LLLEARNER

During a kata, locking the knees can be the difference of that fraction of a second that makes the series look more or less flowy. What Sensei Hotton advocates is using the stored tension at the end of a technique as a spring to launch the next technique. If I am thinking of it correctly, joints should not lock for that because it takes the muscular tension out of the equation. For example (MY INTERPRETATION) in Heian Nidan movement 2 should use the pectorals to squeeze together rather than just the arms. I find this allows me to oppose with the shoulder blade muscles so they just require the releasing of the tension of the pecs to start movement 3, rather than a reactivation of the back muscles to start the movement.

I agree with you. I am not a dojo owner, but I do have philosophies in that area. In any area the local market will determine the proper rates. Many factors will influence the rates, some more concrete than others: Target customers-How much is that group willing to pay? Are they A-list actors learning for a movie roll? Is exclusivity a valued part of the cost to that customer? Is the customer base of lower economic means looking to keep kids out of trouble? What is your break-even point? This includes operational costs such as: rent, utilities, marketing, websites, taxes, professional and association fees, additional staff, etc. What is the Sensei's perceived value? People pay for fame. If Connor MacGregor were to open an MMA gym I am sure he could and should charge more than I could. If he charged too little, he would be too busy to be effective and his name would decline in value. As far as under and over selling a skill set, geographic area is going to factor greatly. A dojo in Washington County, Maine (the poorest county in Maine) will have to charge much lower rates than say one in Manhattan. What is the competition doing and charging? I am a hard core free market capitalist who believes that the market (which is really the customers) should determine cost. I also believe non-profit is only a tax-status, not a moral ore ethical determiner. Any business, for profit or non-profit, has a moral and ethical (as an extension of natural rights of the individual) obligation to be self-sustaining in that if it closes it cannot serve its intended purpose. Its intended purpose, as determined by its owners, can and should vary from entity to entity.

I got better moving in zenkutsu dachi by practicing Heian Shodan. I found my movements improved (got more flowy) when I stopped focusing on the end result of a perfect stance and kept moving through to the next step forward. When I started I focused on having perfect form at the end of each movement in the kata. Then I read (on this board I think) about stances being transitional, rather than the end result. It helped solidify in my mind to move through the stance. Sensei Rick Hotton has several good videos on YouTube. In one of them he talks about movement and using the end of one movement to start the next. I cannot remember which one it is, but all his videos are worth watching. I have also put tape down on the floor and painted lines on my lawn to work on my stances. I would just focus on the footwork at first rather than including the punches like in Shodan.

I always feel saddened when people are victimized. He did nothing wrong. If I as a concealed carrier had been in the store I likely would have complied but looked for openings if needed. With so many other people in the store it is too much of a risk. A different scenario may have had different results, store policy not withstanding. He did the right thing, but a shake up like that can have big impacts. I hope he is able to come back to the dojo soon and make a solid decision professionally. It is unclear whether he was hit in the other robberies, but if this is the difference it could be why his response is different. Or it could be something else.

If anyone is interested in Bruce Lee, there is a (I think) recent biography called Bruce Lee: A Life. I heard a podcast with the author and it sounds good. I have it in my amazon cart because I totally need more books in my life.

It honestly depends on the person. Recovery is a highly personal thing. Things that can influence recovery: How hardened was their mind to begin with? Do they continuously see their attacker? Are they continuously in similar environments? Are they seeing a professional? Are they actively trying to get better, or going through life without trying? Has there been closure? Is the person still out on the street? How personal was the attack? Are they preparing their mind and body in case it happens again? Are they turning to self-medication to deal with it? Some people never recover. Some people can shake it off and others are somewhere in between. Their recovery ultimately will be like anything in life. Difficult and they will get out of it what they put into it. Only they can do it. You can be there for support and aid, but it is their journey.

As long as you have something.

While exercise does not "cure" depression, it can help with the symptoms. The social aspect can help as well. Working on self-improvement and seeing progress can help internalize good self-esteem. Also, combat sports can really help self esteem because of the constant testing. When in the dojo, I find that the concentration and the act of learning prevents me from thinking about work (good or bad). It is not like running, which leaves my mind to wander or concentrate on the fact that I hate running. As we get older or injured, we all must adapt any physical activity to our limitations. As far as scheduling, you just have to make it a priority. We all have priorities whether we think about them or not. I know when I am doing something and should be doing something else. As far as missing time from your family, a regularly scheduled activity that focuses on you can help you become a better person, therefore a better husband and father. Many women feel stressed if they do not get time away from the caregiver role. They take care of the children, husbands, elderly parents, care-giving jobs, etc. Having a regular activity that allows them to focus on themselves alleviates that stress and helps them be better people. They can come back feeling refreshed, less stressed, with better self-esteem, and be more effective.

I have sparred my Sensei, and he giggles when he is holding back.

Oh, and do negatives.

Abs can be tough. Are you working different parts of the abs. If you are just doing crunches or sit-ups you may be missing lower abs and obliques. I found Athleanx on YouTube. He has really good well rounded programs set up and sciency explanations.

If you do pursue personal training, just keep in mind it is getting to be a crowded industry. Have a differentiator. For instance if there are 12 other morning boot camps in the park, you might want to focus on a different area, or to a different crowd that is not being served.

