Patrick

Congrats.

Thanks for the replies, all. Patrick

Just so that there is no confusion, I wanted to make it clear that if your name is not Adam, you should not post on this thread. This is an Adam-only zone. Thank you in advance. Heh. Welcome AdamE3.

Welp, the Dolphins have Thursday night football tonight. We'll see if we can get back to .500. From 3-0 to 3-4, like a shot to the gut.

I'm glad that you found the community, Gareth. I appreciate your kind words, support and your presence on staff. Thank you for the positive contributions that you have made here. Patrick

Member Profile Harkon72 (View Profile) KarateForums.com Sempai Joined: August 27, 2012 Posts: 1,070 Interview Where are you from? I'm from Anglesey, North Wales, UK, now living on the Welsh mainland in the Nantlle Valley. Why did you get started in the martial arts? I followed my Father into it, he was a soldier and boxer. His friend offered to teach me. Why have you continued to practice them? Totally addicted I guess, it's more spiritual than it ever was. Please briefly describe the style of martial arts that you have taken. Karate, kobudo, Wing Chun and ju jitsu. What is your grade or level? I have a Nidan, a 3rd kyu and a 4th kyu in three styles of karate: Shorin Ryu, Shotokan and Shukokai. Do you teach? I have assisted and I have taught privately to a family member who went on to win a kumite title. What are your first memories from training? Wrestling and sparring with my Father. What has been the highlight of your training? My Nidan grading; when I scored a wazari by uraken to the back of my opponent's head. Even my Sensei thought I had no chance in this kumite. I was attacked with a mae geri/oia zuki combination, I countered with gedan barrai, ashi barrai and uraken. What do you do when you're not training? I go fishing, I play Warhammer 40K, I follow our village soccer team, I'm an active Pagan and I'm studying for a degree part time. What do you do for a living? I work for a local recycling charity and I'm on the board of directors for an advocacy service. Who are or were your martial arts heroes? Terry O'Neill, Mike Finn and Marco Ruas. What are your favorite martial arts films and/or shows? The original Kung Fu with David Carradine, Enter the Dragon, The Last Samurai and Star Wars. Where do you see yourself going in your martial arts journey in the next few years? Gaining a Shodan in Shukokai karate with Dragon Martial Arts. Training in nunchaku with Sensei Chris Williams. Training with Sensei Julian Mallaliu, 7th Dan in Shito Ryu/Shukokai and kobudo. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? A random search on Google. I found the topics very relevant to me and interesting. Why did you stay? I found the conversation mature, well administrated and informative. I feel we are a mixed bunch with a rich and varied knowledge base. It's fun to see what people do in martial arts, to share and enjoy good banter and community friendship. How did becoming a staff member change how you viewed the site? I felt that I have a role as a guide and that I have a degree of responsibility. My posts have a lot more focus as I feel I need to set an example. I have a long way to go to catch up with a few members, but I'm almost at my 1,000 post mark. How, if at all, have you used KarateForums.com in your classes or training? I have taken on board a lot of advice, especially values in the dojo and my martial arts community. A few tips on training have been useful, especially the ushiro geri video posted by Danielle (DWx). Are there any members here who have had a particular influence or impact on you? I think Wastelander. He's a good martial artist, very mature for his age and I'm sure he has a bright future. 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? My highlight was the post about a sword I was gifted - a hand-and-a-half medieval sword that I knew nothing about how to use. The response was encouragement, keen knowledge and support. I look at that sword in a new way now. I have met more people in the UK that use them and I have an avid interest in western medieval martial arts as a direct result of the replies posted in response to my question about this unique weapon. View the thread, "A Hand and a Half - Practical or Out Dated."

Welcome aboard, Marion.

