's got a few more seasons in him. I'm not a Pats fan nor a Brady fan, but I'd hate to see him in another uniform like Favre, Manning, et. al. Something just rubs me the wrong way about that stuff, but hey, it's not like I get to decide what anyone else does and should do. I'm a fan of if you've played a storied career in one place, you finish your career there. Unless of course the management does some some shady stuff to you. Not that I think that's realistically on the table, but stranger things have happened.

Tom Brady's the best QB in the history of the NFL. I've thought that for quite some time. Last night was proof that the game is never over so long as he's on the field.

I'm glad everything went well for you, sensei8. Keep on track and listen to your body. I'm rooting for you!

Ruling things out has been a double edged sword for me. It's like "ok I know it's not X, could it be Y?" And somehow Y is always much worse than X in my mind. I love not having answers for what's wrong with me.

Congratulations!

Why did I think last night was Thursday?

Any updates?

I'm out of my element with this stuff too. I'm pretty sure you understood me, and I understand you. I respect what you've said. It makes sense to me, not that it really has to though. I agree, it's like playing blackjack; you have to look at the end result and not focus on if you won each and every hand. Even if you win all rights to everything, it'll potentially cost too much, so how's that really winning? My main point was the name. Why give them that? But if the name's been changed and the original name wasn't original, then there's really no point. I figured they were keeping the name as a selling point, but that wasn't what is actually happening.

Your attorney is getting paid to think of all the potential pitfalls. He is an expert in this. Do as he says, just as you'd expect him to do if he paid for your expertise (karate). As far as the naming/branding, if you guys have a right to it, as you stated the whys, why can't you copyright/trademark it? That would keep the others from being able to use it. If Shinshii still has the rights I think he has (and you imply), can't he simply apply for these things? It seems to me that that would basically make the former organization yours/his again, and the burden of starting from scratch would be on them. I have zero legal training, so I'm obviously making that so much simpler than it truly is. But maybe ask your attorney? But if Shinshii and you guys want a new identity, then let them have it. I wouldn't want to give them anything at all, especially a legacy they can try to sell to new students. Shinshii established it, your generation refined it in some ways and carried it on; they shouldn't get a turn-key system with any history at all. Just my opinions.

We have a small class, generally about 5-10 adults, so Sensei invites the higher graded kids to train with us to bulk the numbers a bit. The parents sit on chairs alongside the training area (no mats, no marked floor, just a hall) with their other (younger) kids.. Very often the parents are yapping, or their attention is on their phones etc, so they don't really see things happen until they've happened. Wasn't as bad last week, but we still had a bit of a fuss when the youngest one (must be about 2, is a toddler) toddled between people practising front kicks. Nothing happened, and it wasn't me involve, but it broke my focus and made me more conscious about where I was putting my feet. Perhaps that's a good thing If it's people who are there for the sensei's class (students' parents, siblings, etc.), then it's his responsibility. If it was people not connected, then there's not much he can do except talk to whoever's in charge. I love parents who forget they're watching their kids. In this day and age, if that toddler got hurt, I wouldn't be surprised if they sued. Amazed, yes; surprised, no.

Stupid question... Are these karate students and parents, or are they kids from the communal center? Either way, it's the sensei's job to address this. I agree with bringing it to his attention privately and respectfully, but it's his job.

My first impression of my former sensei was he reminded me of Sensei Kreese from the Cobra Kai! Seriously, he looked just like him. He was an excellent karateka and teacher. I saw him break down what looked like complex things into smaller and simpler steps, then taught the students to put it together in an understandable way. Another thing that stood out was that it wasn't about him, it was about getting the students to do things correctly. I signed up after the first class I watched. And I wasn't there to sign up or even evaluate it; I was there as my girlfriend's ride (she joined about 2 months prior). Funny thing is after about 4 months I was the only one still training. She had more important things to do, and was always "going to start again next month." My current CI was different, yet the same in many ways. My first impression of him was that he had a quiet dignity about him. I got to the dojo unannounced about a half hour before the first class started. We sat and talked about my previous training (he trained under my original sensei's teacher), people we mutually knew, and about his organization and dojo. He didn't have a bad thing to say about anyone nor anything. Watching him teach class sealed the deal. He made appropriate corrections in an appropriate way, had the genuine respect of everyone on the floor, had a logical way/order of running the class, and the students were all quite good despite several of them obviously not being great athletes. Being a certified physical education teacher, I had specific things I was looking for, a teacher evaluating a teacher if you will, and he hit every point I thought a teacher should. Being older and looking like he needed a hip replacement, I didn't hold his lack of ability in certain things against him. What's the point, so long as he can get me to do what I need to do? It was quite obvious that could do it all at one point and can teach his students how to do it now. I was right about him needing a hip replacement. He's had both replaced in the past, and is still putting off having the one that's bothering him replaced again.

