DarthPenguin

Hi all,

A couple of years ago (just realised it has been that long!) we had a Karate Forums fantasy baseball league - i was wondering if anyone would like to have one again? There is always a fair amount of engagement on the NFL thread and wondered if more people would be open to a fantasy baseball run through this time.

If so then please post on this thread / mark with a thumbs up and i will see the numbers. Was thinking an auto draft league (you rank your players pre draft) and rotisserie (so just score points rather than weekly match ups) but if people would prefer head to head then thats fine. I think auto draft will best accommodate the different time zones etc. for the players

yeah i watch it too (though only a few episodes into season 2 so far). I really like Walton Goggins and find he is usually only in good stuff (i always loved him in the Shield). Is good so far, though makes me wonder if they would ever make a Skyrim / Elder Scrolls show

Monday 16th February

Karate Session

Usual warm ups then kihon. Spent quite a bit of time working on my Shodan kihon for grading. I have been doing quite a bit of extra stretching (dynamic twice a day) and extra leg lifts etc to strengthen outside hip muscles and i can see that they are helping with kicks - i am getting much better "thrust with slight hold" for yoko geri kekomi than i was previously.

Ran through the Heian katas mainly this session and no time for kumite.

Friday 13th February

Lifting Session

Back squat

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

88kg x 5

88kg x 5

88kg x 5

88kg x 5

88kg x 5

 

Bench press

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

72kg x 5

72kg x 5

72kg x 5

72kg x 5

72kg x 5

 

Barbell Overhead Press

20kg x 5

30kg x 5

35kg x 5

 

Was really pushed for time so an abbreviated session. Got main lifts in then left

 

Monday 9th February

Karate Session

Usual class warm ups then onto Kihon. Worked some more advanced kihon, there is a dan grading coming up in March (i will be sitting Shodan and some others Nidan) and we worked on the Nidan combinations etc.

Kata wise ran through all the Heians and Bassai Dai as will be grading requirement. couple of Rounds of Jiyu Ippon kumite added in too.

Sunday 8th February

Lifting Session

Back squat

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

88kg x 5

88kg x 5

88kg x 5

88kg x 5

 

Bench press

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

72kg x 5

72kg x 5

72kg x 5

72kg x 5

 

Pullups (assisted)

-25kg x 7

-25kg x 7

-25kg x 7

 

Triceps Pushdown (straight bar)

20kg x 10

20kg x 10

20kg x 10

 

Cable hip flexor lift (weight is same per leg : reps here are reps per leg and did same for each leg)

4.5kg x 15

4.5kg x 15

4.5kg x 15

 

Friday 6th February

Lifting Session

Back squat

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

83kg x 5

83kg x 5

83kg x 5

83kg x 5

83kg x 5

 

Bench press

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

68kg x 5

68kg x 5

68kg x 5

68kg x 5

68kg x 5

 

Cable hip flexor lift (weight is same per leg : reps here are reps per leg and did same for each leg)

4.5kg x 10

4.5kg x 10

4.5kg x 10

 

Cable Seated Shoulder Press (weight is total weight split in half per hand)

9kg x 10

18kg x 10

27kg x 10

32kg x 10

32kg x 10

 

5 hours ago, KarateKen said:

NFL Honors have been announced, and the MVP goes to Rams QB Matthew Stafford.  Coach of the Year is Mike Vrabel of the Patriots, and Walter Payton Man of the Year is Travis Kelcie of the Chiefs.  All this on the same day the NFL announced a game between the Rams and 49ers will take place next season in Australia. Many fans are upset about that, but the league has a desire to expand the game outside the USA, and international games will become more common as the NFL continues to aim for a global audience. 

Garrett also got DPoY. Was the closest MVP race in years (since the Manning and McNair tie). It always reminds me of why i prefer the football awards which are for "best player" with teams results contributing rather than "most valuable player" which i think is often a lot harder to quantify. Realistically Michael Jordan should have 10-12 MVPs since people talk about it as best player etc.. With it being most valuable i (admittedly i am a biased Bills fan here) would give it to Josh Allen a lot more than he has received as that team would crater without him. Best player this season though is slightly different and i think fine for Stafford!

On 1/31/2026 at 6:02 AM, KarateKen said:

I agree with both of you, and it looks like there is going to be a full investigation.  I also agree with what some people have said on TV which is anyone who did not vote for Belichick should publicly explain it.  There has also been talk of former Colts executive Bill Pollion who said he did not remember for sure if he voted for Belichick.  Come on, that is just nonsense.  If he can't remember he should not have a vote.  Then later he said (after the blowback) he did vote for Belichick.  Which is it?  Heads need to roll.  Not only is this clearly a monumental failure but it is shallow and short sighted.  It makes the whole NFL look bad.  It damages the integrity of the HOF.  Jimmy Johnson, Ty Law, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Troy Aikman, JJ Watt, and many others have sounded off about this.  Jimmy Johnson especially did not hold back, same with longtime sportswriter Peter King.  Players, fans, coaches, broadcasters, and more have called this out for what a terrible mistake it was. I have not seen one person who defended it or agrees with it.  Not one.  Have you?  This is an abomination that has created a national firestorm. 

