Patrick

Hey all, As you read the interviews that we publish this month for our 25th birthday celebration, you'll learn a lot about your fellow members. Even if you weren't included in the list of interviewees, you can absolutely answer these questions, too. We'd love to hear more about your background. If you're up for it, please reply to this thread and answer the questions below! You can simply copy-and-paste them from the text block below. Thank you for taking the time. I look forward to reading your responses. Patrick Where are you from? Why did you get started in the martial arts? Why have you continued to practice them? Please briefly describe the styles of martial arts that you have taken. What is your grade or level? Do you teach? What are your first memories from training? What has been the highlight of your training? What do you do when you're not training? What do you do for a living? Who are or were your martial arts heroes? What are your favorite martial arts films and/or shows? Where do you see yourself going in your martial arts journey in the next few years? Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? Why did you stay? You've been a member since November 11, 2021. During this time, how has KarateForums.com changed in your eyes, if at all? How, if at all, have you used KarateForums.com in your classes or training? Are there any members here who have had a particular influence or impact on you? Can you share a memorable moment within the community where you received great advice or an experience that really affected you and your martial arts journey?

Thank you for sharing with us, KarateKen. It was really interesting to hear about you have continued to join in after you stopped training. Clearly, the passion for the arts there, and it's awesome that KF could be an outlet for that. I appreciate all of the contributions that you have made here over the years.

For our 25th birthday celebration, we're publishing an interview series with members from our community. Member Profile @KarateKen (View Profile) Joined: November 11, 2011 Posts: 1,735 KarateForums.com Awards: Member of the Year (2025) and Funniest Member of the Year (2025) Interview Where are you from? Earth, though a few people have questioned that. Why did you get started in the martial arts? Got tired of being bullied. Wanted to build self-confidence and learn to stand up for myself. Why have you continued to practice them? I don't train anymore but when I did, it was about community, fitness, pushing myself, and the appreciation of learning more. Please briefly describe the styles of martial arts that you have taken. Started in Olympic style TKD, also studied Hapkido, JJJ, and Karate. Took a semester of Tai Chi, Aikido, and Krav Maga while in college. What is your grade or level? I have rank in TKD, Hapkido, JJJ, and Karate, no ranking in Tai Chi or Krav Maga, and a white belt in Aikido. Only trained those three for a short time. Do you teach? No, I am not a sensei. Never have been. Though I did spend a summer teaching weapons class in TKD. What are your first memories from training? Tying the belt wrong. What has been the highlight of your training? Can't name just one. Some of them are my first tournament, learning weapons, breaking my first brick, and watching myself and others progress. What do you do when you're not training? I love stand-up comedy, so I watch a lot of that. I read books, take walks, exercise, relax in the hot tub, watch sports... the usual. I am not very social, so I mostly stay in, but I do see family and friends at times. What do you do for a living? I'm retired. Sometimes I think about going back to work, so maybe I will unretire. What did you do before you retired? Before retirement, I was in several different fields. I worked for a newspaper, was a radio producer, and spent some time in food and beverage, to name a few. Who are or were your martial arts heroes? I became a fan of Chuck Norris and have seen all of his movies, but it started after I was already training. I don't think I ever watched one of his movies before green belt. What are your favorite martial arts films and/or shows? Karate Kid inspired me a lot. I had left training then caught the movie one night, and it pushed me to go back. I also loved Cobra Kai. Currently, I am going back through it and am on season six. Each time I watch it, I see something new. I liked Walker, Texas Ranger, the first two Kickboxer movies and, of course, Ninja Turtles! Where do you see yourself going in your martial arts journey in the next few years? Not currently training so I don't know. Maybe I will start again, but I don't have any plans or expectations for that. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? Google search, I think. I was getting ready for a belt test, had a lot of anxiety, and wanted to talk about it. Why did you stay? There is a lot of support on here. It is a friendly group, and I appreciate that. Some of the other forums I used to post on were not that way at all. A civil conversation often quickly escalated into a flame war of personal attacks. I've never seen that here. I honestly thought that when I was done training, I wouldn't be on the forum anymore, but here I am! You've been a member since November 11, 2021. During this time, how has KarateForums.com changed in your eyes, if at all? The obvious thing is the new layout, but there have been some new members as well. I see a lot of the regulars who I've gotten to know a bit over the years. How, if at all, have you used KarateForums.com in your classes or training? I might have, I don't know. I can't think of any examples off the top of my head. Are there any members here who have had a particular influence or impact on you? I've enjoyed talking with many of the members, but sensei8 and I seem to have good rapport. Can you share a memorable moment within the community where you received great advice or an experience that really affected you and your martial arts journey? I joined the forum near the end of my training, so I don't think there is one. If I had joined 25 years ago, I would probably have many of those.

