LLLEARNER

I believe that power is best diffused. Rather than having 1 big powerful entity over every aspect of a single thing, people are better off going about their business of their own free will. If the organization I am a member of and I have a disagreement, then I should be free to leave and do things how I want. Whether that is in a religion, hobby, or business, it is how the world grows. Market competition makes everyone better off.

It's been many years since I once weighed 350lbs. When this weight loss journey began on October 4th, 2016, I weighed 326lbs, and as of this evening, I now weigh 253lbs...73lbs loss. I'm trying to do the right thing everyday across the board. I'm proud of what I've accomplished thus far on this journey. With the Afib returning, my October 4th, 2017 weight loss goal of 111lbs, bringing me down to 215lbs will NOT happen. As of right now, I'm 38lbs away form my goal. Unfortunately, October 4th is only just over 2 weeks away. To reach my goal, I'd have to lose 19lbs a week...NOT DOABLE!! While I've won many battles during this journey, I've lost the war!! I was on track until my Afib returned!! I'm very disappointed in myself, and proud of myself at the same time...mixed feeling abound, for sure!! We all win battles but lose wars in our lives. The important part is to not let the loss defeat us. I know you won't.

As a bunkai newbie myself, we all seem to get the very basic applications of kata. Unfortunately, the very basic are too simple and while important, not deep enough knowledge wise. They tend to be too literal. The depth of kata knowledge really begins to get better when you understand that bunkai can deviate from the strict kata routine. A jodan uke becomes a grab, or gedan barai becomes a leg scoop or grab which is followed by a sweep of the other leg. For me, it is better to understand the concepts of something rather than just the rote memorization. As far as applying self defense one has to practice with intent and conscience thought about the applications, rather than just focusing on what techniques follows the next. It is important to be strict about correct practice and form though. Without focusing on correct form, the actual application would suffer. My method is to get the techniques correct. Then my mind can focus on application while practicing kata. Ian Abernathy has some good bunkai YouTube videos as well as Kanazawa. Even these are not the end all and be all. There is a lot that can be self-discovered (for want of a better term).

I "made", assembled really, a hanbo out of a 3 ft section of galvanized pipe and endcaps from Home Depot. I use it for wrist strengthening and not for class. I do have some white oak I want to make tanto out of. I just need the time. I may try tonfa someday. But, I am not learning those now, and have a lot of other stuff going on.

Yes. 40+ hours at work. Full-time student (Double major in Finance and Managerial Accounting). Full-time father (1 daughter). Other half also works 40+ hours (nurse) and school for Nurse Practitioner. Oh, and a home remodel done by me.

I look at it by equating (roughly) a black belt to a college degree. Neither makes you an expert. They are both just (hopefully) a mastery of the basics and a foundation to start building your expertise. Kata, to me, is the textbook. If I master a senior level medical textbook, I am not an expert. I just know more than the average Joe. The doctor who has been in practice for years and read or authored studies is the expert. It takes years of study and work to truly understand a subject. By studying and working with the each textbook (kata) I may someday become an expert. What is the recommendation? After learning all the kata, go back to the beginning and start again? Going back to an earlier kata should be like rereading a good book after years away, it allows you new insights based on your advancing wisdom (understanding).

I am trying to turn up the control. It depends on who I am against. If it is one of the sensei's I am more defensive. If it is one of the younger kids I tend to play defensive and make them work of the points.

I get similar questions and comments. My answer depends on my mood but there is usually some level of sarcasm involved.

To my regret I never served, and even I find that to be a highly offensive question.

I hunt for targets.

My school goes for simplicity. Just a small black and white circle patch with the kanji for WA. I don't even have one. my gi is blank.

Labels can be helpful. Calling something BJJ versus Judo can be good, but labels can also limit people in every aspect of life. I prefer not to let people label me, I prefer to label myself and adjust those labels as necessary.

My sensei does not make us do knuckle push-ups on concrete. He said his sensei did. I am beginning to wonder if that is the martial arts equivalent to walking uphill both ways to school. He does emphasize dynamic stretching over static.

He does have everything to gain, but he also has nothing to lose. If he loses he will still make more money than he has ever seen.

Would I be biting off more than I can chew by trying to learn one of those four? I was doing some more reading on the progressive nature of learning kata. I am not trying to jump the gun on my art. I was just looking to add a little extra challenge and surprise my Sensei. I purposely am choosing one that is mostly basic techniques with a medium amount of movements.