Prediction: Belichick gets in next year and gets every single vote.  

 

 

Yeah it really is a farce tbh. I am not a fan of the way the baseball one has played out (airbrushing out some of the best players in history in Bonds, A-Rod, Clemens etc. when other self admitted cheaters from the past are in has always seemed wrong to me) but at least they have been upfront that these issues would impact candidacy. No-one mentioned things like this in advance so it shouldn't make a difference tbh. Much as i dislike the Patriots both Belichick and Brady should be clear unanimous first ballet hall of famers. If not then the bar is so high that no other player / coach can currently clear it (maybe Mahomes gets to 8 SB wins and that becomes the bar but i doubt it will happen).

If they said upfront that these issues would be considered then fair enough, but this just looks awful. Certain individuals should just require no thought tbh: worst case there are 6 great candidates all hall worthy at the one time and one has to lose out due to the 5 max rule, but Brady doesn't lose to anyone on accomplishments, neither does Belichick (other than the career wins to Shula) so they get in anyway and another great waits a year.

Monday 2nd February

Karate Session

Usual warm ups to begin the class. Worked through grade required Kihon and then a little more, working on some new combinations. Plenty of kata work in this session. Ran through Bassai Dai couple of times and then lots of detail work on Heian Godan and Heian Yondan

Sunday 1st February

Lifting Session

Back squat

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

83kg x 5

83kg x 5

83kg x 5

83kg x 5

83kg x 5

 

Bench press

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

68kg x 5

68kg x 5

68kg x 5

68kg x 5

68kg x 5

 

Romanian Deadlift

60kg x 5

60kg x 5

60kg x 5

60kg x 5

60kg x 5

 

Assisted pull up with 25kg band

7 reps

7 reps

6 reps

 

Standing military press

33kg x 10

33kg x 10

33kg x 10

20 hours ago, Furinkazan said:

I live near a military base, and can confirm that not all alteration shops know how to duplicate the manufacturer's hem on a karate gi.  Best thing to do is ask around the dojo for a shop that can.  And the closest one to the military housing for the base I live near charges for $40 just for the pants OR sleeves.  So if you have to get both hemmed, you're looking at $80 (I hope that's not considered cheap because if it is, people who live further away from miltary bases are in big trouble).

That's why I recommend Shureido or Tokyodo (Tokyodo is the cheaper of the two) since they hem for free, and have baggier fit that's better for the big boys.

Higher end non-Japanese gis like Mugen and Kamikaze are good deals IF you don't need anything hemmed.

I'll admit I'm considering getting that Arawaza Black Diamond and having it hemmed anyway.  Because by the time you spend $325 on it, what's another $80?

I will also add a vote for Hirota here too - depending what you mean by big of course. I have a size 7 and i really like it (6'4" about 230lb in US measurements). Didn't need altered at all - just some careful warm washing / drying for fit. Price was reasonable too from Japan to UK

Saturday 24th January

BJJ Session

This session was all about retaining back control. Worked on keeping grips and hand fighting to keep the grips / open up choking opportunities. Worked some claw grip to secure the neck and also worked a little on read naked chokes. My back control is awful so it was a good session and lots to work on! Though my recovering to mount when someone is escaping back control is still not too bad - session did show up though that often i default to moving to mount rather than fighting harder to keep on the back, so it is definitely something to work on

Friday 23rd January

Lifting Session

Back squat

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

80kg x 1

99kg x 3

99kg x 3

99kg x 3

99kg x 3

 

Bench press

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

70kg x 1

81kg x 3

81kg x 3

81kg x 3

81kg x 3

 

Romanian Deadlift

72kg x 3

72kg x 3

72kg x 3

72kg x 3

 

Assisted pull up with 25kg band

7 reps

7 reps

 

Standing military press

32kg x 10

32kg x 10

 

Was short of time so had to cut the final pull ups and standing press sets short (am doing them as a superset). Got main lifts done though which is the main point

 

3 hours ago, KarateKen said:

A bombshell on Tuesday night that also has to be one of the most bonehead moves in the history American sports.  Former Patriots and Browns head coach Bill Belichick was not voted into the Hall of Fame, getting less than the 40 votes needed to be selected.  He will get in, probably next year, but to not make him a first ballot HOF coach is beyond asinine. 