Thank you for contributing to our community as you do, John. You are a good example of someone who runs a martial arts business who adds value here without being commercial. I appreciate it and you sharing this with us. Sincerely, Patrick

Member Profile JohnASE (View Profile) Joined: February 6, 2008 Posts: 367 Interview Where are you from? I've always lived in Los Angeles, California, except during college, when I was in the OC, Orange County. I currently live in the San Fernando Valley (THE Valley as in Valley Girl) not far from Reseda, home of The Karate Kid. I grew up in Hollywood and lived there for most of my life. Why did you get started in the martial arts? When I was a kid, a neighbor was going to start judo under a friend of his parents. My brother and decided to join, too. I think my mother was glad we took judo, since she grew up in a house with my great uncle who was a judoka. Please briefly describe the styles of martial arts that you have taken. Decades ago, I spent about three years training in judo under the famous Gene LeBell. I stopped training in junior high school. I wanted to spend more time on my studies and on baseball and less time with my face pressed against the mat. I haven't trained since then, but I've been involved in the martial arts community in other ways. My first job was with Ohara/Rainbow Publications, the company that put out Black Belt Magazine, among others. My second job was with Unique Publications, mostly known for Inside Kung Fu Magazine. For the past 20 years, I've been in the family business, ASE Martial Arts Supply. Every once in a while, I consider taking up training again, but I don't want it badly enough to devote the time. What is your grade or level? After three years of training, I ended up still a white belt! We only had white, brown and black. What are your first memories from training? Learning to fall! It's the first thing they teach in judo, and I've found it to be one of the most important things I've ever learned. What has been the highlight of your training? Same answer as the last question, learning to fall. It's helped me in every sport I've played (well, maybe not bowling). I remember being pushed from behind when I was a kid, and rather than flop to the ground, I dropped into a forward roll. I've gone down on motorcycles a couple times and instinctively land in ways to minimize damage. I've always been athletic and willing to throw my body around. Judo helped me to do such things more safely. What do you do for a living? Our family business is ASE Martial Arts Supply. I work with my mother, wife and stepson. My father used to work with us, but he retired a few years ago. My mom has been involved in martial arts businesses since 1974 and is on a first name basis with many of the mucky mucks of the martial arts world. Our company dabbles in retail, but the bulk of our business is wholesale to martial arts schools. Most of our customers are in Southern California, but we sell all over the USA from Hawaii to Alaska to Florida to Maine. What do you do when you're not working? My main activity outside of work is playing a sport called wallyball. Simply put, it's volleyball on a racquetball court with a net strung across the middle and 2 or 3 players on either side. It's faster than volleyball as the court is smaller and you can play the ball off the walls. I'm short, so I'm not a strong spiker or blocker. I'm more of a defensive specialist and setter. I'm not young, but I'm a very physical player. I spend a lot of time diving across the floor or slamming into walls. My real passion is cars and other road vehicles. I love convertible sports cars, have a couple of motorcycles, and am in the process of converting my mountain bike to electric. I hope to move into larger DIY electric vehicles. Who are or were your martial arts heroes? There are so many, but I'll just mention my former sensei, Gene LeBell. He's a living legend! His pink judo gi is an icon. He was a champion judoka, professional wrestler and referee. As a kid, I remember watching him as a stunt man, letting himself be beat up by people like Hutch of the Starsky and Hutch TV show. What are your favorite martial arts films and/or shows? I'll name one modern movie, one classic movie, and throw in a classic Japanese television show just for kicks. Kill Bill: Vol. 1, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and Kage no Gundan. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? I'm sure I just searched for "martial arts forum" or "karate forum." I had been participating in non-MA forums and found communities sharing lots of great info and wondered if something similar was going on in martial arts. Why did you stay? I found people here to be more cooperative and interested in sharing than in another forum I found. The other forum had some great info, too, but it was interspersed with a lot more hostility and immaturity than here. Here, people seem to know how to disagree without it degenerating into personal attacks and name calling. You've been a member since February 6, 2008. During this time, how has KarateForums.com changed in your eyes, if at all? I would guess that KF has changed over the 5 years I've been here (5 YEARS?), but if so, I haven't really noticed it. I'm probably most active in the Equipment forum, since that's where most of my experience lies, and I suppose there are fewer questions there than there used to be. I assume info has built up over time, and fewer people need to ask new questions. Are there any members here who have had a particular influence or impact on you? There are many members whose opinions I respect and enjoy reading. If anyone stands out in my mind, it might be sensei8, Bob. I'm sure that's mostly due to his contributions to the forum, but it also might have to do with the fact that he used to live not too far from me. Can you share a memorable moment within the community where you received great advice or an experience that really affected you? I don't really remember "aha" moments, revelations, epiphanies. I tend to take in things more slowly. New ideas need to simmer before I'll swallow them. I'm sure such moments are there, but they're hard for me to pinpoint.

