JR 137

The martial arts in general, and karate more particularly, don't have the stage the major sports do, hence lack of those big moments. Those moments had a huge build up beforehand as well, making them the moments they were. The miracle on ice wouldn't have been anything without the Cold War nor any back-story in a way. We were college students, they were pro athletes disguised as amateur athletes serving in the military; they beat us by around 8 goals in a "friendly" game a few weeks beforehand; on paper, we had no chance. The game went the way it went. Without any background, it would have been forgotten. Like the fact that it was a semi-final game, not the finals. If MA matches had a national or international lead-up/hype to them, the list would be easy. I like watching Kyokushin World Championships. Can't get enough of Hajime Kazumi. He makes it look too easy. Nothing flashy, just solid basics taken to the highest level. You could watch Fighting Black Kings. Amazon instant video has it for sale for about $7, renting it is a few dollars cheaper. Yes, it's a Kyokushin propaganda film, but it's a good documentary of the first world open full-contact karate championship. It's a real life Bloodsport meets Blaxploitation meets Kyokushin propaganda commercial. I just wish there was a way to watch the matches in their entirety. And the editing of it leaves a bit to be desired. But still one of my favorites.

I'm looking into Century's sparring gear. I had some Macho gear back in the day, and it was junk. It fell apart pretty quickly, and I got tired of it and started duck taping it. The boots would rip along the edges that touched the floor, the finger loops would separate from the gloves, etc. The only thing that lasted were the helmets. I'm looking at Century's student line vs the P2 line. Other than the amount of padding, is there much of a difference? Is the P2 or even P2 Premium line more durable? Or are they all the same junk, buy whatever's prettiest and call it a day? If the extra money means a more durable product, I'm ok with it. If not, I'm good with the plain stuff. I'd rather spend more and replace it every few years than save $20 and replace it every few months. Anything else recommended? Rules are it has to be black or white, no fingerless MMA gloves or boxing gloves, and the head gear has to protect the back of the head. I don't want forearm, shin, or chest protectors. No desire to look cool. My technique makes me look cool. Truthfully, nothing will make me look good once my CI says to begin.

It's been a few weeks now. She's been going once a week, on Saturday. Getting here in during the week has been a lot harder than I thought it would be. She just turned 5 the day after Thanksgiving, and the kindergarten transition of not getting nap time is tough for her. She's been wiped out a lot of days during the week, so just going on Saturday has been a good balance for her. She's got other stuff during the week too - Zumba on Wednesday, and Girl Scouts on some Thursdays. I do some karate stuff with her here and there during the week, so not all is lost. She likes hitting the focus mitts and blocking the blocker bat or whatever it's called, so she's still improving. She surprises me every class with what she knows. She's really picked up on a lot of details that I didn't think she'd get. There's 2 teachers who alternate teaching Saturday's kids class, my CI and an assistant instructor. My CI doesn't go into any great depth explaining techniques; he teaches more by example than verbally. He's more of 'look in the mirror and follow me' with a few verbal cues. The other instructor throughly explains everything, down to the finest details. Neither approach is right or wrong, just different. Like me, she's far better with my CI's approach. When I'm given too many things to think about, I think too much about every little thing. She's probably the same way. Funny thing I've noticed with karate class... Every day when I pick her up after school, I ask her what she learned today. 99% of the time I get a shoulder shrug and have to ask her more specific questions. When we get home after karate, I ask her to tell her mom what she learned in class. She always has an immediate answer.

Congratulations Lex! April will be here sooner than you know it. As you said, prepare and stay the course. Some pics before, during, and after pics would be great too.

Do you/your dojo do anything special for the last workout of the year? We had ours tonight. Wednesday night is usually all ranks adults followed by black belts. Our CI decided to have one class for everyone, littlest ones all the way up to the highest ranks. We went almost 2 hours. There was one 6 year old, a few pre-teens, and the rest were adults. I think my CI covered just about everything in the syllabus tonight, minus weapons. It was a sweat fest. The 6 year old was a bit bored here and there, but he got us laughing several times. It was the first time he's done it, and we all agreed it should be an annual tradition. End the year on a positive note. We have our annual Kagami Biraki on January 17th. It's a traditional New Year workout and celebration. Our honbu has there's on the 10th. Anyone do anything special?

Too many posts to quote and chop up... You warned them... Twice. You didn't fail the students. They chose to fail. You told them what needed to be done... twice... and they continued to not make the necessary change. Sounds like either they didn't care if they passed or failed, or they thought you were bluffing. As for the parents, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

I don't think it would be rude. I guess you could email him through Seido if you're not sure. His name is spelled correctly. He's the head/founder of Seido, which I'm his indirect student (my CI is his direct student). Also, Kaicho is a title, not his name. Typically translated/used as Chairman, president, head of the organization, etc.

It helped Rocky beat Ivan Drago. I was going to suggest anti-freeze or even some rock salt too. But I think they'll probably ruin the lining of the bag. I wouldn't risk it. If you get a rag filled bag, you won't have to worry about it. Furthermore, no one I know was happy with a water filled bag long-term. They start leaking after a while. My old sensei had one for about 3 months. He threw an inside-out crescent kick at it that made it fold in half around his foot, then the bottom fell right off of it, along with however many gallons of water on the floor. Then again, nothing lasts forever.

