SaiFightsMS

I am finding the news reports that Taliban prisoners held in Afghan prisons want to go to Camp X-Ray and be held in the American prison. They want to go where they will be treated better. Ironic.

I was reading this in Black Belt magazine and I wondered what everyone thought. Does your dojo have a sempai - kohai relationship system? And how does it work? Seniors and Juniors by Dave Lowry Sempai and kohai are Japanese terms frequently used by non-Japanese martial artists. They translate approximately as “senior” and “junior.” The operative word in that sentence is “approximately” because sempai and kohai do not have completely adequate counterparts in English. That’s probably because in the West, we do not have social situations like those that created the whole sempai-kohai relationship. Martial artists who use the terms need to know about their social context so they can give some thought to perhaps not using them at all. Sempai and kohai have come primarily from the educational system in Japan, especially its universities. Surely they have been used elsewhere—they are heard not infrequently in the business world— but in common parlance they refer to one’s upper or lower classmates at school. If I entered a Japanese university a year after you, I would always be your kohai and you would always be my sempai. We both might graduate and eventually I might be the CEO of a huge conglomerate, and you might be far below me in the company’s hierarchy. No matter, you would still be my sempai. In modern dojo, particularly in Japan, these titles are applied the same way. (This is no coincidence. Modern budo’s strongest organizations, particularly before World War II, were at universities, so it’s natural that the terminology would find its way into kendo, karate, etc.) If I joined the dojo on June 6 of this year and you joined on June 7, I would be your sempai, always. If I quit practicing the next day and you stayed with it for the next half-century, even though I am inactive, I would technically still your sempai. These terms denote seniority; they do not imply anything about skill level or title. the surface, it’s that simple. When the budo are transported outside Jap however, it isn’t simple at all. When students Kansas or New Jersey start using the terms, all kinds of misunderstandings can arise: • They may assume sempai and kohai are ancient terms used by the samurai. They aren’t. People implement them to give an authentic or traditional ring to their school are in error. “If the sempai-kohai relationship is important at your dojo fine. But remember that it’s no as simple as it seems and that no matter what your title, everyone is supposed to b learning. “ • They may assume these are formal terms of address. With few exceptions, they are not. Bob might be your sempai at the dojo, but you would not normally address him as “sempai” the way you would use the title of sensei. For example, if I asked you who is standing over there, you might say, “That’s my biology teacher!’ But if we then approached he you wouldn’t say, “Teacher, I’d like you to meet friend!’ • They may believe the sempai-kohai relations is analogous to that of a fraternal organization that bullying, hazing or making life miserable for juniors is a time-honored tradition. Unfortunately even some Japanese have made this mistake. Juniors in university budo clubs have been severely hazed, even beaten. In extreme situations, there have been deaths. Budoka who engage in this sort of brutality are not following an ancient code of the samurai. For the samurai, the group was only as strong as its weakest link. It was a consideration for every man to have trust and faith in his comrade. Lives were on the line. The karetaka that indulges in this sort of sadism is actually following the traditions of the modern Japanese university where machismo and other such adolescent silliness is a sad part if life. They may believe that the sempai is necessarily senior in technical skill or ability. Not so. Nearly every large dojo in Japan has one or more sempai- guys who stopped serious training years before but who still come in now and then. Often they think they have a right to tell juniors what to do and Japanese society often tolerates this. I know just such a fellow who comes to the Aikikai Hombu in Tokyo, a big talker who hasn’t taken a serious fall or worked up a good sweat in a decade. It’s embarrassing and irritating for the junior-any of whom could kick the seniors behind into the middle of next week- but they smile politely and endure it. You should. Too. If the sempai-kohai relationship is important at your dojo, fine. But remember that it’s not as simple as it seems and that no matter what your title, everyone is supposed to be learning. I

No one is invincible.

That sounds like a good way to learn Piastre.

Well with a higher than normal hand position on one side I do a pretty effective pressing down type of block that traps both of the opponents hands. Then while their hands are going down the face is nice and open. Simple and effective. Just not done too often. Throwing out the lead hand like it is going to be a backfist helps to disquise the press block and can be a good setup.

It is so great to be part of a growing forum. I have visited other sites like this and this is by far the best. :up: :up:

A Strong Man Joke From the IRS Three guys were talking in the local bar. The manager was so sure that its bouncer was the strongest man around that it offered a standing $1,000 bet that no could beat him. The challenge was that the landlord would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran out into a beer glass, then hand the lemon to the customer. Anyone who could squeeze even one more drop out of the lemon would win the money. Over the years many people had tried this, truck drivers, weightlifters, karate masters, and all had failed. Then one day this geeky little fella with heavy black rimmed glasses came into the bar and asked if he could try the challenge. After the laughter had subsided the landlord said that it was only fair that the man be given a chance at the bet, so he picked up a lemon and started squeezing. Once he was done he handed the remains to the little man who promptly squeezed out 4 more drops of juice onto the bar! Everyone looked on in amazement as the landlord handed over the prize and asked "What do you do for a living that has given you such strength? Are you a lumberjack, weightlifter, what?" "No" the man replied, "I work for the IRS."