This is so well said. Thank you for sharing this with us, Brian. It's touching to hear how the community has impacted you. I know you know this, because we've told you, ha, but you have had a tremendous impact on the community, too, and have been one of our greatest ambassadors to new members. Thank you for everything that you had done here to create a space where others feel welcome and comfortable enough to share their experience with us, no matter their current station - or post count.

Thank you for sharing with us, @Wastelander, and for all of the contributions that you have made to our community over the years. Being able to follow the growth of a martial artist over several years has been one of the most rewarding parts of being in this community for so long. You are a perfect example of that, and it's been a pleasure to follow your evolution through your posts here, as illustrated by these two interviews. I appreciate you.

For our 25th birthday celebration, we're publishing an interview series with members from our community. We did this back in 2013 and Wastelander was one of the members that participated. Member Profile @Wastelander (View Profile) KarateForums.com Sensei Joined: October 18, 2010 Posts: 2,839 KarateForums.com Awards: Community Spirit Award (2023), Staff Member of the Year (2025, 2024, 2014), Karate Contributor of the Year (2020, 2019, 2016), Equipment Contributor of the Year (2014), and Instructors and School Owners Contributor of the Year (2025, 2022, 2021) Interview Where has your martial arts journey taken you since our first interview in November 2013? A LOT has happened since then! I began formally training in KishimotoDi, I fought in MMA and won, was promoted to Shodan in Shorin-Ryu, started the Waza Wednesday YouTube series with my Sensei, was promoted to Nidan, had my Sensei pass away, traveled to Okinawa and trained there, broke away from my organization and joined the World Combat Association, moved back to Illinois, and helped co-found the International Neoclassical Karate Kobudo Society. What martial arts do you currently take? Shorin-Ryu (Kobayashi) and KishimotoDi. What is your grade or level now? Yondan (4th degree black belt). When I asked you the highlight of your training back in 2013, you mentioned a young man that you used to teach and how he appreciated the time you had together. Do you have any new highlights to add? I couple of things spring to mind. One was my MMA fight, where I fought a former state champion wrestler with a 3-0 MMA record, who was apparently making his professional debut even though I was fighting as an amateur for the first time. Tunnel vision in round 1 was serious, and he was able to take me down, but couldn't really do anything effective. The tunnel vision wore off by the time we got to round 2, so I was able to actually do what my Sensei and I planned, and kick him in the head when he tried the takedown again. I won by KO 11 seconds into round 2. Another highlight was earning my black belt, despite the fact that I had started experiencing neurological issues that I now know are part of widespread dysautonomia caused by my joint hypermobility disorder. Finally, although it is a sad highlight, I was honored to be the one to read the eulogy for my late Sensei at his celebration of life. Public speaking is hard for me, and it was especially hard because he was like a brother to me, but I will never forget it. Where do you see yourself going in your martial arts journey in the next few years? My hope is to travel to Okinawa, again, and be able to train at more than just one dojo, including the Bugeikan honbu dojo, where KishimotoDi is based. I also hope that I can set up a proper dojo in a commercial space, rather than teaching from my home, at some point. How would you sum up the last 13 years of your life? It has been a wild ride of ups and downs, but I can say that I have matured as a person and a martial artist, without losing my passion for the arts. Why are you still visiting KarateForums.com? The community feels tight-knit, even though we only engage with each other online, and I know that we can have meaningful conversations about martial arts without it devolving into arguments and personal attacks. What's changed in the community over the last 13 years? Honestly, it's largely stayed the same, in a good way! We've had some upgrades to the forums, themselves, which have been beneficial for everybody, and there are folks who leave and new folks who join, of course, but the sense of community stays the same. What do you think it says about the community that we are doing this again, so many years later? It is remarkable - keeping an online forum alive for 25 years is no small feat, particularly when you consider the fact that KF has stuck around through the massive social media boom, from Myspace to Facebook to Bluesky, and more. When we spoke back in 2013, you were a Sempai and later you became a Sensei, which you still are today. Why have you remained committed to the community in this way? I think it is largely because I enjoy helping others, and keeping the community safe and healthy is part of that. Plus, it makes me feel invested in answering questions and engaging in conversations. I'd like to end by repeating the last three questions I asked you previously, as I think these answers can change over time - or not. But they are worth asking for the sake of identifying what makes this community so special. How, if at all, have you used KarateForums.com in your classes or training? Sometimes, subjects will be brought up that I haven't touched on in a while, and it gives me a renewed interest in circling back to them. I have also come across subjects that have made me think about the way I train or teach in a different way, from a different perspective, which gives me new insights into what I'm doing. Are there any members here who have had a particular influence or impact on you? @sensei8 and @bushido_man96 have been consistent, helpful presences on KF for a very long time, and I always value their input, experience, and perspectives. Can you share a memorable moment within the community where you received great advice or an experience that really affected you and your martial arts journey? Like last time, I'm very bad at remembering specific moments and conversations, unfortunately. What I can say is that I have been able to learn from many different people from diverse backgrounds thanks to KF, whom I would otherwise never had the chance to engage with!

