Patrick

Member Profile tallgeese (View Profile) KarateForums.com Sensei Joined: May 4, 2008 Posts: 5,412 KarateForums.com Awards: Member of the Year (2008), New Member of the Year (2008), Staff Member of the Year (2010) and Article of the Year (2009) Interview Where are you from? I'm originally from downstate Illinois. Now I'm a transplant to the Chicago-land area. Just past the Northwest suburbs. Why did you get started in the martial arts? I have been interested in them for as long as I can look back and remember. When I was turning 16, I remember shopping around the area for a school. I remember that I wanted to learn how to fight. Later, I'd learn more than that, but the combatives were what really attracted me. During my "looking around" phase, I happened to see a demonstration given by the new dojo in town. It was amazing to me, the power and, at the same time, the intricacies of what I was watching. I signed up the following week and it was no looking back. Why have you continued to practice them? The continued growth they've led me through. I did learn to fight, and a whole lot more. About the time I feel like one journey is winding down in the arts, another starts. There's always something more to learn, and a continuing evolution of why you're doing them that lets one keep learning. Please briefly describe the styles of martial arts that you have taken. I started in a variant form of kempo with a lineage through Oyata (Bujin). It was a hard striking system with circular finesse in some spots and standing joint manipulation. My instructor was very principle based in his training method and this is still how I pattern training to this day. The next form of kempo I studied (Gokei) was out of the same association and closely related. It was more knife work and had some difference in application. More than anything, it was a mindset school for me and guided how I thought about deploying skills. After that I slowly morphed into the fledgling MMA scene. I did this through shootfighting which is a pankration type event with open hand, full contact strikes and grappling. Although in retrospect, the grappling was very rudimentary. It was during this time, which fell about the college years, that I got to experiment with boxing and kickboxing as part of this experiment, and it turned out to be time well spent. This would give way to the more familiar MMA, that would really affect how I drilled and structured workouts. Finally, I got the opportunity that I had been looking for, for years, and started to train Brazilian jiu jitsu. Which, of course, is specifically designed for ground fighting. This has been about all I've done now for years. Last year, I was fortunate enough to start to get to dabble in Jeet Kune Do and Filipino martial arts. What is your grade or level? I hold a 5th dan in Bujin. Which sounds crazy to say, but as I write this and reflect it occurs that I've been on this journey for almost 25 years now. I was awarded a 2nd Dan in Gokei. During my years of early fight experiments, I was awarded a Junior Instructorship in shootfighting, but I never took the time or steps to make full instructor. Lastly, I am currently a brown belt in BJJ. Do you teach? Not as much as I used to. During college, I taught at a local school as well as at a campus club. In grad school, I also spent a lot of time teaching the college club with a JKD and Muay Thai guy. Shortly after, I taught shootfighting out of a local gym as well. After moving out of the college years, I helped at an MMA club for awhile. I was burnt out after that and stepped away from the teaching role. Now, I just cover for my coach where he needs someone. I enjoy it quite a bit more. What are your first memories from training? Doing angle drills off line of an attack. High hooking parry with a slip to the outside, counter strike to the head. What has been the highlight of your training? I can really say I've been blessed on my path to have quite a few moments. Narrowing it down to one is just too difficult. What tops the chart is training with Rickson Gracie, getting my black belt, my first competitive fight, utilizing my art at work live for the first time, and standing on the mats with my other teammates at the Pans. What do you do when you're not training? I try to keep up with my kids, LOL! After that I occasionally play guitar, poorly. When I have the chance I get out and fish. What do you do for a living? I'm a cop. I work as a sergeant for our Sheriff's Office. Most of my assignment is running our firearms and control tactics programs. I also get to be a member of our SWAT team. Who are or were your martial arts heroes? Top of the list has to be Bruce Lee. He inspired a generation of artists who were our instructors. As with most jiu jitsu practitioners, I also consider Rickson Gracie a hero of mine. The man in motion is just poetry and, when he's talking about jiu jitsu, it's on a whole different level. What are your favorite martial arts films and/or shows? My personal favorite is the first (and really only in my opinion) Best of the Best. Enter the Dragon is a perennial favorite as well. For whatever reason, I also enjoy The Last Samurai despite some of its problems. Where do you see yourself going in your martial arts journey in the next few years? That is a great question. I am hopeful that the next couple of years find me completing the journey to black belt in BJJ. That's the immediate goal. We'll see where my fondness for the JKD/FMA arts goes, maybe I'll progress in that direction. I've always wanted to spend time in an authentic Japanese sword art as well, if my schedule ever lines up maybe I'd make that happen. For the foreseeable future, lots of my journey will revolve around cop work and training cops. I think that I'll continue to expand into that realm with teaching methodologies for police and the specific needs that we have. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? I found it during a bit of down time while I was bored and surfing discussion boards. KF came up somewhere along the way. I spent some time browsing and checking in but I finally joined when I realized that not only were the people knowledgeable in their arts but that actual discussion occurred. Not just everyone stating their opinion and moving on, but everyone was interacting. That made it very appealing. Why did you stay? The high level of discourse kept me here for sure. Again, there was just a high level of interaction between members. Not to mention the people here really know their stuff, they're from all around the world, and everyone has a slightly different viewpoint. It's an excellent learning environment. The other thing that is immediately apparent to anyone that hangs out any time at all is the high level of civility that Patrick maintains. This makes KF unique among martial arts sites on the web. You've been a member since May 4, 2008. During this time, how has KarateForums.com changed in your eyes, if at all? Members come and go, and members that stay have periods where they are more or less active based on real life. This means that interactions change and give the site a different focus or tone on an ongoing basis. This is a good thing. Even if certain discussions roll around again, the activity of members old and new, and the interactions of the members who are active at that time, makes us all look at these issues a bit differently each time. I think there is a bit more diversity here now than there was initially when I came on board as well when it comes to different arts and backgrounds. That has also proved to be a good thing and really expanded the viewpoints that get brought to bear on a discussion. How did becoming a staff member change how you viewed the site? It showed me exactly how hard Patrick works! The professional and civil tone that Patrick promotes does not just happen. It's a deliberate choice on his part that makes this community the friendly one that it is. Also, I've been surprised at how much of a role the moderators have in maintaining his vision. How, if at all, have you used KarateForums.com in your classes or training? KF is one of those things that I kind of consider as part of my professional research. It's a great reference for just about all things martial. Additionally, it's continually giving me training ideas for my own workouts. Are there any members here who have had a particular influence or impact on you? There's been a few over the years. Brian, bushido_man96, has been really influential. In fact, it was one of Brian's posts that prompted me to sign up and actively participate. Working in the same field, he's always been a good sounding board for my thoughts on working martial arts into the law enforcement community. There's been a string of more traditional artists on the boards that have really stretched my thinking on "traditional" arts. 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? Again, being part of this community has been highly beneficial and that's occurred over a lot of threads. I can really say, when it comes to my perceptions of kata, there have been several challenging threads that have modified my feelings on the subject. Additionally, any of the threads I've had the opportunity to participate in dealing with "the best way to deal with…" are often enlightening. Given all that, I'd just like to thank Patrick for putting on such a fantastic community and maintaining such high standards. It's a pleasure and honor to take part in the discussion here and I truly enjoy giving back in any way I can. Thanks, Patrick.