Earning it? What a radical concept. You should go around the world teaching seminars. All jokes aside... "Technique before strength, spirit before technique." - Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura I'm sure it's been said before in different words, or perhaps the same words. Your post spoke like a true educator. Kids today feel more entitled than ever before IMO. They showed up, their parents paid for it, they're entitled to it. Let me guess... They did everything you asked, and it still wasn't enough. Here's another shot in the dark... Did a single parent, let alone a single student, ask what they need to do to improve and/or pass next time? Or did they just blame everyone else? I tell my students the following the first day of the year, every year: 'If you do everything I ask you to do, and do it to the best of your ability, you won't fail; you'll do very well; it'll actually be easy. If you don't do what I ask, how I ask you to do it, you'll struggle. If you do everything you're asked, and don't get a good grade, I've failed you (I don't mean grades). If you don't do what I ask, and get a bad grade, it's on you. Your grade is your grade, not mine; own it. I've already passed this class.' Some might take that as being too harsh. I guess the truth isn't always sensitive. Teaching at a private school, I hear parents say they'll pull their kids out all the time (haven't heard it about me, though). Pretty much always an empty threat. One question I can't help but ask... I'm assuming you're not these students' teacher, but were testing them. If they didn't put forth much effort when the head of the organization was testing them, how much effort are they putting forth when their CI is testing them? Kind of like stepping up your efforts when your boss's boss is evaluating your job performance.

Merry Christmas everyone.

I wouldn't force full extension (straightening) until you're sure there's no significant ligament damage. The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), which is the ligament on the inside of the elbow (like the MCL of the knee), gets stretched a bit when you go to full extension. If there's tearing, it can make it worse. Over the internet, the only advice I feel comfortable giving is do some range of motion within reason. Working through soreness/tightness is usually ok. Working through pain isn't. There's a difference between the two. Elbow flexion and extension (bending and straightening), and pronation and supination (turning the forearm so you're alternating palm up and palm down, while the elbow's bent) should be ok, just don't push passed pain. Squeezing a stress ball or tennis ball to maintain hand strength and using your hand as normally as possible should be fine too. Take it easy until you've got a good idea of what's damaged in there. I also like to do contrast baths on the area - soak it in very warm water (not scalding) for 3 minutes, take it out, then rub an ice cup* on it for 1 minute. Repeat the process for 15 minutes total. *Get a smallish paper cup, fill it with water and freeze it. After its frozen, rip the top off enough so you've got enough paper cup to hold onto. Rub the exposed ice over the entire area. Put a towel under your arm, it'll get messy. Do that 2-3 times a day. These are generic things I'd do. Listen to your body. If it feels like it's making things worse, it very well could be.

I haven't injured mine in that way, but I've rehabbed many. Length of time depends on the severity, actual structures injured, and the commitment from the patient. Did you completely dislocate your elbow (had to be put back in?), sublux it (partial dislocation that may have gone back on its own), hyperextend it, etc. Did you damage the inside (medial side), outside (lateral side)or both, any tendons or muscles torn, and so on. Saying any timeframe without any specific information is useless. One thing I can tell you that you've figured out is that it sucks. And they usually linger on for quite some time. Even after you get the clearance to go unrestricted, it'll still be there. If there's no significant structural damage (x-Rays only see bones), the first things I work on are range of motion and getting rid of swelling. If there's significant structural damage, it may (depending on the actual structure) need to be repaired surgically. You should have a good idea of what's going to happen after your initial visit with the person doing the rehab. The longer you wait to get that started, the exponentially longer it'll take to fully recover.

I haven't heard very many good things about ATA. I have no personal experience with it, nor do I know anyone involved to confirm or refute what I've heard, so take it as you will. If you're serious about it, visit some schools, and perhaps more importantly, watch some tournaments. I'm lead to believe the ATA is pretty closed off from the rest of the TKD world, so the tourneys could just be a lot of the same people caught up in a money generating machine. Hopefully I'm misinformed.

Congratulations on the promotion. Having your 12 year old teach you that stuff must be interesting!

I wouldn't call it ego. Not saying there's zero ego being fueled out there, but saying it the way you did is pretty flawed IMO. There's a big difference between feeling a sense of accomplishment and feeding an ego. I don't need a belt to tell me what I'm capable of and not capable of. I don't need to line up in a specified order to let me know where I am in the order of things. Neither does any other sensible person. After I've shown sufficient proficiency at my current rank, and given a choice to either be handed the new belt or have to "test" for it, I'll take the test every single time. Why? I enjoy the process. I thrive on trying to outdo what I think I'm capable of. It's extra motivation to push myself harder than the day in and day out training. The intensity and focus get turned up to 11 (thanks Spinal Tap). There's a sense of urgency that I can't get to in regular training, no matter how hard I try. When it's over, I know where I stand. What I excel at, and where I need work. Afterward, all the belt does is tell whoever's teaching where in the syllabus I am, and where I should stand in line. The test isn't an ego feeder. It's about trying to do better than you think you're capable of. It's about that extra hard workout that doesn't come along every day. It's about leaving all the excuses behind and just doing it. Most of all, it's about learning about yourself; you learn a lot about yourself when the pressure's on.