Thank you for sharing with us, @Wado Heretic, and for all of the thoughtful contributions that you have made to our community.

For our 25th birthday celebration, we're publishing an interview series with members from our community. Member Profile @Wado Heretic (View Profile) Joined: May 23, 2014 Posts: 514 KarateForums.com Awards: Karate Contributor of the Year (2020) Interview Where are you from? On the Welsh-English Border of the Midlands in the United Kingdom. Why did you get started in the martial arts? Childhood interest in martial arts. I enjoyed a lot of media around martial arts or fighting in youth such as Dragonball and Star Wars. Why have you continued to practice them? Primarily the connection with people such as my sensei, fellow students, and my own students. My passion for the history of Okinawan Karate and Kobudo, and the possibilities and lessons of the martial arts, keep me interested in learning. My desire to preserve the tradition I have been gifted gives me the discipline to practice and motivation to teach. I also find several benefits to training to myself with my Autism including its help in regulating. Please briefly describe the styles of martial arts that you have taken. I will first explain my formal studies in arts where I have been granted grades. I started in and studied two heterodox forms of Kempo Karate from the age of 9 until 18. The first was simply titled Kempo Karate (which I studied until age 16) and the second was Pangai-Noon Shorei Kempo (which I studied until age 18). At age 19 (2008), I began studying Wado-Ryu Karate and Ryukyu Kobujutsu. In 2012, I switched from Wado-Ryu to the Kobayashi-Ryu Kodokan of Aragaki Isamu Sensei, along with my instructor at the time, Michael Bayliss (Yondan). I trained in Judo while in university from 2011 to 2015. In 2018, after a time training by myself without a teacher, I reconnected with Kazoku Kai and Derek Ridgway Sensei, who had much more time directly studying with Arakaki Sensei. I continue to study with him and, aside from deepening my knowledge of Shorin-Ryu, I have also revisited Wado-Ryu Kumite concepts and studied elements of Shito-Ryu including bunkai principles, Koshiki, and Naha Kata. I passed my Yondan examination in September of 2025 and currently run my own club. For clarity, here is list and timeline of what I have accrued grades in: Kempo Karate (heterodox style local to myself based on Tang Soo Do and Shukokai): 1999-2005 - Junior Black Belt/Shodan Ha Pangai-Noon Shorei Kempo: 2000-2008 - Nidan/Second Degree Black Belt Wado-Ryu Karate: 2008-2012 - Shodan/First Degree Black Belt Ryukyu Kobujutsu (Taira Ha): 2008-2014 - Yonkyu Judo: 2011-2015 - Ikkyu Kobayashi-Ryu Kodokan (Arakaki Isamu) Shorin-Ryu Karate: 2012-Present – Nidan Kazoku Kai Karate: 2018-Present – Yondan To briefly explain my present arts, I teach Shorin-Ryu and was awarded my Nidan grade by the Kodokan in Okinawa. Thus, as an instructor, my syllabus is grounded in Shorin-Ryu up to second degree black belt level. However, under Derek Ridgway Sensei, head instructor and founder of Kazoku Kai International, my personal study now includes elements of Shorin-Ryu, Shito-Ryu, and Wado-Ryu. For simplicities sake, I just identify my current personal practice as Kazoku Kai Karate. Plus, for my Sandan and Yondan grades, I was just awarded the rank in Karate with no reference to styles. Outside my official studies, as a teenager from 14 until 18, I also regularly cross-trained with two close friends. One who was an amateur wrestler and aspiring professional wrestler. The other trained in Judo and Hankyo Kempo Jujutsu. We exchanged techniques and drills from our different styles, and sparred against each to test our different skill sets in free-fighting. My specialty in the trio was striking due to my karate and Kempo background. We finished when the wrestler went off to pursue an Olympic career in Manchester, and the latter joined the army. I was also an aspiring kickboxer/professional fighter between the ages of 16 and 20, and cross-trained in boxing, Lau Gar Kickboxing, and shoot-wrestling. When I was in university, I also had the chance to study Shotokan and Shukokai Karate, Wing Chun, and European Jujutsu. Between 2015 and 2018, when I had no official teacher and did not belong to any associations, I attended