Hey Bill, This will give you an idea: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_poppy As far as the anger over it, check out this section: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_poppy#Protests_and_controversy From there, further research can delve into the various viewpoints. At this time, I will remind everyone that KarateForums.com is no place for general political discussion, so this thread should not be used as a means of voicing support or opposition to the idea of wearing a remembrance poppy nor denouncing or criticizing those that do or choose not to. This is the Self Defense forum and this conversation should focus squarely on Gareth's experience here from a self defense perspective and related topics, such as whether or not he practiced effective, reasonable self defense, or not. I appreciate it. Thanks, Patrick

Congrats Danielle. Patrick

The article is pretty short. The quotes pretty much cover the overall observation. That's all it says about the length. Patrick

Congrats CredoTe. Patrick

Thank you for for sharing this with us, Bob. You have been a great contributor to this community and your posts have impacted many people. I am glad that we have you and that I have the chance to get to know you as a member of staff. I appreciate all of your support for this community and for me. It means a lot. Whatever transpired in the past is in the past, though I appreciate you taking responsibility for it. To your credit, a lot of people in that position would have just kept doing the things they were doing - and would have been banned shortly thereafter. But you were able to listen, self-evaluate and make changes that allowed you to become a truly great contributor here. Thank you for that. Patrick

Thanks Danielle (and Tammy) for that comment. That means a lot to me. Patrick

Member Profile sensei8 (View Profile) KarateForums.com Sempai Joined: February 23, 2008 Posts: 5,969 KarateForums.com Awards: Member of the Year (2009, 2010, 2011), Staff Member of the Year (2012) and Article of the Year (2010, 2012). Interview Where are you from? Owasso, Oklahoma; a northern suburb of Tulsa, with a means population of approximately just over 28,000. My family, Linda, Nathan and Krystal, and I have lived in Oklahoma ever since January 1999. I was born in Fort Worth, Texas on October 18, 1957. My family then moved to Van Nuys, California in 1958. I then moved to Dallas, Texas in 1994 to care for my ailing mom. I then moved, shortly after my mom passed away, to Owasso. Why did you get started in the Martial Arts? Originally to learn how to defend myself. It all started while I was in the 2nd grade in Canoga Park, California, a part of the San Fernando Valley that's just north of Hollywood. Every single day, while at school, I was bullied by a small group of 6th graders, who would beat me up and steal my lunch money and/or anything else that I might have that they valued. I'd go home after school as fast as my feet would carry me, and I'd raid the refrigerator; this caused my mom to ask many questions, in which I finally yielded to. So, on my birthday, October 18, 1964, my mom enrolled me into a local karate school. The beginning of my martial arts journey. Why have you continued to practice them? At first, it was for preservation, pure and simple. Then, the martial arts became a substance of reaching attainable goals via earning rank. After some time, the martial arts, by its own sheer preponderance became the Do, the way, in my life. Whenever the Do became the verisimilitude in my life, as a 17 year old junior black belt (JBB), I knew without any shadow of doubt, that the martial arts was what I was going to do for the rest of my life. And it has been just that; the way of my life! The unquenchable thirst for that knowledge keeps me to this day on my martial arts journey. What's next? That search drives me day in and day out to discover that which has alluded me until it's found, then researched over and over and over, so on and so forth, in that, perfection of that said technique(s), and then some; no end; Shu-Ha-Ri. Please briefly describe the styles of the Martial Arts that you have taken. Shindokan Saitou-ryu: 1964 to present. Shindokan is an Okinawan martial art that's Shuri-te and Okinawa-te based; 85% hands and 15% feet, whereas, Tuite, as well as Tegumi, is deeply interwoven into the very conscious fibers of Shindokan. Founded by Fuyuhiko Saito Soke, Judan, in 1950. Yoshinobu Takahashi Dai-Soke, Judan, was my SenseiTae Kwon Do: 1973-1974 under GM Young Ik Suh, who was the President of the American Taekwondo Association during the time I was enrolled. One of the most amazing GMs in tae kwon do, past, present and futureWhat is your grade or level? Shindokan Saitou-ryu karate-do: Kudan (9th dan)Shindokan Saitou-ryu kobudo: Hachidan (8th dan) Shindokan Shogo title: Hanshi (Teacher of Teachers) Tae kwon do: 6th gup (green belt)Do you teach? Yes! I started teaching as a JBB in 1970 under the guidance of Dai-Soke. I opened my own dojo, Kyuodan Dojo, in 1977 in Van Nuys, CA, as a Sandan (3rd dan). As the student enrollment increased, the Kyuodan Dojo relocated several times to accommodate my ever increasing student body; my student body has leveled to be in the neighborhood of around 375, all dependent with the competitive sports that my children students were involved in, whether it be baseball, football, soccer and/or basketball. I've closed, and then opened the Kyuodan Dojo whenever I moved to Texas as well as Oklahoma. I've also been quite fortunate to hold the position the Chief Instructor (CI) of the Shindokan Hombu, even though it was only briefly. In that short time I was also the CI and Kaicho simultaneously, an interesting juggle, to say the least, however briefly before being elected to the Kaicho position solely. What are your first memories from training? Shugyo: "suck it up!" We, human beings, aren't made to do the martial arts, in that, we must train every part of our body to do what's not natural. In the course of our martial arts training, we'll endure more than we can ever imagine. But it's that which is within us that conquers the pain that we experience day in and day out. However, the rewards of shugyo are well worth it all! Dai-Soke was a taskmaster to the nth degree. He required perfection from his students and he took us to depths that were quite unimagined by his students; rank didn't earn patience with him. No! From a students very first day, they were challenged in ways that weren't without peaceful