White Warlock

Hehe, i was wondering when you would respond. hehe, well... i gotta tell you. I pretty much have to tone down to a dull roar when i spar and i'm sure there are plenty of others out there that fall into the same boat. The fact is, when you're working with someone who is not as skilled as you, lowering your level to just above theirs is a necessity. You don't learn much if you take them full over (being that you can scope out thier weaknesses quite easily, and therein exploit those weaknesses) and you don't allow them to learn anything if you eat them up and spit them out. Worse, you'll likely cause them to be gunshy. Possibly even cause them to quit in despair. It is far more a disservice to overwhelm them and kick their butt than it is to allow them to be tested... to push them to 'thier' limits. Making ground beef out of someone's face doesn't teach them anything about martial arts, although it can teach them quite a bit about the types of meals served in the hospital. Rek, i'm not sure we're going to come to an agreement here. This is a training concept i was taught long ago (during my childhood) when i was in Golden Gloves. I do remember how it felt to always need to go 'all out,' just to come out even in a sparring match... but pushing yourself to extremes is far more likely to accentuate your flaws, than it is to bring out your strengths. And, although it is good to recognize your flaws, so you can work them out... being on the edge of the ropes is not the way.

I studied it for a time, years ago.

??? I'm sorry but, punches and pivoting???

I am under the impression most of this was merely a misunderstanding. If you look back at Ripper's post, he was indicating those who call 'themselves' sifu, or who insist that others call them such. I understand Rippers point, in that i wouldn't feel comfortable with someone who insists i call them "mister." On the other hand, if there was a need for formality, and i was being too informal, i suppose that would be one means to create distance. I just don't consider it a courteous means and such an action would present the impression that the guy was 'full of it.' Considering this, i suppose i would also lose a bit of respect for someone who insists on being called by a certain title. On the other hand, if someone 'other' than the instructor insists upon it, that would be a different matter altogether. I.e., as you posed it MD, if the other students insisted upon all the new students calling the instructor by 'sifu,' I'm sure things would be taken as they should. And there it is again. Imposition of title as a means 'to' honor. Enforcement of title, as a means 'to' honor. The instructor does not impose, nor enforce. Your instructor is lucky to have students who feel he deserves respect.

Hehe. Seems we were tossing pebbles at each other, whilst standing on the same side of the fence.

And there it is. You stated earlier that you sometimes debated with yourself as to whether you should be referred to as sifu, with the thought being posed that you would prefer your name being used for informal settings, and a title being used for formal settings. I can understand that, but I propose a different approach. When I am 'showing' something to someone, when the circumstances are clearly informal... it's all as friend-based as it gets. The need for maintaining formality is when things get out-of-hand, or have the capacity to get out-of-hand. I.e., formality is needed to decrease the possibility of injuries or insults. And there it is again. The endgoal is to ensure students behave and focus on being students. As such, i impose 'rules of behavior,' which i repeat often. I state there will be no goofing off, that everyone will stop what they are doing and give me their full attention when i address them or the class, that they will 'freeze' when i yell "STOP!" as it indicates someone may be about to get hurt, that the senior students should be listened to, that arguing is not accepted, and that the door is 'right over there' if they have a problem with any of that. I leave it up to the students if they wish to address me as anything other than my first name. I could care less, as long as it's not disrespectful, or posed in a disrespectful manner. And, if someone gets too informal during the regular training session... I simply say, "not now" and it is understood. I is my 'opinion' that developing the proper relationship with your students is far more important than imposing titles. I have also noticed that people are far more often referring to me as 'sifu' or 'sensei' during informal settings, likely because it isn't important to me.

Well, i wasn't calling you narrow, just the definition of your argument. But, that's just the point DM. If a person has obtained a black belt... that's it. If the first time they walk into a dojo, someone is going to rip up their certificate and repaint their belt... sounds like the best thing for them... is to stay in retirement. That's, of course, assuming they care about the stupid thing in the first place. If someone insists on keeping their black belt when they enter your school, and you don't feel they should wear it... then you can simply say to that person that you would prefer they not wear that belt in your school, or that they simply not visit your school. But i don't believe you or any other instructor, other than the one who gave the belt, has the right to take that belt away. If anything, it should be a personal decision to put the belt aside. I said it once and i'll say it again... silly little things those belts. edited...