seminars in Gracie Combatives, Muay Thai, Nippon Kempo, Shindo Yoshin-Ryu, Kukamishin-Ryu Bojutsu, and several styles of Okinawan Karate and Kobudo. However, I never earned any qualifications in any of arts mentioned above. From the age of 26 until 32, I trained with an exponent in Bujinkan, but I did not become a member of the organisation as it was a mutual knowledge-exchange relationship. I was interested in learning the kata of Shinden Fudo-Ryu, Kukishinden-Ryu, and Takagi Yoshin-Ryu. Shinden Fudo-Ryu due to its potential connection to Mabuni Kenwa, and the latter two due to their being authentic koryu. In exchange, I taught him live drilling methods and helped him introduce sparring to his students. I also helped him develop flows drills, resistance-based exercises, and shadow work based on the kata he taught. Our training relationship came to an end due to the COVID pandemic, and his moving to Japan after to further his training at the hombu. He gifted me nominal teaching certificates in the three arts I learnt from him, and to be fair I did become quite competent at them due to my prior experience, and the nature of the help I gave him required me to analyse them deeply. However, I do not use said certificates or claim their validity with great vigour or assertiveness. That said, I have incorporated some of the Shinden Fudo-Ryu and Takagi Yoshin-Ryu exercises into my karate teachings and have used elements of Kukamishin-Ryu to expand my Kobujutsu Syllabus. I was also involved, to an extent, in historical European martial arts and historical fencing from age 13. Though it was through the medium of reenactment. I focused on the long-sword, and the quarterstaff. I took a step back from it when I turned 16 to focus on kickboxing, and after 19, struggled to be available for it due to my Wado-Ryu and Kobujutsu classes being on Sundays. I continued to dabble in armoured combat (longsword, spear, poleaxe, and dagger) until 26 but was forced to retire completely due to the ACL injury that stopped my Judo training as well. What is your grade or level? Yondan in Karate. Do you teach? Yes, I have been teaching at my own club since 2018. What are your first memories from training? I most remember being shown a kata and not being able to get it right at all. Looking back, I am surprised I went back to training because it was embarrassing for a nine-year-old, though I am glad I did. What has been the highlight of your training? Training with Arakaki Sensei is what springs to mind first. Also, teaching on a course in India alongside my teacher, Derek Sensei. The other would be earning my Sandan grade. It was after a period of essentially training in Isolation, including COVID, and after getting my left knee ACL repaired. It was not to my own high standard with regards to final score compared to my second and first grades, however, I was very glad to pass. It gave me a sense of being back on the correct path after being in the wilds. What do you do when you're not training? Music is another big part of my life. I sing in a Welsh Male Voice Choir, play guitar, and compose music. I am also an avid reader and enjoy classics as well as knew works. What do you do for a living? I am an employment specialist. I work for my local authority in welfare and work/employment support assisting people to return to work or remain in work. Who are or were your martial arts heroes? Arakaki Isamu Sensei, I can say without reservation for he has passed, and the memory is dear to me. One day with a great master surpasses a lifetime with a poor one. Thankfully, my other major inspirations are people I can call friends rather than heroes. With regards to strangers, I do not believe in having heroes. I cannot know their true qualities. That said there are several figures I am grateful to for existing. Without them my life would not be what it is. Anko Itosu, Kano Jogiro, Funakoshi Gichin, Chosin Chibana, Yuchoku Higa, Tatsuo Suzuki, Peter Spanton, Roy Partridge, Steve Catttle, and Keiji Tomiyama are names that come to mind. That is just a short list of martial artists that needed to exist for me to be the martial artist I am. What are your favorite martial arts films and/or shows? Narratively, Karate Kid I and II and the Cobra Kai Series are my favourite western productions. Blood Sport was a