singularity6

Students can be stripped of rank in our school. Offenses would include: *Drug or alcohol use while in class (coming drunk or high) *Severe misconduct in class *Misuse of the martial arts inside or outside class (picking fights, abuse, etc)

I didn't injure that area specifically, but I've pulled some muscles in my hips. That generally takes months to heal properly. Physical therapy was involved. :-/

Muscle memory is hard to ignore. After 53 years, I believe my stance would be just that...proper Shindokan stances, whether I wanted to or not. That's reasonable.

The past several winters haven't been kind to Alaska. They've been seeing record-high temperatures (especially along the cost) while the arctic air has been dipping down over the north-central and mid-western US. According to climate scientists, the region where I live will probably have the most stable climate in the decades to come.

Being from Kentucky, the single-digit high temperatures we see semi-frequently during the winter months might be a bit of a shock.

Isn't Muay Thai also called kick boxing?

I think one's perception is based on the style. My personal impression? Well, I think it looked great. He looked very relaxed, but exploded with power and speed at seemingly appropriate times. Aside from the pair of double middle-high blocks he did about 3/4 of the way through, his hand-foot timing was great (I suspect this was done intentionally, though.) He also put his hips into all blocks and hand strikes. All motions were done with great precision. I say 2 thumbs up.

My wife sent me this link (I hope it continues to work.) I don't think I'd want to condition myself for ths... https://www.instagram.com/p/BeUmSPLn4pn/

I quit a bit before Legion came out. It seemed intriguing, but I'm too busy these days!

I might be able to nab some from some friends. The house is 80 years old, and aside from plumbing and ungrounded outlets, not much needs to be done. It's actually in great shape! Brick, hardwood floors, plaster walls, partially finished basement, all with lots of attention to detail.

You can get 40 acres, a decent house and maybe some outbuildings for under $200k here if you know where to look. The main problem is employment. There's a paper mill, college/schools and hospital/medical centers. No real large-scale manufacturing or other jobs in the area. I see a lot of folks cycle through the stores and restaurants around here.

For the most part! Money's tight for now... so the bag will come later.

Actually the first day was learning the customs and traditions and a bit of how to hold the sword. Hand placement, etc. How to sit and kneel and how to get up from that position. Sounds like You got a bit extra on your first day. Once a week is a joke. Our classes were held twice a week two hours each and we were encouraged to fit in a third day if possible. Obviously like with anything study outside of class was a must. Too bad you couldn't find another instructor in your town or the next over. I loved the art and it actually helped me with my training over all. The concepts are easily integrated into other arts. Escanaba has about 13000 people in it. Marquette, which is double in size is an hour away. Green Bay is about 2 hours away... This is the only real drawback (for me) about living in Michigan's UP.

The idea of iaido is wonderful. When I moved to the area I am now, there was actually a guy who taught it. Unfortunately, his teaching method didn't work with what I wanted/expected. It went something like this: Day 1 lesson 1: Here's how to stand Day 1 lesson 2: Here's how to swing the sword vertically Day 1 lesson 3: Here's how to swing diagonally Day 1 lesson 4, 5, 6... : Here's how to do various waza. Waza were demonstrated once or twice, then we'd attempt to perform them twice. We'd then move onto the next waza. Corrections were very limited, and if they were given, were frequently given as "someone in here isn't getting it..." in front of the class. Everyone in the group had been participating for at least 2 years, and most of them under a different sensei. The guy who took over liked to talk more than teach. Unfortunately, I had to sign a 1-year contract. It costed $40/mo, and the lessons were 1 hour per week. I'd love to take lessons, but I don't think I'll ever find someone to teach that again in such a small town.