means. His floor was sacred to him, and if you, no matter who you thought that you were/are, violated his floor, you were going to face great reprehension from him. He was patient, but his patience had its limits, especially if you've violated his floor! There was no equal on his floor! Blood, sweat and tears; these are badges that I wear proudly, as so does any dedicated martial artist. These are the first memories I remember from training. Dai-Soke was tough, but Soke, well, Dai-Soke paled to Soke in this regard; the apple didn't fall far from the tree. What has been the highlight of your training? My students! My students highlight every crevice of my martial arts training. Without my students, I don't exist. Without my students, there's no reason to train. Without my students, there's only darkness. But my students have shown me the light, and to them, I owe them everything. No, it's not the ranks or the titles or any other platitude and the like that I've earned. No, it's not the many open karate tournament grand championships that I've garnered. No, it's not being the CI of the Kyuodan Dojo or the Shindokan Hombu or being the Kaicho of the Shindokan Hombu. No, it's not anything and/or everything that might've dotted my martial arts journey's map, as those prescribed by others, because my journey is mine, and my students, over the 40 years that I've been teaching Shindokan, are my highlights; each and every one of them! What do you do when you're not training? Spend a lot of time with my family; as often as I can! I love to do whatever my family wants to do! I have a mean chess game, and I love to play chess with whomever and wherever. Chess is a rewarding challenge away from Shindokan. It tasks me in ways that Shindokan can't because it's not physical; no, it's mental. That mental game is alive, both in chess and in Shindokan: study your opponent, study yourself, make a plan, and then carry that plan out! I love fish. I read any wide gamut of subjects. I love most all sports, and in that, I love bowling. I don't have a bad bowling game either; I carry a bowling average of 193. I love to go boating, and I love water skiing with a passion. I love to challenge myself both physically as well as mentally, so, in that, whatever it might be, it must challenge me. I love to do it, whatever it is, whenever I'm not training in the martial arts. What do you do for a living? I'm the CI of the Kyuodan Dojo as well as the current Kaicho of the Shindokan Hombu. Who are or were your martial arts heroes? My students are my heroes, first and foremost! Not just my immediate students, but the entire Shindokan student body; and that's approximately 10,000 students of all ranks throughout the Shindokan network. Had you asked me whom I respected as martial artists beyond my students, then that's a different story. I've respected a multitude of martial artists in and out of the Shindokan circle, to many too list, I suppose. Bruce Lee would be at the top of my list. After that, there's just too many for me to name. Some names, you might or might not recognize, and that's OK because, next year, I'll have been involved in the martial arts, namely Shindokan, for 50 years. So, I've met, and trained with, quite a lot of martial artists over those 50 years. Of course, my Dai-Soke would even be over Bruce Lee in terms of whom I respect the most as a martial artist. What are your favorite martial art films and/or shows? Movie: Enter the Dragon Show: Kung FuThese are my most favorite. However, I've so many different favorites of both genres, too many to list. Where do you see yourself going in the martial arts journey in the next few years? Definitive places? None, that I can imagine at this time. In a infinitive sense, I'll continue to steer Shindokan in the visions of my Soke and Dai-Soke as the current Kaicho of the Shindokan Hombu in the next few years, and in that, the improved betterment of each Shindokanist is my priority beyond any and all things, and in that, to eliminate any contentious intents that might seek to disrupt and/or destroy the Shindokan Hombu directly and/or indirectly. To bring the Shindokan hombu out of the stone-age to electronic media, the internet and the like, but that's not probable because none of the Hombu hierarchy, this includes me as well, can agree on anything concerning this subject. In a martial artist sense, I'll continue to seek and/or discover that which is new and effective. As I learn, so do I become a proponent of that which is effective in and out of Shindokan. Knowledge is paramount to the overall betterment of my martial arts journey. Not only do I teach, I must learn first and foremost. Not for my sake, but for the sake of my immediate students as well as the entire Shindokan student body. Eventually, my martial arts journey will reach its zenith, both physically as well as mentally, but until then, my martial arts journey will continue until the end of my life. A few years is so restrictive, imho, therefore, I must look in long term definitions. I'm not an insentient being, and in that, I care very deeply about the martial arts; my life, without the martial arts, without Shindokan, I'm incomplete - insufficient! My martial arts journey might be construed by those who know me the best as disciplined, and in that, including a powerful work ethic, knowledge, guts and compassion. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? While I was a moderator for Black Belt Magazine, Brian (bushido_man96) and I started developing our friendship through, and in that, Brian had recommended KarateForums.com to me via a PM. As a moderator, I became quite disenchanted with the administrators because they weren't available to guide and/or mentor us, so, I went and checked out KarateForums.com, and the rest, as they say, is history. I joined KarateForums.com mainly because I needed an outlet away from the Shindokan circle because one ideology and/or methodology isn't enough for me. I love Shindokan, please don't misunderstand me. I can talk with other Shindokanists anytime I want to, however, I need to talk and train with other martial artists because there's always another side of the coin. Why did you stay? To exchange ideologies and/or methodologies and the like with other martial artists. KF has a wide plethora of martial artists; the fruit was, and still is, literally seeping off the vine. No matter ones rank, a martial artist's opinion is very valuable in one way or another, and in that, their advice shouldn't be discarded just because