DarthPenguin
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Posts posted by DarthPenguin
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On 8/16/2025 at 6:19 AM, bushido_man96 said:
Just because you don't like someone, or how someone does things, doesn't mean you can't still learn something from them. There are egos on both side of this; yours and his. If his won't flex, then perhaps yours might have to, at least for a time if you think you can gain something from his teaching. Which to me, it sounds like you probably could.
The important thing to remember is that what he teaches you doesn't demean what you already know. You are just adding to your knowledge base. Take what you learn in class, and then on your own time, work it from your own training philosophy. Take notes, maybe ask some questions here and there on the side so as not to cause an issue in class. If after a time you don't feel like the training is beneficial at all, you can always move on.
I'll say this, from my time in grappling class, there is nothing theoretical about rolling. That's one thing BJJ and Wrestling benefit from. A lot of instructors could benefit from that kind of exposure.
Best of luck to you, and let us know what you decide.
I was going to say something very similar to this tbh. You mentioned that you wanted to learn something very specific and this person could teach you it so maybe you could separate the learning and the application: it sounds like the instructor in question is capable and can teach the curriculum you were wishing to learn so you can use the sessions to acquire the skill and then you can work on the application of the skill independently - no reason why they need to happen at the same time.
It sounds like you already have an individual style that you are hoping to improve a facet of so this should still let you do that. Tbh you would likely come up with a different application anyway even if they taught more in that way.
I had to make a similar mindshift when i went back to karate a few years ago as you would hear "when on the street you use this technique this way" etc. and it would be a very rigid application of a stereotypical kihon technique. I just decided that i can learn the technique as taught, benefit from this in improving my co-ordination / balance / timing etc. and then apply it how i would like to / not apply it as i saw fit if it every came down to it. My son already seems to be doing the same thing: he has 5 years of judo training already at 9yrs and same time in karate and i had to have words with him after he started footsweeping other kids in kumite (he was talking about how he had openings for 'stronger' throws). Had to sit him down and tell him that it is really good he is spotting ways to integrate his techniques but if he actually follows through with blocking a technique and launches someone with Uchimata i will ban him myself for 6mths!
Additionally you may find that you notice a benefit yourself that you didn't expect: eg for myself when back at karate i went from being a bit sceptical about stances to realising that they are actually leg exercises / stretches and a way of getting more reps of this in etc. so it did lead to a new awareness for me too
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Yeah, whatever else people think about him as an individual, his impact on popular culture worldwide can't be ignored. He was a genuine global star and i would still say he is possibly the most well known wrestler anywhere (even compared to the Rock etc.)
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I have attended plenty of seminars over the years (mainly BJJ ones) and usually i find the following things important :
The level of the instructor delivering the session is important (eg i went to a couple of Rickson Gracie seminars which were superb and i signed up straight away based on who was teaching without even asking what the material to be covered was). He was also extremely personable when he delivered his seminars and genuinely cared that people were learning - i have never forgotten him asking a quite new white belt if he was ok with a technique, getting the usual mumbled "yeah it's fine" response and then calling the guy out and personally drilling it with him for 5min (both performing the technique so the student could feel what it felt like and being uke) until he was comfortable that the student was getting a handle on it.
In most cases (after all most people aren't Rickson etc.) then the material to be covered is by far the most important thing to me. I don't attend every seminar that our BJJ school puts on (or my judo class) as while i know that the person teaching is infinitely more skilled than me and i would no doubt learn something, if it is something i don't think would be a good fit for me or something i would be able to use then i don't attend. e.g. i am reasonably large (6'4" and 105kg) so if the seminar is something on ultra flexible inversions and LW style BJJ then i am unlikely to attend, but the second i saw we had Jon Thomas teaching a Collar & Sleeve seminar (which was great!) i signed up instantly.
Also what i think i would get from it in relation to the cost factors in - for me i am pretty new to judo so anything any good teacher shows me will be an improvement, i am not probably good enough to benefit from a seminar properly so it doesnt feel like a good use of money (though as i improve i am more likely to look into it over time)
If it is someone who will be teaching regular seminars then it could also be good for the potential student body at the hosting school to have an input into what is being taught - that would definitely lead to a lot of buy in i think!
Credentials are important too if someone isn't a famous name - eg if there are two black belts offering seminars in De La Riva and i have heard of neither of them but one of them is a black belt under the De La Riva lineage directly then i would opt for them - similarly a seminar on fundamentals of jiu jitsu and someone is under the Roger Gracie tree etc. etc.
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Sunday 13 July
Lifting session
It was 30C (which for us is epically hot - so i was pleased i got full session done!)