good effort at bringing a more adult angle to martial arts films, and The Perfect Weapon really aimed for a much higher technical level. Karate Olympia is a film that has aged poorly with the quality of the acting and the state of the plot. However, it features some of the best European karateka of the time, and the fights are surprisingly entertaining still. They all fall flat with regards to the story compared to the Karate Kid though. Michael Jai White is arguably the best martial arts actor alive today in the west. Undisputed 2 works well even if the tropes are familiar and the setting convoluted. The action is great, and the story never strays from what it needs to do to justify the fights. Never Surrender: Never Back Down wears its heart on its sleeve and leans much more into martial arts. It weighs on them in a way few of Mr. White’s other films do. From Japanese Cinema, The Twilight Samurai is not truly a martial arts film but is a period drama which features sword fights. It is a great film to watch regardless of genre preference. Kuro-Obi is a film with excellent martial arts, but the story is cliché, predictable, and works on familiar tropes with regards to Imperial Era Japan. Fighter in the Wind, a fictionalised biopic of Mas Oyama that borrows as much from Karate Baka Ichidai as reality, similarly has great fights scenes though it is cliched. However, the story is much more heartfelt and has an emotional weight Kuro-Obi struggles to capture. To go back to older efforts, Blood Fight is a Blood Sport knock-off, but the story has more heart, and the choreography is much better. Regarding Hong Kong Cinema, It is hard to avoid having a soft spot for Enter the Dragon. It set the standard for a long time, and as a result the action has aged well. Enter the Fat Dragon is also an excellent spoof. Wheels on Meals, Drunken Master II, and Dragons Forever have action that needs to be seen to be believed. Fist of Legend is also an earnest and very capable reimagining of Fist of Fury and is arguably the better version of the two attempts. Where do you see yourself going in your martial arts journey in the next few years? Continuing to run my club and getting some students to black belt level for the first time in a while. Hopefully taking my Fifth Dan grading successfully. Attending and helping with courses around the UK, and overseas again, when the opportunities arise. I am also hoping to return to Okinawa to pay proper respects to Arakaki Sensei’s memory. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? The short answer is no but I presume I may have just found it when searching for martial arts forums. In 2014, I had moved to start university and lost direct contact with my karate community. Thus, I joined a space to talk about karate. Why did you stay? The membership and variety of experiences. It feels like a place where one can have effective discussions, and many people share deep and interesting knowledge regularly. You've been a member since May 23, 2014. During this time, how has KarateForums.com changed in your eyes, if at all? Probably that it feels quitter than it once was, and that posting is down to some committed regulars. I admittedly have periods where my activity drops off, which is connected to life changes in the last few years rather than the forums, so that may skewer my perspective. I have appreciated the forum updates though and feels that as a site it is much easier to navigate and use. How, if at all, have you used KarateForums.com in your classes or training? I have employed drills and ideas I have read or seen on the forums. Are there any members here who have had a particular influence or impact on you? I am reticent to name names because everyone I have had the privilege of interacting with, or reading the work of, has given me an insight into different ways of thinking or given me the gift of knowledge or need to reflect. Can you share a memorable moment within the community where you received great advice or an experience that really affected you and your martial arts journey? When the community rallied around to offer its support to sensei8. It really made me appreciate that community is not always what we think it is, and how the martial arts can bring together people from very different places together for a good cause.