they're a kyu ranked martial artist. I stay with KF for the same reason as why I stay with Shindokan, and the martial arts... WHAT'S NEXT? What's going to increase my martial arts betterment just over that next hill and/or mountain that I'm fortunate enough to discover. What's next?!?! Don't want to miss it! You've been a member since February 23, 2008. During this time, how has KarateForums.com changed in your eyes, if at all? That's the beauty of KF: it's consistent across the board. KF knows that it must reinvent itself quite often to stave off its competitors. I've visited quite a few of venues like KF, but to be frank and honest, I've not ever seen one as quite "together" as KF. Is KF perfect? No! If it was, I would've left it along time ago. Patrick has developed KF into a force to be reckoned with, and as I'm always saying 'the proof is on the floor.' That exists abundantly here at KF!! How did becoming a staff member change how you viewed the site? My viewing of the site, before and now, hasn't been altered and/or changed even the slightest since becoming a part of the KF staff. Before I'm a KF staff member, I'm a KF member first and foremost, and while I've been given this awesome honor, the site still remains steadfastly above and beyond other similar sites as well as those sites that aren't similar to KF. I have access to other areas as a KF Sempai which have not been created to boast ones ego, but only to allow KF Sempais to uphold the continuity that defines KF, and in that, these areas allow us to fulfill our duties as well as supporting the rules and regulations as set forth by Patrick. In my eyes, I see KF as the vehicle that serves as a positive means to effect positive change in the venue of which we partake of willingly. KF respects the one consistency that can't be ignored: change, in that, it's evident for its success. Change is inevitable and, if one's not willing to embrace that, then that which is now, will die quickly. How, if at all, have you used KarateForums.com in your classes or training? In my classes, there have been many great jewels. There is a KF article titled Personal Safety and the 5 Stages of Violent Crime, by Heidi (ninjanurse). After having read this wonderful article of hers, I asked for her permission for me to use it at one of our many seminars that we conduct at our Hombu during our 2012 annual testing cycle. It was a smashing success with every student as well as with the instructors in attendance. Over the many years that I've been a KF member, many KF articles and/or KF threads have given birth to the core of many things that I've used during classes because, and let's be serious for a moment, KF hosts a large scope of knowledgeable martial artists of all ranks and/or experience, and only a self-absorbed instructor wouldn't use the ideas and the like, no matter the author of said ideology/methodology, to propel their students' martial arts betterment. I've always given the creator of said ideas the credit due, because it's deserved and warranted to do so, and I do this not for any other reason than the simple fact that I don't know everything. Same goes for the training ideologies and methodologies that I've learned over the many years here at KF. Everyone is capable of teaching and/or sharing something valuable to any martial artist - in that, I'm no exception. If after I've experienced said training advice and/or ideology and/or methodology for myself, and it pans out credible and effective, I'll share it with whomever I decide, and whatever they do with it after that, well, that's up to that martial artist. The pool of experience here at KF is a virtual pod of nutrients, like a virtual dojo. KF is laden with many, many treasures from its member pool that I've borrowed to accentuate not only my personal martial arts betterment, but also for all Shindokan students betterment as well. To them all, I thank you for allowing me to exchange martial arts ideologies and/or methodologies with you one and all martial artists. Are there any members here who have had a particular influences or impact on you? Brian, a.k.a. bushido_man96. He's not only been a friend to me within the martial arts world, but outside of the martial arts as well. Words will pale to explain, and/or describe how important his friendship has been to me over these many years. We've been fortunate enough to have exchanged ideologies and methodologies together over one weekend a few years ago. I miss him and I miss training with him as well. I value him above all outside of the Shindokan circle; he's proven himself across the board as an effective proponent in and out of the Shindokan circle as well as in and out of the martial arts world. Thank you Brian, thank you so very much! Thank you for allowing me to call you my friend! 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? To Patrick, and each KF Sensei, I thank you for mentoring me here at KF all of these many years. Without you, I would have certainly been banned from KF, but you all saw something within me that was worth saving. I had had no prior experience within this type of media, and the little experience that I had, I had to learn on my own with no guidance from those who had that type of experience. I let my big fat mouth overload my big fat rear-end and spoke what came to my mind without ever thinking. Well, I was thinking... but I was quite wrong in my attitude and the like! I treated KF, at first, as though KF was mine to do with as I wanted to, and that KF was MY dojo, and I spoke freely without any ambiguity, in that, I spoke without being concerned with the negative ramifications that my ill spoken words were doing to my fellow KF members. I WAS DEAD WRONG! No excuse can excuse my actions... I WAS WRONG! I owe Patrick and each KF Sensei my most deepest and most unabridged gratitude, and I sincerely appreciate all that you've all done for me, and in that, I will never forget each and every one of you for being that rock in my life. THANK YOU! That was then, now, I've been made anew! Hopefully, through the guidance that I've received from Patrick and the KF Senseis over these many years, I can say that that part of my verbal destructiveness is history. I'm a taskmaster, and I don't apologize for it, however, being a taskmaster on the martial arts floor is one thing, but being a taskmaster on the KF floor, imho, is irresponsible and insensitive and uncalled for. If I've ever angered you and/or hurt you; I'm deeply sorry for that, and I ask for your forgiveness.