Thank you for the great contributions that you made to our community, Laurie. It is amazing that you were able to culture such a great friendship with Heidi through this community. I'm glad that we are still in touch after all of these years. Thanks again, Patrick

Member Profile PunchPressQueen75 (View Profile) Former KarateForums.com Sensei Joined: March 26, 2002 Posts: 4,573 Interview Where are you from? New Jersey, now living in upstate New York. Why did you get started in the martial arts? For self defense. Why have you continued to practice them? I don't. I regularly practice shooting now. Please briefly describe the styles of martial arts that you have taken. I've done Tang Soo Do, TKD, and jui jitsu. What is your grade or level? Senior red belt in TKD, and brown belt in Tang Soo Do. Do you teach? I did. What are your first memories from training? With my Tang Soo Do teacher. He was my mentor. When I thought I couldn't do something, he pushed me to do it. I did it. I miss him so much. What has been the highlight of your training? The camaraderie with the friends I have made throughout the years of training. It's not just about martial arts. It's about the friends you make with the same interests. What do you do when you're not training? Shoot. I am a competition target shooter now, so I have been practicing a lot. What do you do for a living? I am a machine operator. Who are or were your martial arts heroes? Mike and Heidi Wilmott (ninjanurse) and Mr. Bonilla (my first instructor). What are your favorite martial arts films and/or shows? Anything with Jackie Chan in it. He is so funny. Where do you see yourself going in your martial arts journey in the next few years? Hopefully, if my foot heals, I want to study with Professor Mike in jiu jitsu. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? I actually don't remember. But once I did find it, I talked to so many incredible people on there. Note to self: must go back to see who's still there. Why did you stay? See above. The people. You've been a member since March 26, 2002. During this time, how has KarateForums.com changed in your eyes, if at all? I feel so bad because I have not been there in so long, but it will definitely be worth a visit. How did becoming a staff member change how you viewed the site? I was a mod at one point, but I didn't have to do much, because most of the time the folks were pretty cool. Are there any members here who have had a particular influence or impact on you? Heidi.