Thanks for the replies, camotheman, Dobbersky, KarateKen, and Noah! Thank you so much for sharing this @camotheman. It means a lot. So good to see you again, @Dobbersky. I look forward to it! Patrick

Hey all, In honor of the 25th birthday of KarateForums.com, I thought it would be fun to ask all members who visit this month (and see our ongoing celebration) to post a quick reply in a dedicated check-in thread. It can be as short as a hello or, if you haven't been here for a while, you could catch us up on what you've been up to. Whether you just posted yesterday or haven't posted in 20 years, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks, Patrick

Hey all, It was on this day, 25 years ago, that I launched KarateForums.com. This announcement kicks off a month of celebration, where we will be highlighting members through interviews and retrospectives, and maybe even adding a new thing or two to the community. I'd love for you to join in by: Replying to this thread to share your memories and thoughts Posting a hello on the 25th birthday check-in thread (if you haven't been here in a while, catch us up!) Submitting an article Answer the KarateForums.com member interview questions (coming next week!) Reflecting It's hard to put 25 years into words. You do one thing, and then another thing happens, and then another. Somehow, 25 years goes by. 25 years of conversations, relationships, and work. We have members who have been with us for a few months - and over two decades. One of the most fun, random things that has happened is that we'll have people who come back to the community after years of not logging in, and they'll just post again, glad that the space still exists. KarateForums.com is a special place, and it's special because of the members. It's because of you. I can't even begin to tally the number of people who have been helped by this community, the number of people who have done the helping, the number of friendships that have been formed. Due to members, our guidelines, and staff, I think we've done a good job of not becoming cliquish, of not becoming hostile to newcomers. Which seems obvious, but is easier said than done. That's something I'm really proud of. This is a community where people choose what to share, but ultimately, most choose to share quite a bit because there is a trust that develops. I can do a number of things to create a framework where that can exist, and the staff can help assure certain guardrails are maintained, but ultimately, that is a member thing, that goes back to who we exist to service, who we attract, and what we actively defend here. Tomorrow will mark the 10 year anniversary of my and my wife's first date. That's sort of a funny way for me to briefly talk about how much has changed in my life over 25 years. I was a teenager. I graduated high school, started to work in online community, moderation, trust, and safety, and have moved in and out of different jobs. I've moved more than a dozen times, living in four different states in the U.S. during this time. And yes, I met someone, got married, and have a kid I'm about to take to preschool. I am going to be an absolute wreck. I already am. But no matter where I've been since May 21, 2001, this community has been a part of it, where I give it the time I have to give, and it's been very rewarding. How long can I manage an online community like this? You know, I'm not sure. I'm not trying to be cryptic, and I have no plans to stop. We'll figure that one out together, but I'm always excited to see what happens next. Thank you for being a part of it. Thank You Goodness gracious, how many people could I thank? I always believe in thanking individuals at the risk of leaving people out, instead of simply making general statements and never giving someone the feeling of being individually recognized. I will miss folks who have made this place better, and many of them. Still, let me call some folks out. First, I really have to thank our current staff. Thank you to @bushido_man96, @sensei8, @Wastelander, and @aurik for all of your efforts in keeping the community healthy. Over the years, I have been fortunate to have many people volunteer on our team, and that's a long list of great people, including @SaiFightsMS, @monkeygirl, @DWx, @karatekid1975, @SBN