There is a little over 48 hours until nominations are closed! Please get those last minute nominations in. Thanks, Patrick

Tammy will be on the live stream on Saturday and we'll be doing some more reminiscing on there. Patrick

It's always great to reminisce with you, Tammy. I'm glad that we have been able to stay in touch for all of these years. Thank you for your outstanding contributions to this community. You were a great member of staff and your support through various challenges meant a lot to me. Thanks, Patrick

Member Profile monkeygirl (View Profile) Former KarateForums.com Sensei Joined: February 22, 2002 Posts: 3,676 KarateForums.com Awards: Funniest Member of the Year (2002, 2003, 2005) and Thread of the Year (2002) Interview Where are you from? I grew up in South Central Pennsylvania and moved to Portland, Oregon a few years ago. Why did you get started in the martial arts? When I was a tween, I wanted to take dance classes like my fellow Girl Scouts did. My father insisted that if he was going to pay for any kind of class, he would make sure it was something that would teach me to defend myself. My older brother and I went to a starter class at a local tae kwon do school and immediately fell in love with the art. Why have you continued to practice them? I actually don't practice anymore and have now been out of training for longer than I was ever in. But at the time, it was a great source of exercise, mental/emotional calm (extra helpful during a period of raging hormones and angst), and deep friendships. I'm very driven by achievement and recognition, and so the belt system and tournament competitions were also very appealing to me. Please briefly describe the styles of martial art that you have taken. I studied tae kwon do, which I think was closer to the WTF style than the ITF style, but we threw in a lot of extras as well based on our Grand Master's experiences, such as weapons training, self defense (open-hand, ground sparring and defense against weapons) and Krav Maga. What is your grade or level? I achieved 1st dan and was 1/3 of the way to 2nd dan when I left my dojo. Did you teach? I was a student instructor for a year or two, which I really enjoyed, although my young age was a challenging factor at the time when helping adult students. What are your first memories from training? Kicking as far over my head as possible and having a photographic memory for katas (including those way beyond my belt level). What has been the highlight of your training? Training gave me a great sense of self-confidence and was a wonderful release. It's hard to describe the feeling when you're alone on the training floor, whipping a set of kusarigama through the air and around your body and launching yourself into a flying kick. It was exhilarating, empowering and liberating all at the same time. What do you do when you're not training? I stopped training in 2003 due to a falling out between my family and the dojo's owners. I tried to continue practicing on my own and have had a few stints as a cardio kickboxing and self defense instructor in college, but have largely stopped training. In the years after leaving my dojo, I picked up Ultimate Frisbee and dabbled in improv and theater. What do you do for a living? I am the Director of Analytics for an independent school fundraising office, and am currently applying to master's programs in analytics. Who are or were your martial arts heroes? I'm not big on heroes or role models, but there are a few people who have been influential for me. I got to train with Bill "Superfoot" Wallace for a day when he visited our dojo, which was truly inspiring. Our Grand Master had me and a few other students perform our best katas for him, and it was an incredible privilege to be critiqued by him and have a better sense of how you really compared to martial artists beyond our tiny town in Pennsylvania. I also got to meet several Grand Masters from the ITF who were capable of things I thought only happened in movies (after lots and lots of editing). At our dojo, progress tended to feel halted after you achieved first dan - no new patterns, no new techniques. These masters served as a great example of how much more I could still learn. What are your favorite martial arts films and/or shows? Old Jackie Chan movies will always have a special place in my heart, but The Raid has to be some of the best fight choreography I've ever seen. Where do you see yourself going in your martial arts journey in the next few years? I'm curious about trying to find a dojo and get back into training in a few years, perhaps after I've finished grad school and my husband and I have found a more permanent home city. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? Why did you stay? I honestly can't remember how I found it, but I was pretty into forums at the time so I was inclined to join forums that aligned with my interests. I stayed because the conversations were always fresh and engaging, and it was a place where I could ask questions I didn't feel comfortable posing in my dojo. You've been a member since February 22, 2002. During this time, how has KarateForums.com changed in your eyes, if at all? I haven't been very active in the past few years, so it's a little tough to say, but I remember being present during some big changes - introducing articles and member awards, for example. The thing that will always stand out in my mind was the exit of a certain outspoken member who shall remain nameless. When that user left, the whole atmosphere of the forums changed for the better. The old guard know who I'm talking about. If you don't, read Patrick's book for a few examples. How did becoming a staff member change how you viewed the site? The staff-only forums were quite eye-opening. It was incredible to see how hard the staff work to keep the forums clean, respectful and feeling safe for all. A lot of the worst posts had disappeared before I had seen them, so it was a little shocking (especially at the ripe age of 14 or 15?) what some people thought was OK to post or to privately message someone. It also let me get to know Patrick much better, since he wasn't terribly active in the martial arts threads, but really dedicates a lot of time to the management of the site. Being a staff member let me see how much he cares about KF, and I gained a lot of respect for him. How, if at all, have you used KarateForums.com in your classes or training? I mostly turned to KF for questions having to do with attitudes and interactions with people, and I received a lot of interesting (if often conflicting) feedback. It helped me gain perspective on the conflicts I was dealing with at my dojo and I think helped me deal with situations a little more maturely in the dojo (even if I may have vented a little immaturely on the forums at times). Are there any members here who have had a particular influence or impact on you? I'm a little sad to say that it's been so long I don't remember the specific usernames, but there were always a few members who held a special place in my heart. Girls my own age who knew what I was going through, men and women older than me who supported me and gave sage advice, and who had my back when other people may have wanted to dismiss me as a little kid. Many of those people were fellow staff members, and some were not. 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 a little embarrassed about this one, but the only KarateForums.com Award I ever received that wasn't in the Funniest Member of the Year category was a Thread of the Year award for Respecting Younger Instructors. Looking back on that thread is fairly difficult, because who wants to look back on the things they said when they were 15? But that thread taught me a lot about humility and being open-minded, as well as thickening my skin a little. I've always looked younger than my age and have often advanced beyond my age group in academics and various types of promotions, which has led me to be a little sensitive about my age and about being taken seriously. I asked a question in that thread about how to overcome people who wouldn't give me a chance simply because I was young. Some of the replies were people basically dismissing me for being young, and so I almost got to try out different arguments online instead of having the misfortune of using them in my dojo. It didn't go very well, and in the end - whether I realized it consciously or not - I think I learned the Great Lesson of the Internet: some people just can't be convinced, some things can't be magically fixed, you just have to be confident in yourself and keep trying. That lesson of perseverance has carried through to school, college, work and beyond. Simply putting in the work and continuing to try can do so much.