That's a long list of countries/territories! Patrick

As part of the 500,000 posts celebration, we thought that it would be fun to share some of the statistics and data behind KarateForums.com and the activity that the community has enjoyed. Countries and Territories We have data going as far back as May 2008 regarding the countries or territories that people have visited KarateForums.com from. In all, there are 214. Here they are, in blocks of 50, listed in order of popularity. United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, India, Finland, Netherlands, Philippines, Ireland, France, Sweden, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, Brazil, Greece, Singapore, Japan, Norway, Malaysia, Poland, Denmark, Belgium, South Africa, Mexico, Indonesia, China, Romania, Portugal, South Korea, Pakistan, Turkey, Russia, Switzerland, Argentina, Israel, Vietnam, Serbia, Thailand, Hungary, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Chile, Austria, Czech Republic, Croatia and Puerto Rico. Ukraine, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Egypt, Iran, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Trinidad and Tobago, Cyprus, Kuwait, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, Estonia, Morocco, Jamaica, Macedonia, Algeria, Latvia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Malta, Guam, Lebanon, Uruguay, Nigeria, Iceland, Bahamas, Guatemala, Jordan, Kenya, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Tunisia, Ecuador, Nepal, Georgia, Iraq, Belarus, Honduras, Luxembourg, Brunei, Afghanistan and Kazakhstan. Albania, Moldova, Bolivia, Cambodia, Bermuda, Ghana, Oman, Fiji, Armenia, Jersey, Cayman Islands, Zimbabwe, El Salvador, Palestine, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Myanmar (Burma), Syria, Senegal, Montenegro, Libya, Isle of Man, Tanzania, Namibia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Belize, Guyana, Paraguay, Ethiopia, Réunion, Guernsey, Mozambique, Botswana, Dominica, Macau, Nicaragua, Uzbekistan, Netherlands Antilles, Mongolia, Yemen, Guadeloupe, Maldives, Suriname, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Cuba, Gibraltar, New Caledonia and U.S. Virgin Islands. Kosovo, Zambia, Angola, Sudan, Madagascar, Haiti, Cameroon, British Virgin Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, Rwanda, Laos, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Martinique, Northern Mariana Islands, Malawi, Papua New Guinea, Cape Verde, Kyrgyzstan, Åland Islands, French Polynesia, Solomon Islands, Bhutan, Monaco, Turks and Caicos Islands, Liechtenstein, Burkina Faso, Curaçao, Djibouti, Tajikistan, Andorra, Anguilla, Congo (Democratic Republic of Congo), French Guiana, Greenland, Mali, Mauritania, Togo, Vanuatu, Benin, Faroe Islands, Gambia, Lesotho, Sint Maarten, Swaziland, Cook Islands, Guinea, Somalia and Turkmenistan. Tonga, American Samoa, Burundi, Caribbean Netherlands, Congo (Republic of the Congo), Micronesia, Kiribati, Comoros, Liberia, Niger, Norfolk Island, Palau, Sierra Leone and Samoa. Operating Systems From May of 2008, here are the top 25 most popular operating systems: 1. Windows 2. Macintosh 3. iOS/iPhone/iPad/iPod 4. Android 5. Linux 6. BlackBerry 7. Windows Phone 8. SymbianOS 9. PlayStation 3 10. Firefox OS 11. Danger Hiptop 12. Nokia 13. Chrome OS 14. Samsung 15. Nintendo Wii 16. FreeBSD 17. Series40 18. PlayStation Portable 19. Sony 20. SunOS 21. PalmOS 22. LG 23. UNIX 24. Google TV 25. Xbox Web Browsers Similarly, here are the top 25 most popular web browsers: 1. Internet Explorer 2. Firefox 