Doug, @ZR440, @JR 137, @jdash, and so many more. Thank you to you, reading this, and to all of our members who have made so many contributions over the years. Over 10,000 members have made a post here, and well over 1,000 have made 25 or more, so this list is impossible. But I'd like to specifically recognize @bushido_man96, @sensei8, @DWx, @SaiFightsMS, @karatekid1975, @aefibird, @SBN Doug, @monkeygirl, @kicker, @ps1, @Wastelander, @joesteph, @Nidan Melbourne, @ZeRo, @Zaine, @JR 137,@Treebranch, @Red J, @cathal, @JusticeZero, @Shotokan-kez, @Goju_boi, @battousai16, @Spartacus Maximus, @MasterPain, @iamrushman, @cross, @Harkon72, @Shorin Ryuu, @TJS, @Menjo, @delta1, @Sam, @KarateKen, @lordtariel, @Pacificshore, @patusai, @white owl, @Lupin1, @ZR440, @Jack, @italian_guy, @ramymensa, @Kensai, @KarateK, @DarthPenguin, @yamesu, @Dobbersky, @the beast, @GrrrArg, @Karateka_latino, @JerryLove, @The BB of C, @P.A.L, @Jay, @baronbvp, @BKJ1216, @jaymac, @Tiger1962, @NightOwl, @Kuma, @June1, @IcemanSK, @Adonis, @kchenault, @pineapple, @granmasterchen, @marie curie, @KarateEd, @LeaF, @Montana, @ashworth, @aurik, @Wado Heretic, @wagnerk, @Himokiri Karate, @Fat Cobra, @JazzKicker, @sperki, @Wayofaswede, @Drew, @wildbourgman, @jdash, @RJCKarate, @Chuck, @ryanryu, @pandaGIRL, @Furinkazan, @gspell68, @Revario, and @camotheman. Thank you, and thank you to everyone who has contributed to this community in a positive way. Your Thoughts I think that's all I have for you. If you have any thoughts to share, I'd love to hear them. Thank you for reading. Patrick

Just an update here: I have decided to specifically focus on text articles for the birthday. In addition, we will be kicking off a month of celebration, so we have plenty of time for submissions, and the deadline has been extended until June 10. Thank you!

Hey all, Thank you for visiting KarateForums.com. We recognize one member every month as the KarateForums.com Member of the Month for their positive contributions to this community. Our honoree this time is... @Drew for the second time! In September, Drew will celebrate 15 years in our community. Thank you for all of the contributions that you have made here! Patrick

Congrats on the pass, and good luck on the second test!

Just seeing this now, Bob. I'm so sorry. You have had to endure so much. How many sessions will it be? Just the 5 to start?

Hey all, With our 25th birthday coming up, I invite you to write a post sharing your thoughts on what KarateForums.com means to you, in celebration of our upcoming 25th birthday. I welcome any article submissions for consideration. If you have an idea, I'd love for you to submit it. Please do this by submitting a post in our KarateForums.com 25th Birthday Submissions forum. In this forum, only you and I will be able to see the submission. One other approach you could take is writing about what the community means to you. Here are some ideas for things you could cover: What does KarateForums.com mean to you? What memories spring to mind when you think of the community? How has KarateForums.com impacted your life and/or your martial arts journey? Is there anything you want to say to your fellow members in honor of this shared milestone? Don't worry too much about length. I would say a great post could be anywhere from 200 to 2,000 words. We reserve the right to apply light edits to the submission for grammar and spelling. As with all posts here, please ensure the post is work friendly and free of any self-promotion. Please have any submissions in by June 10. Again, they can be posted in our Please do this by submitting a post in our KarateForums.com 25th Birthday Submissions forum, where only you (and me) will be able to see the post. Thank you for your time and consideration. Patrick

Hey all, Thank you for visiting KarateForums.com. We recognize one member every month as the KarateForums.com Member of the Month for their positive contributions to this community. Our honoree this time is... @Spartacus Maximus for the fifth time! With almost 12 years in our community, Spartacus Maximus has really become a fixture here, and a member who sets a great example for others to follow. Thanks for being such a big part of this space for so long. Patrick

Sorry Bob. Hoping for the best possible outcome.

