equaninimus

I thought I still practiced because I'm too dumb not too!

We used to refer to patients who had been in fights as victoms of testosterone overdose.

A really big belly, "certification" from an organization no one has ever heard of (it helps if you own it) with a silly name like the "International Dragon Knights Society," a PhD from an unacredited school in something like "Oriental Philosphy," photos of yourself with famous instructors (available by attending seminars), and a certificate witha lot of fancy "oriental" writing. Aviator glasses, a cheesey little moustache, and a gi with lots'o'patches are also useful. You should also refer to yourself as "soaky" and demand that your family, friends, and the neighborhood chihuahua bow to you. Next, offer to only teach your "secrets" to carefully selected individuals whom you will be able to trust not to misuse the knowledge. To ensure someone is eligible to receieve this knowledge make sure their check clears! Offer certification in your system by "video testing." Put out lots of instructional tapes, but be careful never to actually do any techniques on them yourself. The same rule should hold true for seminars, where any activity other than talking is discouraged. If you don't have a convenient injury to explain this, make one up. That should get you stared.

I went to Regis, so I was spared some of the things you have to deal with, but I do sympathize with you. The best way to deal with this may be to try and avoid those involved. Its April, and therfore you really only have to put up with this for another month or so. However, don't try to start fights. No matter how morally right you feel yourself to be, to the school and to the police, you will be in the wrong. It sounds so trite, and I know you will roll your eyes at this, as we all did, but High School isn't forever, and the petty pecking orders that exist there are temporary.

I've done it. there were no hard feelings, but we beat the snot out of each other!

Oyata's students have cast a great deal of doubt over the infamous Philadelphia meeting Dillman claims to have had with Oyata. I did one of Dillman's suimmer camps a few years back, and it wasn't that great. A lot of "belly training" like drinking beer and eating, little karate.

Avoid "Tiger" Schulman lke the plague! Remember the fraud convictions?

Great story Spookey. Re; Tegner, I found all his books at e-bay, for about $100.00. Interesting, to say the least.

The advantage aiming for the centre of mass has for the novice, and the trained, is that you will often in situations of fear jerk the trigger, making the barrell tilt upward. A shot aimed at the center that tilts up is likely to strike the noggin. A shot aimed at the head that tilts up is likely to down a pigeon.

Kama kata I have some diffculty with, primarily because I'm usually afraid I will lose an ear!

Hmm, lets look at the instructor: "Mystical world of martial arts? To whom there are no other refences. Not to mention do you want to study with someone called chew-toy? What the heck is "bushido karate?" Of course, the fact that aikido and te are completely differenct systems escaped them... Thank you for admitting the rest of your system is bad. ORIENTAL?!? So the poor grip he demonstrates in the photo is not his usual technique? Finally something correct! How convenient, certified by the organization you run! Therefore students should pay laots'o;money for their teachers to be able to go to BAMA camp, in Tuscaloosa? Not even McDojo...more like fraud.

Sounds like a money making scheme to me. "Private instruction only?" "Call for interview?" Yeah, right. I'll be the head instructor calls himself "soaky." BTW, "Bushido" simple means "Martial Ways," and is the overall category for post Meiji martial arts in Japan.

As I said before, he gets a pat on the head for being willing to break out of the mould, but one gets the feeling he never had any really good teachers.

The true failure in his use of the imaginiation as research tool is his hillarious portrayal of Itosu crab walking sideways around Okinawa in naihanchi-dachi.

I just finished re-reading Peter Urban's The Karate Dojo and an struck by some of the interesting errors. -The distinct "Americanization" of many stories (Foreign student marries local girl and makes good, Small town guy defeats big sity slicker, etc...) -The gross misrepresentation of facts (Funakoshi, who married a local "Japanese" girl, 7 foot tall illiterate smelly peasant Motobu, who never left Okinawa). -The presentation of questionable stories as fact (for example, many of the stories about Yamaguchi seem irregular). What was the zeitgeist of the era? What did people think about Karate? Waht did the public "know," and what did you "know" prior to beginning? So, to all those like SMR and Shorinryu Sensei who were practicing in the "good old days," sit back, have a Kirin, and be longwinded, please. [/u]

The smart remarks about dojo bunnies immediately spring to mind.....

Last night I learned that I am going through "karate withdrawl" due to this stupid knee!

I've read the book, but I don't think much of it. I applaud Mr. Johnson for his willingness to go out on a limb, but his shodddy research (which reminds me very much of the methods used by those who write about the "grail kings," or the "lost hermetic secrets of magic") makes it more of a novelty than a useful work. The telling point of the book is when he discusses his attmepts to "become Japanese" when doing Japanese styles, and his attempts to "become Chinese" when doing Chinses styles, in the past. You are better off reading Kiyoshi Arakaki's book. It isn't as entertaining, but it has some wonderful information.

If you train with the stomach flu, the management courteously requests you to leave the training floor prior to vomiting.

Well, there was the chap who reccomended prison...

Why not just bash your face against a brick wall repeatedly? Same result,a dn cheaper.

I wish we had twenty minutes to stretch.

An hour a day with tsuki, uraken, shuto, haito, and koken, in sets of fifty.

Right now, Kusanku, Chinto, and Gojushiho are exceptionally difficulty, since my R knee isn't fond of lateral motion. Frustrating since these are some of my favourites.

Actually, he reminds me of one of the frequent flyer drunks I've transported....