3. Chrome 4. Safari 5. Android Browser 6. Opera 7. Netscape 8. Mozilla Compatible Agent 9. Opera Mini 10. Mozilla 11. BlackBerry (Various) 12. Safari (In-App) 13. Internet Explorer with Chrome Frame 14. PlayStation 3 15. Amazon Silk 16. RockMelt 17. SeaMonkey 18. Camino 19. UC Browser 20. Crawler 21. NetFront 22. S40 Ovi Browser 23. PlayStation Portable 24. DoubleVerify Crawler 25. Konqueror Most Viewed Threads Here is a list of the top 10 most viewed threads, excluding those in the Game Threads, KarateForums.com Announcements and General Chat forums. 1. The Martial Artists' Training Log (69,821 views) 2. Which martial art movie star do you like best? (44,898 views) 3. Martial arts research library (44,321 views) 4. Why dont people like Aikido? (41,984 views) 5. Wise Sayings... (39,990 views) 6. Top 10 Self Defense Martial Arts (36,243 views) 7. Things NOT to say to your instructor... (35,221 views) 8. Dating "in-school" (31,261 views) 9. Do Black-Belts have to register themselves as weapons (31,097 views) 10. tokaido vs shureido? (30,556 views) And here are the top 10 most viewed threads overall. 1. Last Letter Game (97,589 views) 2. The Martial Artists' Training Log (69,821 views) 3. Word Association: Part 2 (64,090 views) 4. Word Association (60,416 views) 5. Celebrity name game (58,651 views) 6. Movies!Movies!Movies! (54,023 views) 7. Ask something to the poster below you (52,675 views) 8. Transformation Game (48,635 views) 9. Which martial art movie star do you like best? (44,898 views) 10. Martial arts research library (44,321 views) Threads with the Most Replies Here are the top 10 threads with the most replies, excluding those in the Game Threads, General Chat and staff member forums. 1. The Martial Artists' Training Log (3,841 replies) 2. The Uselessness of Kata (538 replies) 3. Top 10 Self Defense Martial Arts (336 replies) 4. You know when your obbsessed with martial arts when.... (282 replies) 5. Wise Sayings... (267 replies) 6. Why dont people like Aikido? (264 replies) 7. What weapon do you actually carry? (255 replies) 8. Are You Afraid To Die? (248 replies) 9. MA Goofs & Blunders (240 replies) 10. Which martial art movie star do you like best? (238 replies) And here are the top 10 threads with the most replies overall. 1. Last Letter Game (5,077 replies) 2. The Martial Artists' Training Log (3,841 replies) 3. Word Association (3,629 replies) 4. Word Association: Part 2 (2,699 replies) 5. Celebrity name game (2,619 replies) 6. The last thing you ate (2,063 replies) 7. A is for... (Movie Title Game) (2,040 replies) 8. Movies!Movies!Movies! (1,771 replies) 9. What song are you listening to right now? (1,503 replies) 10. Transformation Game (1,495 replies) Most Viewed Articles Here are the top 10 most viewed articles published in the KarateForums.com Articles section. 1. Christians and the Martial Arts by kchenault (26,811 views) 2. Introduction to Kuk Sool Won by SBN Doug (21,507 views) 3. Low-Kicking: Below The Belt? by cymry (18,615 views) 4. My Journey in the Dojo by SaiFightsMS (16,416 views) 5. The Street Fighter Excuse by WapCaplet (15,747 views) 6. Why I Quit Tae Kwon Do by Zorba (15,396 views) 7. Trapped On a Bus by SaiFightsMS (15,173 views) 8. Kata: the Fundamental Element of Martial Arts by G95champ (15,125 views) 9. Martial Arts and the Bible by tomkatch (15,022 views) 10. The Shotokan Tiger Symbol by SaiFightsMS (14,998 views) Congratulations to Pat (SaiFightsMS) on having 3 of the top 10 most viewed articles! Thank you for reading and supporting KarateForums.com. Sincerely, Patrick