I was brought up to understand that the title of 'sifu' was not a self-imposed one, but a title of respect given by his students. Similar to you or i calling someone Mr. Smith, as opposed to John, or Johnny. Or referring to your doctor as... doctor Smith... as opposed to Mr. Smith, or John, or Johnny. Of course, there's also the formal/informal connotations posed here, but hey... details. Anyway, didn't read the entire thread... so not sure how applicable my input on this one is.

Well DM, you're defining things based on a very narrow spectrum. If the definition of a black belt is that he is able to 'recall' his katas, then we should sign him up for dance rehearsals. The real issue is, can he still kick your butt? And, if not, is it because he is no longer proficient in the arts, or simply out of shape? Here's my take. If you've spent 3 or more years studying something that requires both mind and body (as opposed to just mind, as in the case posed by equaninimus and you), to the degree that you have been honored with a BB, you are not easily going to forget. It is very much like riding a bike. Once you know... you know. Indeed, one system I studied 15 years ago, i reentered 10 years later. It took me just one week to reach the same (actually, higher) level of expertise in that system as i had when i left. You know, you're absolutely right. Every black belt and accompanying certificate should have an expiration date, like cottage cheese. In fact, while we're at it, let's attach an expiration date to BAs, MAs and PhDs. Damn! I think i'm onto something here...

lol

Hehe Michigan. Well, even though i find Jackie Chan not to be a very good comedian in English, i appreciate what he has offered to the martial arts community. An incredibly strong message on being humble. In most of his movies he emphasizes humility and striving to avoid confrontation. He's constantly throwing out that he is just your "average guy" who happens to be "okay" at martial arts and stunts. His attitude is refreshing and his presentations on using just about everything around you, rather than just limiting yourself to your physical body, is astounding. Oh, and on Chuck Norris. It was tang soo do. Continuing... Chuck Norris, has what is called a 'flat affect,' which means his expressions and emotions do not easily transfer to his facial muscles. It is presently being mildly debated in the psychiatric circles as to whether 'flat affect' is due to a synaptic disorder or if it a personality disorder (i.e., whether it is physiological or psychological). But, in either case... it limits Chuck Norris' acting ability. I, personally, give much respect to the guy. He's made a lucrative career in a field he, by all rights, should have failed miserably in. Steven Seagal. I've heard lots of 'rumors' about how he's an * in Hollywood. But, you have to realize the sources. There are a lot of lifetime-* in Hollywood, and i'm sure a strong personality like Seagal is going to rub a lot of chain-smoking, prick-lipped losers the wrong way... especially when 'they' think they're the *. Seagal actually 'is' the *. I am not aware of any other occidental that has achieved 8th dan in Aikido and he is well respected in the Japanese community. His acting... always the same character. Jean Claude Van-Damme. Now that's an *. There are sufficient police reports to validate this. With his wife-beating, girlfriend beating, and employee abuses, it's no wonder he's become popular in Hollywood. I never met the guy, nor am i interested in doing so. His 'showoff' martial arts stuff doesn't impress me. I jokingly refer to him as a 'dancer.' Jet Li. Nice stuff, nice guy. Hard to see exactly how good he is, as he's always in these movies with lots of special effects and rope tricks. Still, i like his off-camera attitude. Don Wilson. Needs a better agent. Cynthia Rothrock. ditto (i think they have the same agent). Bruce Lee. That's a tough one to criticize. I think his two greatest contributions were 'off-screen.' He helped to generate an acceptance of occidentals in Chinese martial arts training and he created the idea and initial script for the series, "Kung Fu," which ... I think ... was the best damn martial art series in television history and really helped lots of people to understand Asian philosophies. Bruce Lee's on-screen performances I found to be just a tad too macho for my taste. His technical showing was interesting, but also not to my taste. His acting was so-so, in that he pretty much played the same character everytime. What I would really like to see in film again is Benny "the Jet" Urquidez. That guy can really put on an intense performance on-screen.