I am totally the opposite. If my kid does not perform to the best of her ability. It is her fault (maybe some of mine), but not the coach's. Unless something egregious happens, I blame the kids and parents first.

It is less expensive than golf, scuba diving, rock climbing, biking, etc.

Is frugality a part of your martial art journey? I don’t think frugality is specifically part of the journey, but that the minimalist nature of the pursuit can influence other areas. It has simple equipment requirements. Some of it can be homemade inexpensively and last a long time. Also time spent training and studying is less time to buy and consume other things. Less is more can be applied to frugality, have you used this idea inside and outside of the dojo and how? My diet has improved, which helps the grocery bill. Frugality can be applied to exercise equipment, by having more than you realistically need, do you really need more, how do you justify the need? I do have a nice Outslayer Muay Thai bag. It was a Christmas gift. It will last a long, long time. I justified a pricier 6’ bag over a standard bag used for boxing because of the kicking aspects. Plus, both I and my daughter use it. Many martial artist in oriental countries practice frugality in their religion, would you be able to adapt to this way of life? I hope so. Is it possible to be a "frugal maist" in a consumer society? Yes. Many MAist’s make their own equipment. They tie old mattresses to trees for striking. They make makiwara out of scrap. I did get an inexpensive wooden tanto (Amazon Prime with free shipping). I don’t live near a MA equipment store. I will make 2 more (1 for my daughter and 1 for me) out of a white oak that was on the property (the same tree I made my daughter’s crib out of). I will paint hers pink. I find that the longer I live the more I learn that buying higher quality goods for moderately more is less expensive in the long run. Food and eating habits is how a person can be frugal, due to the over buying of food and then throwing it away, can you do better in this respect? I do better than I used to. I can do better still. I eat better now. This has cut the grocery bill some, and better health is cheaper. I like steak. I used to eat more (once a week) of it when I bought grocery store steak. I found a better source for 10% more. It is much better (100%) tasting. I also find that I cook it better, too. The place is more inconvenient to get to, so I eat less (once every couple of months). But better. Living on less can bring with it a higher quality of life, is this true for you? Yes. I find that by focusing on a few things intently, I am more frugal. They consume my time.

Each person does 100 kata. Consecutively is the goal, but if breaks are needed I don't think you will be made to do knuckle pushups. I can also see a fundraising for charity opportunity. Donations per count. Kind of like when people collect per mile on marathons. You can choose what katas you want to do and how many of each.

There is nothing wrong with still doing 100 forms. I am not sure we would do it as official registered participants.

So I was Googling stuff... I came across the 100 kata day in October and suggested our school participation… http://challengeokinawa.com/en_US/100katachallenges/ While the main purpose is for the challenge, both personally and as a school, we can also piggyback promotional opportunities with it. Pictures in the local paper and social media type stuff. It appears to be in the middle of the week but I suggested that we do it the weekend before. I had a thought… I think I will learn a new kata for the challenge. I am planning to surprise Sensei that day if we do it. I am now suffering from Netflix syndrome. I am having a hard time deciding which one to do. I wanted something a little long and a little more complicated than the Heian I am currently working on. After quality time with Google and YouTube I have narrowed my selection down to Jion, Jiin, Jitte and Chinte. I have not heard Sensei even mention them, much less seen them in class. They look dynamic with changes in pace and direction. With only Heian knowledge, it also seems like there are end points, but then I get surprised with more. Am I crazy? Is anyone else planning to complete the challenge? Or have done so?

Hello!

I am considering learning Jion for 100 kata day.

TKD was my first cross training, and the thing that sticks out the most that I learned outside of Shindokan is the kicking arsenal of TKD. You see, Shindokan is 85% hands, 15% feet, and our kicks are no higher than the stomach, moreover, our kicks are primarily for checking and directing/redirecting. In my Weekend Warrior days, I came up against some solid kicks mainly from the TKD practitioners. Change-up roundhouse kicks...blew my mind. Axe kicks...blew my mind even more so...Jump spinning back kick...blew my mind into the next world. Shortly thereafter my initiation against a TKD competitor, I felt the best way to understand the competition is to learn their core. And that's what I did. Not to toot my own horn, I'm a solid kicker...and that drove Soke and Dai-Soke absolutely insane to the Nth degree. Was it fun driving them crazy? It seems that it would be.

It could work in a club with highly defined classes which are broken up by skill levels rather than age groups. In schools this is easy. Nearly all 6 year olds are in the first grade for instance. In a recreational activity, you might have a 40 year old who just joined and is working on Heian Shodan, while at the same time a 17 year old working on Bassai Dai.