Thank you for the contributions that you have made to our community, DoctorQui. It is good to get to know you a little better. Patrick

Member Profile DoctorQui (View Profile) Joined: May 24, 2012 Posts: 320 KarateForums.com Awards: New Member of the Year (2012) Interview Where are you from? Bolton, Lancs UK Why did you get started in the martial arts? Have to be honest... The Karate Kid movie from 1984. Loved the idea of discipline and defense. Why have you continued to practice them? It's a good release, helps me focus and, during difficult times, has always been a constant. Please briefly describe the styles of martial arts that you have taken. I currently study Shotokan and will be taking Shodan in December after injury time. I previously made pre-dan in Wado ryu and dabbled in aikido but the club closed and no others are in the area. My journey actually started with Goju ryu when I was 15 but when I was very young I did judo for a couple of years. I can't really remember a lot of that! What is your grade or level? I am currently 1st kyu in Shotokan (have been for 18 months) but hope to be Shodan in December. Do you teach? Occasionally, I enjoy it but do find beginners a challenge. It is hard to put yourself back to that point in your training when you have trained for as long as I have (on and off for 27 years) What are your first memories from training? Goju ryu in my hometown of Southampton, the chief Sensei and two of his Senpais were absolute nutters and very violent. Not a good ethos, so when I moved to another part of the country, I started again with Wado ryu. What has been the highlight of your training? Being member of my previous Wado club and being a member of my current Shotokan club, they have been very encouraging experiences. But the biggest highlight was teaching and seeing my children follow me through the ranks. My eldest daughter is currently 3rd kyu and my eldest son 5th kyu. What do you do when you're not training? I'm sadly unemployed following redundancy so job hunting is the big one but I don't think I am ever not training, I'm always reading something or watching a YouTube video on martial arts. I also restore old dinky and Corgi cars and am a Doctor Who nut! What did you do for a living? I was a service manager in Social Services until the government cuts and redundancy. Who are or were your martial arts heroes? My Sensei, who is awesome and a joy to watch. If we are talking about famous people, then obviously Bruce Lee but that's a bit too obvious! I was always impressed with Bolo Yeung in Enter the Dragon and Jet Li is phenomenal although, like Jackie Chan, looks overly choreographed which tends to ruin it a bit for me. I also love watching Jim Kelly and Wesley Snipes performing. What are your favorite martial arts films and/or shows? HAHA, The Karate Kid from 1984 is cheesy but so good! Apart from that, Way of the Dragon, Seven Samurai and Lone Wolf McQuade. I have no finesse to my preferences, lol! Where do you see yourself going in your martial arts journey in the next few years? I'm a little too old to be looking for anything major so really, just to be as good as I can be and inspire others to aspire. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? I was looking for a good forum to chat with like minded people. I lurked for while and then joined after I saw a particular thread that I wanted to be involved in. I also wanted to ask some questions of experienced people without looking weak. Why did you stay? I love this forum! Connection problems in recent months and my concentration on finding a job and training for Shodan has meant that I have been a bit scarce recently but I always dip in and try to keep up with discussion. How, if at all, have you used KarateForums.com in your classes or training? I have actually, not necessarily techniques because it's a prescribed style, but certainly mental focus and attitude has been helped by the advice I have received and read. Are there any members here who have had a particular influence or impact on you? Yes, but I'll spare their blushes. They are part of the usual crew, though. 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 wouldn't want to belittle the ones I didn't mention. I find all the advice and influence on here very helpful.