Bah! Silly ranks... And here is yet one more reason why ranks are more a hindrance than a boon. A means for paper-pushers to mess with 'learning' and 'growth.' You said it already and it matters a lot. You earned a BB a long time ago. Being able to prove it is irrelevant, as the instructor of this particular dojo believed you and has posed the BB to you, therefore it is yours and cannot be taken back. It is now the instructor's responsibility to 'maintain' your honor and the integrity of his decisions to that paper-pusher in the association. My recommendation is to state your grievances to the instructor and state that you are being called a 'liar' by this paper-pusher. You may ask the instructor if he shares the paper-pusher's thoughts. If he does not, and he still believes in your veracity, then respectfully request the instructor to mend the situation with the association (in other words, have the instructor talk to the paper-pusher), as it is interfering with your ability to maintain studies and provide assistance in his dojo. Possibly even request an apology be given by this paper-pusher, to both you and your instructor. I suppose some of the lingering questions here are, how did you find out this guy was looking into this whole thing? Did the instructor tell you, or did this paper-pusher tell you? Did one of your fellow classmates tell you, or are you running on rumors? Another thing... if you wish assistance in locating your previous instructor, shoot me a PM. I may be able to assist in your research efforts... maybe. But... in all honesty, i don't think it is even remotely important. All in all, it doesn't matter whether you can pass the test now, or not. What matters is whether you feel you earned that rank, and whether you actually did earn it. If you don't feel comfortable wearing it, put it aside. If you do, then dismiss the foolish nay-sayers. There will 'always' be those who question the veracity of your claims... but the belt is merely a token... a means to display your knowledge in the 'basics,' rather than having to do your katas everytime someone asks you how much knowledge you have in that particular system. And last, don't allow your pride to make rash decisions for you. You stated clearly that the instructor did not mean to hurt you. If you 'truly' believe that, then let it go. If you are having doubts about this... then question him directly. Speculating is not going to do you any good and it will likely fester into an open wound that will eventually cause serious problems for you. I.e., when posed with questions, it is best to promptly obtain the answers. Your instructor has those answers, so talk to him (as you stated you would).

By the same token, i have a certificate as entry computer technician from 1987, but nowadays my knowledge in computers far surpasses anything i learned then. Anyway, you know my thoughts on ranks... silly little things that they are.

Hehe, i get the impression your instructor intentionally dropped this on your lap. Welcome to the frying pan.

Okay, don't anyone freak out here. These are actually my 'present' occupations. Systems manager, marketing consultant, small-business consultant, writer, unlicensed paralegal, journalist, graphic artist, computer technician (hardware/software). My previous occupations could fill a small book. I used to be an adrenalin junkie and entered way too many high-risk careers. I've since kicked that nasty addiction.

Hehe, glad i could oblige.

Hehe, the belt rankings posed in this forum give ample example to my arguments.

Does the left arm strike the right arm to see which is better? The concept of unity in Omoto-Kyo goes beyond the presumed understanding of unity. It poses that we are one, all of us. I don't necessarily agree to the idealist precepts posed in the Omoto-Kyo religion, but I do respect them for their brave stance and for the good they have committed in the last century. A stance that went head and above against the warring principles of the Japanese feudal system, and... won.

I-Self, I would just like to say that I appreciate your informed posts, and hope to see more of them. Thanks.

Hehe, I would probably lose 6. lbs if i shaved my whole body. Just not sure if i can afford the cost of all those shavers.

What really matters is whether you are learning and growing. If not, then find somewhere else more suited to you. It is not necessary to focus all your attention on one system. Brainwashing is not a requirement to learning, although it may make it easier to for the instructor to teach you things, as you'll more likely take whatever he says at face value. However, i'm not inclined to think that's a good thing. I was brought up to believe it is important to question everything and at all times. In the end, as always, it is up to you. Do you feel comfortable with the eclectic study arrangements, or would you prefer something more focused?

the 'black eyes' mentioned in that article are in reference to the darkness associated with having insufficient sleep and have nothing to do with injury-induced black eyes. It is actually 'not' recommended that you 'rub' or 'massage' the area, as you may aggravate unhealed blood vessels that may have been injured in that area. The area below the eyes acts somewhat like a reservior, for those rainy seasons, and it is likely the blood flowed to under the eyes from your nose injury. Still, it is better to be safe than sorry and to just let your body heal itself. Applying cold compresses only really helps within the first 24 hours of the injury. After that and it's pretty much just interfering with blood flow, which... in turn, interferes with having the 'excess' blood absorbed and the mark to go away. However, if you are also dealing with inflammation in that area, periodic 15 minute applications of warm-wet cloth on the inflamed area is recommended. For best results, and to expedite the disappearance of the black eyes, resting on your back, with your head facing up, is recommended. It is also recommended that if you are applying the cold compresses, you do so while laying down, facing up. But, don't fall asleep with ice on your body, or you may cause damage to your eyes, or surrounding tissues. Just 15 minutes is sufficient. More, and you're 'interfering' with your body's own self-healing mechanisms. Also, if you are dealing with a lot of swelling, laying down is not recommended. In short, you are having to perform a balancing act on the healing process between that of redirecting the accumulated blood out of the skin-reservoir under your eyes and keeping the inflammation down by decreasing the blood pressure to that area. It's more important to keep the inflammation down. Personally, i find 100% aloe vera gels (no preservatives or additives) to be fantastic at healing skin and 'under-the-skin' injuries. And, it is absolutely incredible for burns. Periodically placing a cotton cloth, soaked in aloe vera, on the injury will not only make the area feel better, but help out your complexion (do it while laying down, as i indicated above). I've never actually tried it with a black eye, but... who knows.