Hey Josh, welcome. Glad to have you.

No worries, Bob. Just wanted to make sure it was clear. Thanks.

Hey all, I know it is so far out (July 2028) that it is kind of silly to think about, but just thought I'd start a thread in case anyone ends up going to the Summer Olympics in 2028! I'm local to Los Angeles (well, I am as I wrote this in 2026, anyway), so we picked up tickets to a couple of events during the locals presale, including the JUD10 Judo Mixed Final, which will include: Women's -70kg Repechage Contests Women's -70kg Semifinal Contests Men's -90kg Repechage Contests Men's -90kg Semifinal Contests Women's -70kg Bronze Contests Women's -70kg Final Men's -90kg Bronze Contests Men's -90kg Final Seemed like a fun idea! Maybe some other community members will make it out. Patrick

Thanks Bob and Ken. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Thanks for the replies and/or understanding. Just for the avoidance of any doubt, I wanted to reiterate that the idea was for the answers to be the opposite of what one might expect, so they would go into the quiz confident they weren't attending a "McDojo," and then be told they were.

This quiz was our 2026 April Fool's Day prank. Please see more here: https://karateforums.com/topic/52511-april-fools-the-is-your-martial-arts-school-a-mcdojo-quiz/ Hope everyone had a great day. Patrick

Hey all, Our April Fool's Day prank this year was to launch a quiz where you could find out if your school is a "McDojo" or not, just to poke fun at the idea and understandable sensitivities around it. It was actually possible to be told that your school was not a McDojo, and that happened in 2 of 13 results. The quiz remains online at the moment, and will be for the foreseeable future, so please feel free to play with it. But for the sake of posterity, please find the questions and answers from the quiz, and how they informed whether or not you were told that you were in a McDojo. The answers generally led you to the opposite of what you would have assumed. Thank you to @bushido_man96 for question ideas. Thanks for all of your good natured replies, as always. The quiz was not anyone saying that any of the traits mentioned is definitively a "McDojo" or not because while some traits may be more common in schools where training quality may not be good compared to the cost, there are plenty of exceptions where the opposite can be true. Hope you had a great day! Patrick Introduction: Do You Train at a McDojo? Answer these questions to see whether your school leans more toward quality training or has questionable “belt factory” vibes. 1. How many colored belt ranks does your school have? Less than 5 (this answer indicates your school is a McDojo) 5-10 (McDojo) More than 10 (neutral; I did this so that ties would always go to your school being a McDojo) 2. Does your school train only on hardwood floors? Yes (McDojo) No (Not a McDojo) 3. Does your instructor display his certifications in the dojo? Yes (Not a McDojo) No (McDojo) 4. Does your instructor use a curriculum that starts simple and gets more complex as ranks increase? Yes (McDojo) No (Not a McDojo) 5. What happens when a student makes mistakes or struggles? They get coached with specifics, patience, and realistic feedback (McDojo) Students are praised no matter what, and standard feel unclear or lowered to avoid discomfort (Not a McDojo) 6. How does the school handle cross-training or visiting other gyms/schools? They're supportive or neutral (McDojo) Cross-training is treated like betrayal (Not a McDojo) Outcome #1: Not a McDojo (Solid School). Your school shows strong signs of legit instruction. No school is perfect, but yours looks focused on growth over gimmicks. Outcome #2: Full McDojo (Belt Factory Alert). Sorry to say that it appears you are training at a McDojo.