Yes and no. I started my study of the arts in a style called Fu Jow Pai when I was a young lad so that experience was and was not a contrast to the styles of Karate that I took later. In some instances the differences were huge. The, what I call Japanized, Karate styles are very linear starting out and much more rigid. However some, what I call old school arts, are very similar in that they practice and teach the same concepts. This is due to the fact that they were influenced by the Chinese arts and that influence was still present. The Kata are not related to sparring in terms of the meaning today. However it is very much related to fighting if taught as it was originally passed down. The postures (not all but many) come from Quan Fa and represent combative/fighting applications. If one teaches the Kata with emphasis on the applications you will see that Quan Fa (Kung Fu/Gung Fu) and Todi (Karate) are not that different. Now there are obvious differences in the way the techniques and applications are executed. This is due to the fact that Okinawan's are not Chinese and where first influenced by the indigenous art of Tii and Tegumi and also by Muay Boran. Some use this to make the argument that there is a difference between the arts and that they are not related or where never influenced by the Chinese arts. I hear this a lot when it comes to Bai He Quan or White Crane. However if a person studies (pick and art) for 20 years and then studies another art will the first art that they studied not influence the way that they execute the second art? The argument in terms of modern Karate and Kata is valid. They are not taught in terms of actual fighting so there is no connection. However this is not indicative or factual of ALL Okinawan arts. Sparring as you put it, in terms of today's standards is not IMHO a true test of fighting skills. In fact I think the Kata of modern arts have more in common with fighting than sparring. It develops bad habits. It is utilized at long distance instead of where 99% of all fights happen at close range. It teaches one to pull strikes and therefore ingrains muscle memory not conducive to ending fights or causing any damage. Etc, etc, etc. Kumite (sparring) in today's terms is little more than a game of patty cakes. I have never taken TKD so I can not speak to contrasts between it and Kung Fu. I mean, you're right. But isn't kata even worse in that regard? So is ippon kumite. Say the first move in your kata is a shuto uke in the horse stance, followed by a zen kutsu dachi oi tsuki, with all that it implies (zen kutzudachi position, chambering the other hand on your side, etc). The horse stance is an open invitation for a kick to the groin, while the zen kutshu dachi would never fly in a real fight, and chambering your punch is screaming to get punched in the face. The above would all be bad habits? I don't think anyone would be using "proper stances" in a fight. When using any martial art in a real-life situation, one is more likely to be in a relatively natural stance. One's foot placement will probably somewhat reflect the proper stances, but only enough to get the proper motions going (putting hips into punches and so forth.)

Based on your description I love your instructor! He's great! Unfortunately, he's probably going to retire in the next 5 years, or so. The students of his who're currently teaching at my location are keeping the spirit. I also like how they teach martial arts to be practical, and not for tournaments.

Are you pleased questions, doesn't exactly bring out the "True Grit" or "Gung Ho" passionate side of people. Having extremes "Strong words" is only a way or method to put a broader perspective on any subject, it also makes for a more sensationalized heading, as in "Made you look made you smile" I have a personal preference for this method, also as "This vs That" this isn't a we vs them to be taken literally, just a way to put up a broader net and get the ball rolling. The alternative, is what many others use, something I dislike, headings that are ambiguous and misleading. The use of the appropriate word or words is really important. It better conveys the message one is trying to get across. It also helps convince others that one knows what they're talking about.

We closed on it! The move-in process has already begun. Exciting times! I finally have a spot that's (barely) big enough to do forms.

I just used this tool to shift dates from one semester to another in my online homework that I set up for my students: https://www.timeanddate.com/date/duration.html Maybe that'll help count the days!

I haven't commented on this thread because I think both ends are a bit extreme. Pride and shame are very strong words, with very strong connotations. Pride might not be the worst word to use for some. But I am not proud of my training or my accomplishments. Pleased, maybe. But any of my accomplishments are simply that... my own! I do not hang my certificates or diplomas on walls. Nor would I want any titles that come with my training or education. I go by my first name to my students in the classroom, and if I were to teach martial arts, it would be the same. Shame? Well... If anyone is doing any thing that they are ashamed of... hmmm. Yeah, this just doesn't fit.

Congrats, man!

We're scheduled to close at noon on Friday!

Maybe under less shifty circumstances? Many people who start a journey through martial arts end up thinking about teaching, and maybe opening their own school. In that light, I think it's perfectly natural for a student to want to break off and start teaching. If it were me in that position, I would try to do it as diplomatically as possible (and not right down the street.)

It takes 8 years minimum to reach second dahn in the TKD school I attend. Second dahn is the first instructor rank... That seems like a reasonable amount of time to put into something in order to be qualified to teach it.

Different styles and different schools are going to have different basics. This is just human. Ultimately, I don't think it's important to have unification at the onset. With martial arts, it's the whole journey that matters, and in the end, you'll find some sense of unification, as it seems that's when the collection of principles merge. Not everything fits in a nice little box. It's a big world out there, and sometimes you'll have to expect some grey area. Im going to be a little provocative here (imagine that....) I would add the following to the end of those sentences: "To my knowledge" and "So far" And the conversation can take a rather dynamic course eh? Then that's not a conversation. I'm not putting words in your mouth. I'd appreciate the same courtesy. I think you’re misinterpreting my intentions or my posts- I’m merely trying to stimulate a conversation not put words in your mouth. When I suggest those two phrases I’m suggesting that absolute knowledge is something that is rare, perhaps not attained yet- so maybe we start to brainstorm about what we think those basics could be, what makes them “the basics” and what legitimizes that claim. So let me rephrase. I always add those two phrases when I hear someone show, teach, or explain something. It still becomes a conversation, just not necessarily an opinion and it puts things into perspective. - what if I were to ask you to add those two phrases at the end of your statements? Would you have the same opinions then? If I felt those additions were necessary, they'd be there already. People have been trying to simply quantify and unify just about everything (laws of physics, biology, music, language, etc.) That has never, and will never happen. The more we learn about the world, the more complicated we realize things are. I don't think martial arts is an exception.