I can respect that schools like this have to satisfy their P&L's bottom line. What better way to pad the bottom line? Cater to kids/parents!! Got to pay the bills and make a living some how and some way without selling their integrity!! Imho!! Absolutely. My post wasn't condemnation of it, just stating what I see. If people want to think it's a kids' thing, let them. I'm quite sure I've got the wrong perspective on quite a few things in every day life that I have pretty much no interest in. Doesn't make me a bad person for it.

Nothing is effective for every single person. If there was one universally effective method, there'd only be one art being taught at every dojo, the same exact way to every student.

A goal without a solid plan isn't a goal, it's basically just a wish. Not that I'm implying anyone doesn't have a plan nor should post said plan. I have a few goals, but they're pretty much interconnected... Get under 200 lbs. I'm around 220, give or take 5 lbs. I work out outside the dojo, but I've got to get more consistent. I've got a heavy bag in my online shopping cart just waiting for something that's a bit out of my control. Improve my roundhouse and side kick. Way too much tightness in my hips and groin. Going to consult with a former colleague who's currently a head strength & conditioning coach in the NFL. He owes me a favor. Get smoother/more fluid in my combinations. I'm very good with my hands, and not bad with my feet. Gotta work on seemlessly going from punches to kicks to punches. The heavy bag, flexibility and dropping the excess weight all hold the key. I'm going to have give my inherited tenant an ultimatum - get his stuff out of half of the basement, or find another place to live. I can't take not having enough room in my own house and asking the same thing several times politely anymore. I guess that's another goal.

I was reminded of this thread on my way home from the dojo this morning. I pass by 3 MA schools on my way. All 3 advertise to kids. Pretty much every MA school I see ads for is targeting kids. The only MA ads I see targeting adults are for Cardio Kickboxing. BJJ and MMA ads are pretty much exclusively adult targeted. Im beginning to think that the stigma has a lot to do with the advertising. Perhaps the ads are catering to the stigma, or they're creating it, or reinforcing it. I can only speak of my area. No idea what goes on anywhere I haven't been. I have yet to see ads featuring adults sparring or anything else in non-MMA and BJJ ads.

I don't think the previous tenant's usage/bill is going to tell you too much, unless of course it was an MA school being run the same hours you're planning on being open. How long the lights are on, type of lights, number of lights, and any other thing that's plugged it and being used (and not being used) will effect your cost. I'm assuming you've factored in equipment cost, mirrors, flooring/mats/carpet, furniture, decor, signage, murals/artwork, office supplies, and all that stuff. It all adds up quickly.

Great video. Seems like you know what you're doing 😀

I don't think I've heard a single good GKR story, sadly. I'm sure there's some good in GKR, but all I've heard is nonsense. I've never heard of the tradition of not hitting ranks higher than you. Control, respect, humility, etc., absolutely. But not that you're not allowed to hit them. I've come across some higher ranks that were pretty much impossible for me to hit, but that's completely different. I will say that you shouldn't have hit him afterward with the overhand right. It's their house, and their rules. If you couldn't accept their rules, you should have figuratively and literally bowed out. Not passing judgment here;easier said than done. Not sure how I'd have handled being someone's punching bag. Not sure if he was taking advantage of the rules, and so on. As to not training somewhere else at the same time, as Hawkmoon said, it's an old Japanese and Okinawan custom. Probably the same way throughout Eastern Asia. It probably was that way here too at one point, but times have changed here, for the most part. It's still common courtesy to tell your instructor and have his/her blessing so that there's no hard feelings. Everyone's got their own rules and etiquette. There's a lot of crossover most times, but some places are really far out there. Other than not hitting the groin, face, etc. for obvious safety concerns, we have a policy in our dojo that lower kyu grades aren't allowed to kick to the legs/thighs and head. That's due to a lack of control with lower grades and trying to avoid unintended injuries. You don't want a person who just learned how to throw a roundhouse kick aiming for their opponent's thigh and end up kicking their knee instead. You don't want them trying to kick someone with a hook kick to the temple and not be able to just tap the target, or hurt themselves in the process.

Congratulations. Earning a black belt is definitely a milestone in life. It marks the end of one chapter, and the beginning of another.

Karate is for kids. It's for adults too. "I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect." - Edward Gibbon I don't bother telling people I don't know very well and/or don't have any reason to seriously discuss anything with. I've heard it said several times, along with comments about how karate and other MA don't really work. Those comments are one in the same as far as I'm concerned. I don't bother getting involved in the conversation. I told a good friend about me restarting karate, and she had this odd look. Her boyfriend's uncle runs a local McDojo where all they do is kata (no bunkai) and non-contact point fighting. I showed her a Kyokushin tournament video and explained that's how we spar, just not bare knuckle, and that's world-class level competition, whereas we're regular guys. Then the conversation was worthwhile.

Congratulations