I think it's really cool when we have people how are family or who are friends offline or go to the same school, etc. I appreciate you sharing the community with your collection of friends, Alex. Patrick

No worries. Welcome aboard, Eggman. Patrick

Hello, Thank you for visiting KarateForums.com. For a special video presentation in honor of Heidi (ninjanurse)'s outstanding contributions to our community, please see this thread: http://www.karateforums.com/in-honor-of-ninjanurse-s-outstanding-contributions-video-vt45810.html Thank you for reading. Sincerely, Patrick

Hello, Thank you for visiting KarateForums.com. Earlier this year, Heidi (ninjanurse) celebrated 10 years on staff here at KarateForums.com. At that time, we noted this amazing demonstration of longevity an announcement and plenty of praise. But I had something else in mind and decided that I would tie it in with our 500,000 posts celebration. I had a couple of ideas and collaborated privately with the rest of the staff, settling on a physical award - a representation of our appreciation for Heidi that she could display wherever she wanted and be reminded of KarateForums.com and the time that she has spent here. As I said back in June: As such, on behalf of KarateForums.com, it is my pleasure to present Heidi with the award pictured below. It is already in her hands. http://www.karateforums.com/img/photos/heidininjanurseaward.png Thank you for reading (and watching). Patrick

Thank you for the contributions that you have made to this community, Bill. I appreciate the way that you approach posting and your humor also adds something that I enjoy. Glad that things are on an upswing for you personally. Thank you for saying this. It means a lot to me as that is a core goal that this community has had since day 1. Is it too cold to hang a gutter yet? Thanks again, Patrick