Danielle has a lot of traits that I value. Among them, her attention to detail. Many members wouldn't be exposed to this like I am, with her being a member of my staff for quite a while, but she really has a great eye for what is and is not appropriate in our community. She takes her responsibilities seriously, as do all of our Senseis, and she has demonstrated this to me time and time again. She has a great personality and is a great team player. Danielle, thank you for the tremendous contributions that you have made to this community. Beyond the posts you've made, your efforts as a Sensei stand out as being just as important and impactful. I am grateful for all of your support and feel privileged that we have you as a member of our team. Thanks again, Patrick

Member Profile DWx (View Profile) KarateForums.com Sensei Joined: January 17, 2007 Posts: 4,291 KarateForums.com Awards: Staff Member of the Year (2008, 2011) and Funniest Member of the Year (2009, 2010) Interview Where are you from? Leicestershire, United Kingdom. Why did you get started in the martial arts? A mix of reasons really. Was a fairly quiet (and chubby!) kid. Did a lot of other sports but never really got into them that much. I had always liked watching Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, etc., and my dad found out there were taekwon-do classes going on in the next village. He asked me if I wanted to have a go and 12 years later here I am. About a year prior to starting, I was getting bullied at school and I think my parents thought that the martial arts would give me the tools to stick up for myself; not just physically but also through helping me to develop confidence and the right attitude. Whilst I can't categorically say what type of person I'd have been without martial arts, I'd like to say that they have shaped me for the better and created someone who isn't a total wallflower anymore. Why have you continued to practice them? Something I've always found about martial arts is that they are universal: anyone, regardless of age, ability, color or creed can practice them and enjoy what they have to offer. To me they are also about betterment of self, physically and mentally, and because of this I think they tend to attract a certain type of people. So I guess I continue to practice them both because of the physical and mental challenge but also because of the type of people I get to associate with. Besides which, martial arts also seem to build a camaraderie that you don't often find elsewhere and some of the strongest friends I have made I have met through TKD. Please briefly describe the style of martial art that you have taken. My main style is taekwon-do. Due to the Olympics, I think most people will have an idea what it is about. I actually study the slightly lesser known ITF or Chang-Hon style which is perhaps halfway between Olympic or Kukkiwon TKD and Shotokan karate. What is your grade or level? Samdan, 3rd dan black belt. Do you teach? A little. I don't have my own class but being one of the senior students at my school presents a lot of opportunities for me to teach lower grades one-on-one and take parts of classes. I do eventually want my own class but my work schedule makes it difficult to commit to a regular class. I also get the opportunity to coach our students at tournaments too - it is especially fun coaching the kids. What are your first memories from training? I can remember my first class. There were a few kids a couple of years older than me who came straight up and introduced themselves... bit of a shock to the shy 10 year old me. We did a fairly energetic warm-up which I really struggled with and then some line work and patterns (TKD equivalent to kata). What has been the highlight of your training? There are many! I guess some of the best memories are getting to step on the mat with some awesome people. I have been privileged by the fact that my instructor has always pushed things like seminars and courses so I have had the opportunity to train with some TKD greats. I have also been fortunate to have had the opportunity to compete internationally and that is something that is incredibly reassuring yet humbling too. Standing side-by-side with the other competitors gives a sense of accomplishment yet at the same time you know you are far from the best fighter out there. What do you do when you're not training? I'm always training! Well, I train 4 days a week in the dojang and when I'm not I'll be running or in the gym. On my rest days, I'll still be reading or watching martial arts related things. Aside from that I do like watching movies and playing PC/console games. What do you do for a living? Sales. Although specifically my job description is that I am an account manager for a specialty chemicals and pigments distributor. Job title makes it sound much more impressive than it actually is! Who are or were your martial arts heroes? Well, you've got to include Bruce Lee straight off. He seems to be everyone's hero. Aside from him: Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Jean-Claude Van Damme. As a chubby kid, I remember watching Martial Law with Sammo Hung on a Saturday night and he was pretty inspirational to me because he was a big guy that could move. In the TKD world, Hwang Suil is pretty high up on the list. He's the Japanese national coach but also the motion capture actor for Hwoarang from the Tekken games. I've been lucky enough to have met him and trained with him a number of times. And of course my instructor/coaches and all of my training partners. What are your favorite martial arts films and/or shows? Although obviously nowhere near realistic, I do like watching wuxia films: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero, Fearless, etc. All-time favorite has to be Kung Fu Hustle – so many references to other films/art. Where do you see yourself going in your martial arts journey in the next few years? I am heavily into competition at the moment. I've got maybe 5, 6, 7 years of serious competition left if that. Aside, now that I've graduated uni, I want to start settling down into training and maybe start teaching. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? Through another forum actually. I joined KarateForums.com right around the time I had just gotten my 2nd dan and I was reading more and more about TKD and related styles. I read a few posts then one in particular caught my eye that I just had to add my 2 cents to. It was a discussion on junior black belts and I was a junior black belt. Why did you stay? I was just generally impressed with the level of discussion and the fact that every topic didn't degenerate into personal attacks. You've been a member since January 17, 2007. During this time, how has KarateForums.com changed in your eyes, if at all? I'm not sure to be honest. I think over the years it has always had a central core of posters who tend to generate the topics and post the majority of replies - that keeps things fairly consistent. If anything I think it has become more diverse and not so much centralized on karate. How did becoming a staff member change how you viewed the site? It was interesting to see the inner workings to the site. On such forums I think general posters take for granted what goes on behind the scenes - especially KF where we run a tight ship to make sure that the forum isn't bombarded with things like spam and trolls. How, if at all, have you used KarateForums.com in your classes or training? Most definitely it has broadened my perspective and introduced me to new training methods and ideas. KF has provided me with a platform to talk to people from other styles (and other cultures) where I wouldn't have necessarily had the opportunity to. I try to incorporate things I've learned on KF into my training and teaching. Are there any members here who have had a particular influence or impact on you? I suppose I have to mention Brian (bushido_man96) as my fellow Korean TKD practitioner. It's always interesting hearing his perspective on things. And, of course, the rest of the staff members: Heidi (ninjanurse), Alex (tallgeese), Bob (sensei8), Gareth (Harkon72), Noah (Wastelander) and Devin (Lupin1). 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'm not sure to be honest. Not to say I haven't received great advice over the years as I most definitely have. There just isn't anything specifically that stands out. It's all been great.