Deadlift
60kg x 5
80kg x 3
95kg x 8
95kg x 8
95kg x 8
95kg x 8
95kg x 10
The lift felt fine though my grip was struggling at the end of each set. Had noticed the same at BJJ the day before that my grip was a little weaker than i am used to. Will start using grippers again i think to try and help with this
ABF double KB oh press
2 x 16kg kb x 75 reps
Cablr neck extension
9kg x 14
9kg x 14
9kg x 14
Cable neck flexion
9kg x 14
9kg x 14
9kg x 14
Fat bar biceps cable curl
18kg x 10
18kg x 10
18kg x 10
This felt pretty easy but not going to jump up in weight too quickly as want to build it gradually since it will get taxing on forearms quickly. Felt good though
18kg x 10
18kg x 10
This felt pretty easy but not going to ju
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Saturday 12 July
BJJ Session
This session revolved around closed guard. First we worked at breaking top players grip and trying to get an arm secured; then built on this with more games / drills to get the arm trapped against body and more of an angle. Reminded myself of a couple of grip breaks i had forgotten whilst doing it which i was pleased with! Drilled triangle from this position a few times but would need a lot more work to be usable as was quite clunky freeing my leg to get it over the shoulder. Then drilled pendulum sweep a few times and finished class with some rolling
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Very cool!!
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Monday 7 July
Karate Session
Small class this week which is great for extra attention to fix issues / problems (especially since the CI reminded me i need to sit Shodan in March lol). Downside is it can be a killer as is very hard work throughout, nowhere to hide for a moment lol.
Ran through grading required kihon, every kata from kihon kata up until Bassai Dai then a few rounds of kumite
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Thursday 3 July
Seated Barbell oh press
20kg x 5
30kg x 5
35kg x 3
40kg x 1
45kg x 16
ABC
2 x 16kg kb x 12 rounds
Asssisted chin ups
25kg assistance
2 reps
2 reps
2 reps
2 reps
2 reps
Cable neck extension
9kg x 12
9kg x 12
9kg x 12
9kg x 12
9kg x 12
Cable neck flexion
9kg x 12
9kg x 12
9kg x 12
9kg x 12
9kg x 12
Fat bar biceps cable curl
16kg x 10
16kg x 10
16kg x 10
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Wednesday 2 July
Karate session
First one for a while unfortunately as a tonne of stuff has come up recently but seems to be dying down now. Was a good class though followed the usual format but that was good for getting back into it
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Tuesday 1 July
Squat
20kg x 5
45kg x 5
55kg x 3
65kg x 1
70kg x 16
ABF OH PRess
2 x 16kg kb 80 reps total
Barbell snatch high pull
20kg x 5
30kg x 5
40kg x 5
Decided to try this for first time in years and quite liked it!
Cable neck flexion
9kg x 11
9kg x 11
9kg x 11
Cable neck extension
9kg x 11
9kg x 11
9kg x 11
KB single arm curl
14kg x 6 reps per arm and 2 sets total
Added these in to try them
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Sunday 29 June
Bench Press
20kg x 5
30kg x 5
45kg x 5
55kg x 3
60kg x 1
65kg x 12
ABC
2 x 16kg KB x 12 rounds
Assisted chin up
25kg assistance
4 reps
3 reps
3 reps
Cable neck flexion
9kg x 10
9kg x 10
9kg x 10
Cable neck extension
9kg x 10
9kg x 10
9kg x 10
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Thursday 26 June
Deadlift
60kg x 5
75kg x 3
85kg x 1
90kg x 15
ABF KB OH Press
2 x 16kg kb x 64 total reps
Assisted chin up
25kg assistance
3 reps
3 reps
3 reps
Cable neck extension
7kg x 20
7kg x 20
7kg x 20
Cable neck flexion
7kg x 20
7kg x 20
7kg x 20
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Tuesday 24 June
Seated overhead barbell press
20kg x 5
30kg x 3
35kg x 5
35kg x 5
40kg x 10
40kg x 10
40kg x 11
ABC
2 x 16kg KB x 20 rounds
Cable neck extension
7kg x 18
7kg x 18
7kg x 18
Cable neck flexion
7kg x 18
7kg x 18
7kg x 18
Triceps pushdown with fat bar
20kg x 10
20kg x 10
20kg x 10
20kg x 10
20kg x 10
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Friday 20th June
Squat
20kg x 5
40kg x 5
50kg x 5
60kg x 5
65kg x 10
65kg x 10
65kg x 15
ABF OH Press
2 x 16kg KB x 75 total reps
Assisted chin up
45kg assistance
5 reps
5 reps
5 reps
4 reps
Cable neck extension
7kg x 17
7 kg x 17
7kg x 17
Cable neck flexion
7kg x 17
7kg x 17
7kg x 17
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Tuesday 10 June
Bench Press
20kg x 5
40kg x 5
50kg x 5
55kg x 5
60kg x 10
60kg x 10
60kg x 11
ABC
2 x 16kg KB x 10 rounds
Assisted chin up
45kg assistance
4 reps
4 reps
4 reps
4 reps
Cable neck flexion
7kg x 16
7kg x 16
7kg x 16
7kg x 16
Cable neck extension
7kg x 16
7kg x 16
7kg x 16
7kg x 16
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Sunday 8th June
Deadlift
70kg x 5
75kg x 5
85kg x 10
85kg x 10
85kg x 12
ABF KB OH Press
2 x 16kg KB x 70 total reps
Assisted chin ups
45kg assistance
3 reps
3 reps
3 reps
3 reps
Cable neck extension
7kg x 15
7kg x 15
7kg x 15
7kg x 15
Cable neck flexion
7kg x 15
7kg x 15
7kg x 15
7kg x 16
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Friday 6 June
Seated Overhead Barbell Press
20kg x 5
30kg x 3
35kg x 10
35kg x 10
35kg x 10
35kg x 10
35kg x 12
ABC
with 2 x 16kg KB x 10 rounds
Assisted chin ups
45kg assistance
3 reps
3 reps
3 reps
Neck Extension cable
7kg x 15
7kg x 15
7kg x 15
Neck flexion cable
7kg x 15
7kg x 15
7kg x 15
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I've never watched it but it has always struck me as needlessly dangerous tbh. The fact you can't defend yourself and just take the blow will just lead to injury. I recently saw another similar 'sport' involving leg kicks which also struck me as crazy but at least it doesn't have the same concussion potential!