Some of the worst muscle soreness I have had comes from super slow kata.

Many times a real confrontation ends up on the ground. We have been on the ground in hospital rooms. Those are confined spaces with lots of people, hazardous objects and equipment in the way. It is something you just have to deal with and accept as part of reality. Learning how to fall and roll safely applies to the "street" as well.

I knew that from the first time I met him. In the unrealistic realm of having to defend myself from him: I want lots of distance, and a gun. I try not to hold unrealistic views. But, I was not a kid when I met him. I was 38.

Donnie Yen is, along with Jet Li one of the "powerhouse" MA stars of the last 20 years and would probably do a great job, if you enjoyed Ip Man, there are several other very, very good movies of his that I would highly recommend, as long as you can handle sub titles.. I think the role of Bruce Lee in this movie would be a perfect vehicle for some "unknown" MA actor to get launched into the mainstream. Donnie is getting a bit older now, and this one probably needs some one under 35....... Yen's age was my biggest concern. But, Idris Alba's name keeps hitting the rumor mill for James Bond. I wonder if he is just starting to get a little old for a 3-5+ movie deal over the next decade or so. Make-up and CGI can hide a lot of years. I handle sub-titles well, when I am distraction free. There was another one where he was a paper maker in a village and a detective was on the trail of a killer. I cannot remember the name.

Ultimately it is how you train that determines whether your karate, Shotokan or another style, is useful to you in the street. Stances for instance are intended to be transitions. If you watch UFC you see a lot of stance work that comes from karate backgrounds. Chambering the return hand to the side can also simulate a two-handed push-pull technique. The off-balancing component in Judo techniques requires the push of one hand and pulling of the other. I also look at the high block set in Heian Shodan, and see the retracting hand having performed a "receive" of the opponents arm down and a simultaneous strike under the jaw or into the throat with the other hand. As others have mentioned, Ian Abernathy has brilliant (I thought that in a British accent) practical applications of kata. I think the sport aspect has overshadowed the practical application intended with kata. A big part of me wishes the atmosphere martial arts existed in during the 60's-80's would make a comeback. The other part of me does not want the medical and dental bills associated. But, I know a fault of mine is romanticizing the past in which I was not around for. I do the same thing for SCUBA diving. I am weirdly contemplative tonight.

There are a million and one ways you can go. Law Enforcement is an option. With your passion for physical fitness through martial arts and nutrition, you sound like you could physically do the job. It is a tough rewarding job with lots of opportunity to help people. Other options... Nursing, EMS, Mechanic, anything in the trades, farmer, run a coffee shop, etc. The point is that you are not limited. I listen to a podcast called Hands and Daylight. Pete Roberts, the host, occasionally discusses the decades to leave a legacy. He dropped out of college with like a semester left to start a business. It succeeded, until it didn't. He has since started another business. He literally built his first factory in the woods of Maine with trees he cut down. His business is now growing and employing people in a large town in Maine. He helps people by starting a business and keeping it going. People use his products to improve their life, maybe even some people on this board. That money helps his employees feed their families and make mortgage payments. Helping people can be defined a couple ways. Direct- caring for peoples physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs as some type of caregiver. Examples-Doctors, Nurses, therapists, etc. Indirect-Being a contributing member of society-working, playing and acting in a manner that benefits yourself through legal and ethical means. By contributing to society through your own daily engagements in a free, open, capitalistic society, you benefits others. Examples-Garbage man, lawyer, sandwich artist, financial advisor, etc. A good place to jumpstart your thinking could be through volunteering. Volunteer at a homeless shelter, through your church (if you attend one) or civic organization, animal shelter. Work a couple of different jobs to learn where your natural skills and inclinations lead you. Take some adult ed classes in your area. They are cheap. Take a personality test to get some ideas for consideration. Substitute teach. Try being a CNA. They pay for your training in most cases. Substitute teaching and a CNA have no or virtually no monetary commitment to take on as debt. You have 4-5 decades to figure out what you want to do when you grow up. That is time to have 3 careers. Right now you don't need options to make a decision. You need to try what is out there, preferably without incurring debt. I hope I was not too pushy. I just wish I knew years ago what I know now.

I like that idea!

How about Donnie Yen? I liked him in Ip Man and other movies I have seen him in. He has serious cred on both sides of the Pacific, and has done a wide variety of films. Portraying a major figure, and it being well received, is well within his wheelhouse. He would essentially be attempting to be Bruce Lee.

Thank you. I enjoy contributing here. I do hope my contributions increase both in number and in depth.

If you have the resources, try traveling. Find a dojo, travel there for a week at a time and train hard while there. Work independently between trips. You might be able to space the trips out a couple of months. Make it your home dojo. Maybe it is commuting distance from a friend or family's residence.

I always had an admiration for "Renaissance Men." People like Teddy Roosevelt, Jack London, Ben Franklin, etc.

More influence by the Soke may have worked in a more conformist culture, but, the US is not very conformist. He was wise enough to realize a change needed to be made and humble enough to realize he needed to change.

What you do seems ideal. You provide a basic structure to ensure the integrity of the overall training, but provide enough freedom for a business owner to operate according to their needs and conscience.