My pleasure, Angelo. Thank you for the kind words about ouyr community. They are greatly appreciated. Patrick

Thank you for sharing this with us, Noah. I appreciate all of the contributions that you have made to our community. You have a great personality that adds to what we have here. I'm glad to have you on the team. Patrick

Thank you to those who have submitted nominations thus far. If you haven't, please considering doing so. The nominations are an important part of this process and a great way to recognize members within our community whose contributions you enjoy. Thanks, Patrick

Member Profile Wastelander (View Profile) KarateForums.com Sempai Joined: October 28, 2010 Posts: 899 Interview Where are you from? Tremont, IL originally, but have been living in Phoenix, AZ since 2008. Why did you get started in the martial arts? I was very interested in Japanese culture, and needed a way to get in shape, so karate seemed like a good way to get a bit of both! Why have you continued to practice them? Addiction, really. After that first week, I was completely hooked on the effects it had on me physically and mentally. I love the learning process as much as the doing process! Please briefly describe the styles of martial arts that you have taken. I started my martial arts journey in Shuri-Ryu karate, and started cross-training in judo about 5-6 months later. Eventually, I moved on to training in Shorin-Ryu (Kobayashi). I have also had some kobudo training and Japanese sword training (Shinkage-Ryu iaijutsu). What is your grade or level? I hold the rank of Ikkyu (1st degree brown belt) in Shorin-Ryu, Sankyu (3rd degree brown belt) in Shuri-Ryu, Gokyu (green belt) in judo, and have passed competency exams for the bo, and the tachikata (standing forms) of Shinkage-Ryu iaijutsu. Do you teach? Yes. I assist with classes on a regular basis, and teach beginner and all-rank classes once or twice a week. What are your first memories from training? All I remember from my first class was being incredibly nervous and awkward, and then getting totally absorbed in learning my first karate techniques - the horse stance, the high block, the uppercut, and the front snap kick. What has been the highlight of your training? A young man that I used to teach when he was just starting out did an interview with the local paper back in my home area as part of a story on outstanding local young people, and in that interview he said that I was his biggest role model. I only trained with him for about a year or so, but in that time I made so much of an impact on his life that he would say that about me. I was honored, and that is probably the thing I am currently the most proud of - not the seminars and classes I've taken from high ranking instructors, or the competitions I've won, or the techniques I've pulled off, but the fact that I helped someone. What do you do when you're not training? Work, sleep, research, and spend time with my wife and our dogs and rabbits. I also enjoy doing some leatherwork, blacksmithing and writing on the side, when I have the extra free time. What do you do for a living? I am a Senior IT Service Desk Analyst, which is a fancy way to say that I'm the guy everybody in my company calls when they can't make their computer work right. Who are or were your martial arts heroes? Motobu Choki is probably my most influential historical martial arts hero, for his practical approach to karate and his no-nonsense attitude. Some modern day martial arts heroes of mine would be Lyoto Machida, Georges St. Pierre and Doug Perry Hanshi of the Shorinkan. What are your favorite martial arts films and/or shows? The Last Samurai, Hero and Seven Samurai are probably my top martial arts films. For shows, I really enjoyed both Fight Quest and Human Weapon, even though they weren't all that well done. Where do you see yourself going in your martial arts journey in the next few years? In the next few years, I expect I will test for (and hopefully pass) 1st degree black belt in Shorin-Ryu, and continue my training and teaching. I would like to do more seminars and open knowledge exchange events, as well. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? I believe I found KarateForums.com through searching "karate forums" on Google, honestly. I joined shortly after starting my training in Shorin-Ryu because I was looking for information on transitioning between styles, as well as Shorin-Ryu history and methodology. Why did you stay? Not only did I find what I was looking for, but it was a friendly and open environment with lots of knowledgeable people exchanging information. You've been a member since October 18, 2010. During this time, how has KarateForums.com changed in your eyes, if at all? I think we have mellowed out, a little bit, but otherwise it's very much the same place - lots of information, and lots of good people! How did becoming a staff member change how you viewed the site? It was interesting to see what goes into planning events, articles, and contests, because I never really considered that side of the forum. I also feel more responsible for the content of the website, since I have to keep an eye out for spam and inappropriate content. How, if at all, have you used KarateForums.com in your classes or training? There have certainly been times where I took recommendations from members for drills or exercises and tried them out in my training, and I have also learned a great deal of history and theory that I can apply any time I train. Are there any members here who have had a particular influence or impact on you? Bob (sensei8) has probably been the most influential member here, for me, since he is so open and engaged. 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 wish I could think of one specific moment, but I have had so many breakthroughs and "eureka moments" over the years I've been here that I couldn't possibly name just one. At this point they all blend together as integral pieces of my KarateForums.com experience!

One thing that I've observed, from conducting the member interviews for the 500,000 posts celebration, is how much virtually every martial artist loves martial arts movies. I would say that a majority of the people that we interviewed are probably 30 and up, several in their 40s and 50s. And with rare exceptions, all of them love the existence of these movies. In fact, for many of them, these movies were one of the things, if not the primary thing, that prompted them to develop an interest in the martial arts. It has been almost 30 years since The Karate Kid was released. That means that today's 40 year old instructors were 9 or 10 when it came out. And, for many of them, that movie had an influence on their decision to become a martial artist. Some of which began as a kid. Without movies, you may not have your instructor. Food for thought. Patrick

Sorry to hear this, hammer! Thank you for posting this reminder. Patrick

Thanks Doug. That means a lot to me. It's fun to hear you both recall those situations. It is interesting to look back on them. They served a purpose because they drew us closer together. Patrick

Many active members these days may not be familiar with Doug but during the time he was most active, he was a great moderator and a wonderful contributor. Thankfully, he still pops in from time to time. I'm grateful that we've been able to maintain contact for all of these years. Thank you for all of your kindness and support over the years, Doug. It means a lot to me. Patrick