tommarker

Shorinryu Sensei, I get the feeling you..oh sorry... "some people" are using Jerry's aggressive line of questioning as a red herring to avoid my point.

how so exactly? i'm curious as to whether this is your opinion, or a fact that can be backed up with supporting facts.

Not an entirely uncommon attitude in the martial arts community... and it's an attitude that one must work around or with at one point or another.

Tangsooguy, I think we're both in the same boat. I was being a little cute in my post in that I didn't really tip my hand as to how I felt about her particular points of arguement. I think it is her brashness that appeals to a lot of people. She certainly doesn't pull any punches, and while it might piss off quite a few readers, maybe some of them will in the process think about what they've just heard. I remember the first time I heard a Master instructor give his "Real Opinion" on something and how shocked I was by it. Sometimes this is a good thing, because a good dose of rudeness might be just what it takes to get someone's attention. After awhile though, it does just become that unpopular, disagreeable voice that no one wants to listen to... even when they are 100% correct.

I thought her articles were thought-provoking, interesting, and far more well-written than most blog type things on the Internet.

yet, you've named yourself TOKEABOWL?

Shorin-Ryu Sensei, No, of course you haven't killed anyone, nor did I expect you to have. I think that a majority of those who feel the need to carry a concealed weapon for self-defense have spent a long time asking tough questions of themselves. In a modern sense, I truly feel that the study of firearms is a martial art: one that requires the same amount of dedication and study as its Asian counterparts. A lot of people cling to the arguement that allowing concealed weapons will bring back some sort of lawless "Old West" style of crime and punishment where the gunslinger shoots first, asks questions later and blood fills our streets. However, the data just doesn't support this claim. Further, I think such talk only serves to insult those who would seek to exercise this right as being irrational or paranoid. Just as it would insult you to be told that since you are a kodanja, you're likely to murder someone with your bare hands for a trivial reason. I live in Ohio, a state which is currently embroiled in a battle to allow concealed carry. One of only six states that prohibit such a method. A sticking point is that the Highway Patrol doesn't want permit holders to be able to keep their gun on their person while driving. Their advice to those facing a carjacking: "just drive away." People who say that you can run away, drive away, or completely avoid a confrontation through clean living, awareness, etc... Well of COURSE I'd love to be able to do that when possible. This isn't always possible. I want to have that option available to me, since I most likely won't have that police protection when I so desperately need it.

How many people have you killed with your barehands in your lifetime? After all, you've been studying karate about as long as I've been alive. You've honed those skills so much it would seem that you're very likely just to want to punch someone who commits even the slightest offense to your person.

What I meant by that is... Have you ever talked to someone who has just finished reading a very persuasive book and suddenly has some very strong opinions of their own? A lot of people seem to read Mr. Redmond's site and then travel the land squawking his opinion without really thinking about it.

corollary: "I don't need a gun, I have martial arts." delta1 really nailed it with the "i'd run away" comment. Talk about overstating the obvious.

Maybe it's just me, but there are some statements that I read a LOT of various martial arts bulletin boards over and over and over again. Perhaps the author thinks they are the first person to mention it and they think they are being terribly clever, or maybe the author just lacks the ability to express themselves better. However, there are a few statements that for me, have lost all meaning. When I read them, instead of thinking critically about their opinion I merely sigh. Usually you can stick most of them into 3 distinct camps: 1. New, eager, enthusiastic students who just read "Karate-Do: My Way of Life." have done martial arts for 20 years and only read "Karate-Do: My Way of Life." One is more depressing than the other, I'll let you figure out which 2. Experienced, opinionated and bitter students who have reached about 2nd or 3rd Dan and just discovered 24fightingchickens. 3. People who have no real original thoughts (or are scared to express their own) who simply say the "profoundly wise" statements we've all heard because they think it will be automatically accepted as both wise and poignant. The "boards don't hit back" or "I still don't think I've mastered natural stance, much less jump flying spinning split kick" or "belts are only for holding up pants." All of them represent excellent thoughts, but boil down too simply and make everyone who use them sound like they are parroting fortune cookie karate books. Lest someone think I'm intentionally starting a flame war... I am not. I'm just hoping to encourage some people to use the internet for personal reflection rather than just swallowing crap. (p.s. if you're guilty of one of these, and feel angry at me.. I admit to doing the same thing at times, and am merely pointing out that which can be improved. get over it. )

well, that certainly makes for an extremely boring discussion

why not just ask what style of martial arts is the best? it will produce a more civil discussion

here's the deal.. 99% of balisongs that you can buy absolutely positively suck. but... they will stab someone repeatedly. that's all that really matters in terms of many knife cultures if you knife a fellow, and throw it in the trash you're out 10 bucks, not $100. of course, the other factor is that people are clamoring for balisongs and will buy just about any crap put out on the market. Benchmade has an awesome and well made balisong. It will cost you. So will the ones made by custom makers, etc. Benchmade also makes a balisong trainer, which if flipping around is a lot safer

you bought a cheap balisong. sorry.

World Tang Soo Do Association.

did they give you any tips for maintenance of the cane? any suggested oil? sanding? etc?

How much of that experience includes teaching? It sounds like you are either: 1. new to the teaching game, and might need some time to get used to the subtle training differences that occur when you take on a teaching role. 2. you've taught before, and you hate it, and you always will. this doesn't seem likely since if it was true, you wouldn't have agreed to the deal. KSN Doug gives some good advice. Try to rationally discuss this with your instructor and see if any changes can be made. If not, then I guess you have a choice to either deal with it and stick it out, or find another school.

sounds nifty... i've been eyeing one of their triple grip canes for awhile now. i'm in no rush though, as the cane form is a 4th dan form in our system.

they are the same forms, just different names. style differences are too numerous to even begin listing in a thread

I picked nunchaku as my favorite, although it is a tough call. They are extremely versatile, and effective at several different ranges. Plus, they have an interesting sort of mystique to them... in that people who have never used them tend to be very intimidated by the thought of using them. In terms of practicality though, I love the yawara stick and the chizukenbo.

Rob's site is great in that even if you disagree with his conclusions, he gets you to think about those questions such as "why do i train?" etc.. While I love his takes on the kata histories and other technical areas, the philosophical aspects of the site really have contributed more to my training (and my perspective) than anything else. Not to say I'm a Rod Redmond ditto-head, just that he really has made me pause and think about things on more than one occasion.

I've seen the 7 boarder... it's a little weird, and I'm not sure he gets them all, and a lot of the boards seem pretty thin (in the one i've seen) but it's still impressive.

shorinryu sensei is 100% correct.

see, that doesn't help