Definitely. Is kinda like the absurd bar the Baseball HoF used to set that no one could be unanimous etc. even when it was blatantly obvious they should be. If Belichick isn't first ballot (much as i loathe him) then no other coach can be going forwards (unless they get 7 HC superbowl wins / 9 total wins maybe). Apparently it is 'punishment' for the cheating scandals but if that is the case then he should have had the punishment levied up front - defer his eligibility for a year or something

11 hours ago, bushido_man96 said:

Well if you go dark again, I'll try to pop in here and ask where you at.

cheers!

On 1/26/2026 at 3:45 AM, bushido_man96 said:

Good to see your updates.  I've been having trouble posting lately, too.  Here's to making it regular again!

Thanks! It does help with accountability too

Monday 19th January

Karate Session

Standard session again. Worked through all grading required kihon plus lots of reps of kata. Also got confirmation of date for my Shodan grading in March

Sunday 18th January

Lifting Session

Back squat

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

80kg x 1

99kg x 3

99kg x 3

99kg x 3

 

Bench press

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

70kg x 1

81kg x 3

81kg x 3

81kg x 3

 

Romanian Deadlift

72kg x 3

72kg x 3

72kg x 3

 

Assisted pull up with 25kg band

7 reps

6 reps

6 reps

 

Standing military press

32kg x 10

32kg x 10

32kg x 10

Friday 16th January

Lifting Session

Back squat

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

88kg x 5

88kg x 5

88kg x 5

88kg x 5

 

Bench press

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

72kg x 5

72kg x 5

72kg x 5

72kg x 5

 

Romanian Deadlift

64kg x 5

64kg x 5

64kg x 5

64kg x 5

 

Assisted pull up with 25kg band

6 reps

6 reps

6 reps

 

Triceps pushdown (straight bar)

20kg x 10

20kg x 10

20kg x 10

20kg x 10

20kg x 10

 

 

Standing military press

31kg x 10

31kg x 10

31kg x 10

Monday 12th December

Karate Session

First session back for 2026. Standard session. Not massive numbers so lots of reps of kata, which are always needed!

Sunday 11th January

Lifting Session

Back squat

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

88kg x 5

88kg x 5

88kg x 5

88kg x 5

 

Bench press

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

72kg x 5

72kg x 5

72kg x 5

72kg x 5

 

Romanian Deadlift

64kg x 5

64kg x 5

64kg x 5

64kg x 5

 

Assisted pull up with 25kg band

6 reps

6 reps

6 reps

 

 

Standing military press

31kg x 10

31kg x 10

31kg x 10

Friday 9th January

Lifting Session

Back squat

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

83kg x 5

83kg x 5

83kg x 5

83kg x 5

 

Bench press

20kg x 5

40kg x 3

60kg x 2

68kg x 5

68kg x 5

68kg x 5

68kg x 5

 

Romanian Deadlift

60kg x 5

60kg x 5

60kg x 5

60kg x 5

 

Assisted pull up with 25kg band

5 reps

5 reps

5 reps

 

 

Standing military press

30kg x 10

30kg x 10

30kg x 10

 

Yeah i have to agree. Can make an argument that Ukemi is the skill you are most likely to use in your life and the one most likely to save you from injury or severe harm. People don't get in that many physical confrontations but everyone has fallen on a patch of ice etc. at some point in their life

7 hours ago, sensei8 said:

Ah…no thanks!! I’ve read the same thing about NFL team and MLB teams hiring MAists to help the team with whatever is necessary. However, while the money is tempting,  I’m not a Raiders fan and it’d turn my stomach to help them. Oh, my wife would love it!! If I was crazy enough to help the Raiders, I’d wear a Cowboys shirt and hat!!

As far as the HC merry-go-around goes, I’m shocked that they fired McDermott after all, he did get the Bills to the Divisional Round unlike some other NFL teams didn’t make it to the playoffs. Bills so ungrateful; I understand if the Bills had a record like the Raiders, for example.

 

As a long time Bills fan i actually agree with the firing. To me it is like when the Buccaneers fired Tony Dungy years ago and got a lot of stick for it. He got them very close for years but couldn't get over the hump and next year they won the superbowl with Gruden. McDermott has done a very good job, but he has also had one of the (in my opinion) 2 best QBs in the league for years. To not get to even one superbowl isn't that great with the talent the team has - this season they really should have gotten there with the Chiefs not making the playoffs etc.. Hopefully the new HC gives them the needed boost. I wonder if Tomlin would be interested - he did win with Big Ben after all and i always think of Allen as a slightly improved version of Ben!