I feel for you. As I read it, I'm reminded of how I felt when my former sensei left his organization, and more so the look in his eyes and the choked up voice he had when he told us. I know he did the right thing for himself and just as importantly for his students. And I know you've just done the same thing. I don't admire the position you're unfortunately in, but I commend your decision. As you said, it's the end of one journey and the beginning of a new one. Working with or without Kosei and/or anyone else will all work itself out in due time. Hopefully the relationships you had with people in the organization will as well. Only time will tell. One thing I'm constantly reminded of in situations such as these is you can't control what anyone else says nor does; all you can do is try your best to control your reaction. What's the best reaction? To go about doing what's genuinely best for you and your students. As you said, you're now free of the nonsense you've been dealing with and can finally focus on doing what you've wanted to do all along - teaching who you want and how you know in your heart your supposed to teach it.

Poking around a few websites (U of Houston, Baylor, Texas Southern), most don't list team cardiologists. Only one I found who does is Rice... http://www.riceowls.com/sports/sports-med/Teamdrs.html A phone call to a training room should help. If I had someone call me when I was an athletic trainer, I'd have no problem giving them contact info. Every sports med program should have a cardiologist they refer their athletes to. We always had specific cardiologists, because we knew they took good care of our athletes.

You know what, JR...you make a lot of since...seeking out a cardiologist that works with athletes is something I hadn't thought of!! I'm still reading about my Afib as well as the many procedures against my Cardiologist advice because he doesn't want me to assume anything because I'm not a Cardiologist...I love to read, and this is how I educate myself. However, what do I know...I'm not a Cardiologist whatsoever!! Thanks, JR!! I don't know why I didn't think of this before... Look up the local colleges' athletic training rooms phone numbers. Call them and ask them who they work with, and for contact info. The bigger the athletic program, the better. If you're still in Houston, look up the University of Houston's sports med/athletic training room. Ask a few places, because some docs don't take certain insurance, may be booked for too long, etc. Most of the team cardiologists are local guys who have their own practices. They should know quite a bit about active people, otherwise they wouldn't be working with college athletes. If you were near a college I was affiliated with (personally or professionally), I'd call for you. Unfortunately, I don't have any contacts anywhere near Houston nor California (where you listed).

I remember when my original sensei told us he was leaving his organization like it was yesterday. He said it was the most difficult MA thing he's ever done, yet objectively speaking it was a no-brainer. We didn't see it coming when he did. The senior students were there for class, and before we started, he sat us down and told us. He didn't get into specifics other than it's been a long time coming, and he made the decision to withdraw when he felt he was no longer passionate about what he was teaching. He told us that he wouldn't hold any ill will against anyone who left and the door would always be open to them. It was a pretty somber discussion. He asked if we had any questions or comments, and I was the only one to raise my hand. I said "you're my teacher, not them. I respect them, but I signed up in your dojo and not there's." Everyone else nodded in agreement. Not a single student left. The curriculum was far better after he went on his own. Returning to the area after about 15 years, the only two dojos left are the co-founders' dojos. All 15 or so affiliated dojos left. That tells you something.

I'm getting some blood work done today to check for other stuff such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory disease, and a few others. We're both pretty sure it's not any of that, and the Lyme is causing the issues, but it's better to rule out as much as we can. All it takes is a blood test. Fibromyalgia is also on the table, as my symptoms resemble that, and it can be triggered by different illnesses. It's basically treat what we know it is, and rule out other possibilities. Lyme often gets misdiagnosed because the symptoms commonly mirror many different illnesses. But rather than treat me just for Lyme, we both want to rule out as much as realistically possible. If I have something else going on, that can be addressed. In the meantime, I'll wait and see what, if anything new is to be said on Monday. I'll also bring the results of these tests to an infectious disease specialist to get ahead of the curve.