White Warlock

What do you think?

I believe, if i may assume, that Sai is referring to your query about the lotus position. The lotus position is not required in order to be able to meditate. For me, the lotus position is a tad painful, due to an infrequent lower back problem that causes the right side of my hip to be a tad bit too tight. I aim to be comfortable, so that i am not distracted. Being comfortable is not a prerequisite to being able to meditate, but it is preferable to being in pain. Sitting in a sofa works just fine. The goal is not to be 'mystical' or to be 'macho.' The lotus position, in this day and age, tends to run with both those silly titles. john, your approach seems to be working for you. one extra step... is to remove thought. i.e., remove this, "and think about how relaxed and good you feel." I noted my favored approach in another thread. http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=15545&highlight=

My favored approach is to enter inside myself, visualize all parts of my internal organs, manage my breathing to a rhythm that causes me to visualize, entering and exiting my lungs, the air as a liquid. Eventually, as the liquid is expelled from my body, i begin to feel myself surrounded by this liquid. Then, without intent, i begin to feel beyond, to all that touches the liquid, is engulfed by it, is engulfed by me. I then, slowly and without effort, clear my mind. nothing Occasionally a thought flits in. I allow it to travel in, and then travel out... and once again i am clear. I do not force anything, nor do i 'try' to do anything. There are no goals, there is no time frame. When i am done, i am done.

Nooo, really?!?

i would agree it is personal choice. i don't drink. Don't like how it effects my body. My mind stays the same, if not just a tad slower. These are things that most serious practitioners abhor about alcohol. A sort of conflict of interests, if you will.

hehe, reminds me of the movie, "Pink Panther."

Agreed. If you give them wiggle room, they're going to take it. If they realize that 'testing' the boundaries results in expulsion, they don't even go there.

Agree with you 100% Thaegen. You're more like mud. (disclaimer for the admins - Thaegen is a friend. I.e., this is a friendly jab.)

Posing resistance during 'training' encourages students to rely on strength, rather than technique. Might also want to read this article - Trust in Training

Grrag, it depends a helluva lot on the circumstances and the assailant. Far too many variables to generalize the applicability of 'grins.'

congradulations scottnshelly

My standard is to always view myself as my opponent. If i don't think a series of attacks would effectively overwhelm me, i won't apply such an attack on an 'unknown' adversary. In this respect, the above-stated series of attacks Mayo mentioned, as well as 'most' of the series of attacks presented in this thread, simply would not work against me... and i have strong feeling it wouldn't work against those who posted them. It's really important not to 'assume' your adversary is going to cooperate, or stand still and allow your 'series' of actions to be committed.

hehe. first dibs on the glazed.

Wow. I didn't realize posting a multitude of innane questions elevated one to the status of elite. I'll have to remember that the next time i want to give the impression i'm somehow too overqualified to actually answer questions.

That's another thing about grinning... it may give your opponent the impression that you're treating this as a game, which can be misconstrued by them as your holding to a win or lose mentality, rather than the far more appropriate, and scary, live or die mentality. Sevenstar... are you sure it's grinning, and not grimacing?

Actually, this is most likely myth. This was investigated and there were no records of any police reports or complaints made by or against him.

Aye, same thing happens to the gi itself, which is why you should purchase one that is one size larger than your comfort fit, then wash it once or twice... then hem if necessary.

Yeppers, you're both on page 7. Unfortunately, i'm on page 8.

Unless you're holding them up. http://www.alandfaraway.org/phpBB2/images/smiles/icon_twisted.gif

hehe

Well... if she was cute...

Wanting to be able to financially support yourself with your passion is not even remotely wrong. However, compromising your passion, for the sake of profit... is.

Our loss

Just to be a bugger... wearing a white belt doesn't necessarily translate into being a n00blet. Every school i visit, i come in wearing a white belt. And if i'm able to defeat everyone in the school, that does not mean i can't learn anything from them. Hell, if i could defeat my instructor, that definitely does not mean my instructor cannot further instruct me. Many of the instructors/coaches/trainers i've had... i could toss around like rag dolls, but their insight and training recommends were exceedingly beneficial. Yes, this is a tangent.

Agreed. It takes time for new concepts to settle. Eventually you will develop levels of alertness, with varying degrees of responsiveness to external stimuli. Dang, if i wasn't so tired, i would run with another story. Ah well, maybe next time.