It has been a while since I have heard the term fartlek training, but it is for real. And it has nothing to do with farts. The perceived rate of exertion is important in training. I think it can really help cut down on overtraining. I know there are a lot if times when I am on the treadmill or the elliptical trainer and don't feel like I am at my max, but my heart rate says otherwise.

I did Yoda. And I passed it onto a friend who has had carpal tunnel surgery.

Well keep at it then. And work consistently. It is the last few inches that are the hard ones. Work every day but not hard everyday.

These balls are rated at like 1000 pounds. And I have seen some really big guys at the gym doing flyes on them. The first time I was introduced to them was in physical therapy. They are a well established mainstay in assisting people to develope balance. They are incredibley versatile tools.

When morality is missing in Karate, Karate no longer exists. Once there was a man exactly like that, let's call him Kuwada. Kuwada had just begun his martial arts training with the wish of becoming the man most feared by all the rest. But he soon found out that there actually are no shortcuts in the road from beginner to master. Disheartened by the non stop training of Kata, Kuwada asked his sensei, "When are we going to learn something else? I have been here quite a long time and it is kata, kata, kata every day." When his sensei didn't answer, Kuwada went to the master's assistant and asked him the same question. He responded: "Kata training is for polishing the mind. It is better to shave your mind than your head. Do you understand?" Kuwada did not and in protest he abandoned the dojo and started a notorious career as the best street fighter in Shuri. He was tough, no doubt about it. "A fight per night", that was his motto. He always bragged " I am afraid of no living man". One night Kuwada saw a stranger calmly walking alongside a rock wall. Kuwada became irritated when he saw the other person's calmness. He ran as fast as he could to the road crossing and waited for him to pass by. When he did, Kuwada jumped and tried to hit him with a punch, but the man dodged it and grabbed his arm. As he brought Kuwada closer and closer to him, he stared into his eyes. Kuwada tried to get loose but was unable. For the first time in his life he felt a strange sensation, fear of losing. When the man finally let him go, Kuwada ran, but looked over his shoulder and saw the man walking calmly as if nothing had happened. Kuwada later found out that that man was a master in kata, a martial artist that never in his life had fought. He who can control himself is the greatest warrior of them all. This is extremely obvious for a master in martial arts. Kuwada and the Kata Richard Kim, "The Weaponless Warriors", 1974

History arguement ? Did I miss something? Does not matter to me the why or how of what type of kobudo someone studies. Or the reason. Just as long as they enjoy it. And maybe are willing to talk about it. I really enjoy comparing things. Now remember I said comparing not arguing.

Fitness balls are growing in popularity and are encredibly versatile. You will never get the stretch you get on a flye like the way you can on the ball. And it is much easier to do reverse flyes for the back of the shoulders on a ball. Not too mention the core body work.

"The no stretch wonder" So if you are kicking well over your head is it really necessary to do the splits?

Sounds like someone just read "The Martial Fart".

Actually I have to admit I used to sort of regularly wind up in a heap on the floor when I first started training. In my case it was a result of the years of inactivity due to the multiple sclerosis. After about 9 months I was not scaring everyone so much. Even then everytime I got sick and came back in I would go through a period of okay it is stop now or wind up in the floor. I totally understand what you are going through even if the cause is different. And yes this is a really great fourm. I wandered in one night and took a look around and have been in just about every day since then.

This is a lot deeper than it looked on the surface. There is an incredible amount of passion it seems. Zak I am trying to understand your view. It has made me think. I think many of us have things that are of immense value to us that others cannot understand. I think one of the biggest fights over hair I ever heard was in the early 70's. Kid across the street was refusing to go get his hair cut. It was a loud one. I do remember at the time how much his hair ment to him. And in a way that helps me now begin to understand the other point of view. I had totally forgotten about that until I read that post and started to think. Still I would not want to have to get in a plane after a group of people with lice had been in it.

Don't worry about double postings SpinningGumby. Sometimes when you hit submit and get the "this page cannot be displayed screen" it is easy to double post. You know you go back and do it again. And sometimes a double post occurs.

I soon saw those two glistening eyes reflected in the light of the lantern and realized that the habu was indeed expecting me. It had set its trap and was now waiting for me to spring it. Fortunately, seeing me and seeing that swinging lantern, the snake abandoned his attack and this time disappeared for good into the darkness of the field. It seemed to me that I had learned an important lesson from that viper. As we continued on our way toward Azato's house, I said to my son, "We all know about the habu's persistence. But this time that was not the danger. The habu we encountered appears to be familiar with the tactics of karate, and when it slid off into the field it was not running away from us. It was preparing for an attack. That habu understands very well the spirit of karate." Meeting with a Viper From "My Way of Life" by O-sensei Funakoshi

Start by asking your instructor. Sometimes instructors have things that cannot be obtained by private orders.

Hey, sounds like fun Hope you enjoy the experience.

Hello welcome to the forum.

After I quit laughing I started to think. All of the benefits of flexibility and high kicks is a waste if the kick is not recoiled quickly enough or was telegraphed to that the open area is know ahead of time.

What happens if instead of just stopping cold and standing still if you do something like walking in place?