I read Tommarker's post quite differently than it seems others did. But, instead of attempting to rephrase what he stated, i'll toss out my thoughts... in my own words. Fireka, i too am a writer. I've even won a cute little international award and some nice little pats on the back for some of my articles. Eventually i'll finish one of my many books piled high on my computers' harddrives. But, for now, i post in these and other forums. Writing is a beautiful way to express yourself and it allows for people to reach inside themselves and find the true gems to their philosophies on life, the universe, and everything (indeed, occasionally a babelfish helps). But, prose is not action and action is the basis of all things proveable in the martial arts. For a hundred wise sayings can easily be thwarted with one clean choke-hold. I entered into writing because it became yet one more means for me to express myself and allowed me to present a degree of immortality that doesn't hold the threat of 18 years of child support payments. Writing is a clean, mean, verbosity machine that cuts right to the chase, or dances around for days on end. But, regardless of the motivations to your writings, it is the endgoal that matters. What you pose in print, becomes your epitaph. It is what others will remember you by and it will be what others apply in judgement. That being said, it is best to ensure what you write becomes what you mean, rather than what you want to present. A thousand reasons exist for my initial entry into the arts, and for my continued studies in them. A thousand reasons still exist for my wanting to walk away and for my wanting to continue in my studies. But it is the words and the ways that hold me to develop a deeper understanding of myself, and it is this striving in the 'ultimate' goal that prevents me from 'completing' the one true way of how life should be dealt with and how the martial arts should be applied. I have not reached perfection, absolute happiness, inner peace, or even utter success. It may be that I never will. I am not sure how many have reached these goals, but it is these goals that are at the end of any road travelled. So, when i examine my motivations, i place them under harsh criticism... and heavy scrutiny. It is far more important to me that I provide meaningful growth to others, than it is for me to make a quick buck. I know that not everyone strives for this. Short term satisfaction is a great and popular dish, but it grows cold in the stomach even while long term satisfaction continues to brew in the pot. Setting unobtainable goals pushes people to unobtainable personal expectations, and that is not necessarily a good thing, nor am i advocating such. What i do advocate is for people to constantly strive to gauge their emotions, their wants and their needs, and to reach for that which will bring them closer to their 'ultimate' goals, however unobtainable they may be. For it is not the endgoal that, in the end, truly matters, but the path which they take in their neverending journey to obtain it. All that being said, stay true to yourself and I wish you luck in your endeavors.

Good point kotegashiNeo. Intimidation gets you only so far... but... so far just happens to be the 'vast majority' of confrontations. Still, we continue our studies in the arts to go beyond just your average encounter. I think it is important to develop oneself to the point that 'intimidation' doesn't work... and if not exposed to people occasionally attempting to intimidate, an experience is lost. My thought is... intimidate to teach your partner how not to be intimidated. Don't intimidate just to beat him. Intimidation isn't that big of a skill. In truth, it's just a bluff.

Roll and bend, roll and bend. The most effective 'quick' defense against a knee bar (regardless of how it is done) is motion and, oddly enough, rolling up into a ball... of sorts. Of course, such actions do expose you to other dangers. Above that, are the various 'specific' actions you could take to prevent it, such as reversals (counter- knee bar, toe and ankle torques, biting), or grabbing your own ankle and forcing it to bend, while pushing your knee into their solar-plexus and bouncing. Really, bacause a knee bar can be done a multitude of ways, there truly is no one magic trick... other than possibly learning to improvise, adapt, overcome.