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Congratulations! Well done. How frequently do you guys test? Thats you on the road now anyway
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Yeah, if he can back up his attitude with his play on the field then they will work with him. They will have known what to expect prior to drafting him tbh. Being fair to him, there is probably an adjustment factor involved in no longer having his dad as his head coach for the first time in several years with that leading to quite a difference in what he can get away with.
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7 hours ago, BrandonH45 said:
I like that idea. Make it a milestone rather than an official rank. It could also be used to show other instructors and students how far an individual is in that particular part of the curriculum and tell them what the student needs to work on most.
In my head it almost seems like something more akin to BJJ stripes, which are often more informal, with you having the discretion to award 1 or more as you see fit. Different students will learn at different rates so i could see one student being ready for 2 stripes after the 10hr segment and another ready for 1 etc.. Making it more informal makes it easier for you to apply instructors discretion i think
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4 hours ago, KarateKen said:
Looks like the big media story in the NFL offseason continues to be Browns QB Shedeur Sanders. He has been pulled over twice for speeding, going over 100mph in a 60mph zone, and now he missed the team's rookie outing, the only rookie on the Browns to do so. The word "entitled" comes to my mind when I see the behavior of Sanders.
QB news for the Browns does not get much better, their big gamble on Deshawn Watson continues to haunt the team. His 2024 injury is likely to keep him out of most of the 2025 season, possibly all of it. Looks like the Browns are going to be stuck with that huge contract because they won't be able to trade a guy who has a major injury, off the field problems, and has underperformed on the field. Nobody is going to take on all that money so even if they can trade him the Browns will have to eat most, if not all, of the contract. One of the dumbest trades and contracts in NFL history.
Yeah Sanders is behaving like he is already his all-time great dad rather than a rookie selected low in the draft. I wonder what else he needs to do to be cut?
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On 6/5/2025 at 7:31 PM, bushido_man96 said:
That would probably work well. I'd say keep the punts in the game, because playing defense is a strategy all it's own, and the way the rules are laid out in the NFL with offense being favored, short fields like that would be a huge disadvantage. I say just let the quarter play out in it's entirety.
Is an interesting idea. Personally i have always thought that the current rules for OT are similar to the football / soccer rules for Golden Goal that got trialled and binned years ago. I would much prefer another quarter (even a shorter one) be played with the team winning at the end getting the win. If still tied could maybe go for something skill based eg stand on the 35yrd line and the qb has to throw the ball off the post. 5 attempts and winning team is highest score. If tied then sudden death and move back a yard etc. (just coming up with ideas to replace the penalty shootout idea!).
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17 hours ago, Zaine said:
I didn't really read any Forgotten Realms stuff. Not sure why Dragonlance was on my radar as a kid but FR wasn't.
Dragonlance was a lot more 'focused'. It had the original 2 trilogies then branched off series with some of the characters and the backstory. Realms was a totally different thing with authors writing about totally different unconnected areas / characters often. Was probably harder to just pick up and get into.
Currently i am reading the Bladeborn saga, on book 6 at the minute and have been enjoying it. Once done i will read the latest book in the Bound and the Broken series - the series so far was fantastic
I don't like this Sensei
in Karate
Posted
This confuses me a little : if your own sensei is in the same style then why not get them to teach you the kata? You are obviously experienced so i am sure you can likely practice them yourself to get the techniques down (if you don't want the bunkai etc. from the new sensei then you aren't missing out on anything). Your own sensei may even let you make a personal video of them performing the kata/s so you have a reference to look at if you need to remember sequencing etc.
Wouldn't this achieve your goal with a lot less hassle?