Member Profile MasterPain (View Profile) Joined: October 26, 2010 Posts: 1,834 KarateForums.com Awards: Member of the Year (2012) and Funniest Member of the Year (2011, 2012) Interview Where are you from? Willow Hill, Illinois. A very small town with a population of 250. Why did you get started in the martial arts? I was being picked on in school and wanted to be able to defend myself. Also, I wanted to be like Van-Damme in Bloodsport. Why have you continued to practice them? Same reasons, plus I just enjoy it. I've met some of my best friends through training. Please briefly describe the styles of martial arts that you have taken. Bujin is a self defense art with a basis in Kempo jujutsu. I also train at an MMA gym with most of it's focus being BJJ. What is your grade or level? Black belt in Bujin, white in BJJ. Amateur MMA record of 1-1. Do you teach? Some. I don't have my own dojo or anything. What are your first memories from training? Doing angle drills (one steps) when I was 9. I was a very uncoordinated child... What has been the highlight of your training? Every Bujin black belt test ranks up there pretty high. We get some great guys together and train all day with an hour long sparring session at the end. What do you do when you're not training? Lately, mostly work and sleep. I'm doing 2 jobs now except through the winter, so there's not much free time. When I have time, I like to play RPGs and other video games, play with my cats and dogs, take walks in the woods and such. What do you do for a living? I install seamless gutters, and I print junk mail and magazine subscription cards. Who are or were your martial arts heroes? My instructors mostly. Also Bruce Lee, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Royce Gracie and Roy Nelson. What are your favorite martial arts films and/or shows? Bloodsport, Enter the Dragon, Kung Pow: Enter the First, Best of the Best, Five Deadly Venoms, Clan of the White Lotus, the Mr. Vampire series, Kill Bill, and The Perfect Weapon. Where do you see yourself going in your martial arts journey in the next few years? Who can say? But I'll still be training and getting joy out of it. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? tallgeese put me in an armbar and told me to join. Why did you stay? This is the only MA forum I've seen where people are respectful. You've been a member since October 26, 2010. During this time, how has KarateForums.com changed in your eyes, if at all? Not sure, I haven't had much time to get on lately, but I plan to change that when it gets too cold to hang gutter. Still a great site. How, if at all, have you used KarateForums.com in your classes or training? I've picked up a couple ideas for chaining attacks together in grappling. Are there any members here who have had a particular influence or impact on you? A couple members I know personally and have great respect for. Other than that, I like the mixture of traditional, sport, self defense and art-oriented martial artists here. I think the community has given me a better understanding of people who train for different purposes. 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 remember one member talking about karate being a constant in a changing life, about the grounding effect of training. She had lost almost everything in a hurricane. While I haven't had that drastic of an experience, I have had some financial problems and life changes, and that has give me something to think about. Things are getting better now and training has helped me keep positive.

Thank you to everyone who has nominated already. If you haven't yet nominated, there is less than a week left! You have a great opportunity to recognize some of your favorite members through these awards. Your input is wanted! Thanks, Patrick

Thank you for sharing this with us, ShoriKid. I'm glad to have you and your brother at KarateForums.com. I appreciate the contributions that you have made to our community. Thanks, Patrick

Member Profile ShoriKid (View Profile) Joined: December 14, 2007 Posts: 766 Interview Where are you from? Oneida, Tennessee near the Big South Fork National Park. Why did you get started in the martial arts? I guess I have always had an interest in the martial arts. Like a lot of kids, I grew up watching action films and of course Bruce Lee and the old Kung Fu series played a part in that as well. In part, I wanted to better learn to fight and defend myself. Why have you continued to practice them? Is it okay to say that I'm addicted? A big part of what has kept me involved is the individual challenge that the martial arts pose. The depth martial arts offers has kept me at it as well. Whenever you think you've discovered everything that is out there, you find something new and that keeps you training. Please briefly describe the styles of martial arts that you have taken. I wrestled in school before anything else. Matsubayashi Ryu, a branch of Shorin Ryu was my first "martial art." It depends on high, mobile stances and close tight movements of offense and defense. Judo in college, but only for a few months as the drive was killing me. Aikido, also in college with the same man that taught defensive tactics at the state police academy. Shotokan karate from a very small linage with heavy aikijutsu influences. Arnis very briefly and through one of my instructors from Shotokan. BJJ thanks to my brother, pittbullJudoka. Finally, Makotokan karate, being the amalgamation of several arts with a karate core as taught by our instructors from the Shotokan linage. What is your grade or level? Currently 3rd dan, with a solid, no stripe white belt in BJJ. Do you teach? Yes, at a small dojo my brother and I run together. What are your first memories from training? I remember the first night in class struggling to get my gi on right and having the belt knot off to the side. It was how the kung fu guys in the movies did it and the thing felt in the way. It was a night of bare bones basics which I struggled with. What has been the highlight of your training? I have to say it's been a tie between seminars I attended by Frank Grant (currently Hanshi in the World Shorin-Ryu Karate Federation), and one with Luiz Palhares (7th degree black belt, BJJ). Both men had an incredible ability to teach and spot tiny details in what you were doing in order to help make improvements. What do you do when you're not training? I read a lot, mostly spend time with my family and make a few knives here and there. What do you do for a living? I'm a lender at a small local bank. Which is sort of funny as my first karate instructor had the same job. Who are or were your martial arts heroes? One was a pro fighter and friend Larry Jarrett. Another would be Frank Grant that I mentioned above. What are your favorite martial arts films and/or shows? I still love the old Kung Fu series, cheesy as it was! Fist of Legend, Best of the Best, The Karate Kid and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Where do you see yourself going in your martial arts journey in the next few years? That's a really good question. One I haven't sat down and thought on all that much. I think I really want to delve into application for our kata and start bringing along some of the more long term students on this path as well. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? I think I was researching something and kept hitting discussions on KarateForums.com. I lurked around for more than a year before I joined. What got me to join was the good, clean discussion that had really good content. Why did you stay? I've gotten to know, as much as one can, some of the other members here. The maturity, depth of knowledge and lack of teenaged ego have a lot to do with why I've stayed. You've been a member since December 14, 2007. During this time, how has KarateForums.com changed in your eyes, if at all? There has been turn over in membership, of course. The level of discussion and topics seem to have matured. That may be due to the age of many of the posters, or the community seems to have grown up a little. How, if at all, have you used KarateForums.com in your classes or training? Topics and posts on KarateForums.com have been the genesis of classes, lessons and drills in both my training and teaching. From large to small things, I've taken a lot from what is discussed here and put it to work on the floor of the dojo. A lot of it is a spark, driving me to think about what we train, how I train and what my goals are. Are there any members here who have had a particular influence or impact on you? If I had to single out just a few, they would have to be tallgeese, bushido_man96 and sensei8. All three are thoughtful, seem to come at things from an angle I can grasp even when they are very different than my own and they are honest in their approach to posting and martial arts. 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? This is something I find hard to pin down. Taking six years of exposure to thoughts and ideas on these forums and distilling it down to a single moment or piece of advice. It's been a culmination of things over the years. Is it fair to say I can't pick just one?

Thank you for participating in this interview series, mal103. I appreciate the kind words about the community and I am glad that you enjoy it. Thank you for the contributions that you have made here. I appreciate you re-enforcing this. I definitely encourage members to express appreciation in public when a member makes a post that they enjoy. It has an impact on people and is a great way to encourage more posts of that nature and to help great members feel appreciated for what they contribute here. Thanks again, Patrick

Member Profile mal103 (View Profile) Joined: May 21, 2011 Posts: 262 Interview Where are you from? England UK, currently live in Wiltshire. Why did you get started in the martial arts? It was always something I wanted to try as I don't like football but wanted to keep fit. MA didn't fit in with military life so I started late in my 30s. I'm glad I picked karate. Why have you continued to practice them? Karate is now part of my life. It enhances my life and I can no longer live without it! Please briefly describe the styles of martial arts that you have taken. I started in Wado ryu but then, after a house move, changed to Shotokan, purely because that was the style of the best local club. What is your grade or level? I have recently graded as Nidan in Shotokan karate. We are all still beginners though, I have just seen a picture of me and my boy doing kata and have feet/arm/etc. out of position. Do you teach? I started teaching as soon as I passed my black belt. This was early and I have learned a lot. The majority of my students have stuck with me so I must be doing a fairly good job. I try to mix up 3Ks, self defence, fun, fitness and anything else I see as being relevant. I now have 2 regular sessions a week and around 25 regular students, one of my first has double graded and is now a brown belt. All of them pass grades without problems and get good feedback. What are your first memories from training? Trying to figure out my elbow from other body parts. I remember on my first grading I changed from a turn to a slight jump and got told off! What has been the highlight of your training? Passing black belt was a big highlight. Although you don't suddenly become invincible, and the training afterwards feels the same, it is a good milestone on your journey. Since then, seeing my students grade and progress as I have passed on my good training. What do you do when you're not training? Work, study, fix things at home, fix vehicles, family stuff and keep fit - if any time remains then I will research karate and find things to add to my teaching or training. What do you do for a living? Ex-military submariner, now I work in IT databases and financial systems. Who are or were your martial arts heroes? Kanazawa, Bruce Lee, Mas Oyama, Enoeda, Gichin Funakoshi - anyone who has dedicated their life to MA and made a difference. What are your favorite martial arts films and/or shows? I love Master Ken of Ameri-Do-Te - I think he pokes fun at the daft things in MA and is a true Master... Where do you see yourself going in your martial arts journey in the next few years? My club became an association due to having 5 training locations after expanding, then joined the EKF. We are still growing in size and have 2 new instructors in training. I will do my best to support them and maintain our technical instruction as part of my role. I have 3 years to Sandan but lots more to learn yet. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? I was on a forum but KF is busier. I like to answer questions to help others and to get quick answers to mine. Why did you stay? The general attitude of the forum is very good. I think I have a good grasp of MA and the humility, etc, but I am in some member's shadows as there are some extremely good MAs on here. You've been a member since May 11, 2011. During this time, how has KarateForums.com changed in your eyes, if at all? It's gotten better! How, if at all, have you used KarateForums.com in your classes or training? I have emailed fellow martial artists links to KF, I have also taken and read some good advice in general. Are there any members here who have had a particular influences or impact on you? About 5 but I won't embarrass them... 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 I have replied and really gone beyond to give a good explanation, to have someone else quote you and say "good post" is very flattering. It's simple but good to know someone agrees wholeheartedly with your opinion. There are plenty of opinions in the MA world, by our nature we should listen and learn where possible. KF is a good place to do this.

Thank you for your kind words about the community and how it is managed, Greg. I appreciate it. You were a great staff member and I appreciate the outstanding contributions that you have made to this community. I am glad that we have been able to stay in touch and I look forward to meeting you in person at some point in the future. One of my best friends lives in LaGrange, GA, so I'm sure it'll happen sooner or later. It's funny, as I was planning out the live stream, I was thinking about the staff that I have had over the years. I have always had great moderators, at any given time. But, in particular, there were two collections of moderators hat stand out as being particularly strong. The first group, which Tammy affectionately referred to recently as the "old guard": SBN Doug: 1/6/2003 to 2005 monkeygirl: 2/9/2003 to 8/6/2005 PunchPressQueen75: 2/25/2003 to 5/8/2005 SaiFightsMS: 5/19/2002 to 9/26/2005 The date spans represent when the person as a Sensei. The second group is the one we have now and that's saying something because of the people I've had in the past. Right now, I feel that the overall staff is the strongest that it has ever been. Led by these moderators: ninjanurse: 5/15/2005 to present bushido_man96: 1/4/2007 to present DWx: 10/30/2007 to present tallgeese: 5/12/2009 to present It is rare when you can have a great group of people like this together for 3+ years, to really meld and become a great team. But as I put these groups together, I figured out that you are sort of a link between the two groups as you were a Sensei from 1/30/2004 to 10/30/2007, you were with both groups, which contributed to them being so strong. You and Heidi are both connected to both of them. Thanks again, Patrick