AngelaG

I find it quite odd the amount of people that suggest going straight to the instructor without seeing if the original poster has tried to do anything about it at all. It's amazing how many people in a MA environment are happy to abandon all sense of responsibility and place it all in the hands of an instructor. These are adults we are talking about - for children I would always advocate bringing in a responsible adult, but for an adult they should be mature enough to at least start trying to deal with such problems themselves. I thought martial arts were supposed to strengthen one's character, and provide self-confidence and self-respect. I would think that if the OP goes straight to the shihan then he may be asked what he has tried to do about it first. I myself would be ashamed if i said that I had not at least tried to confront the matter in a mature, reponsible and polite way first. All of course just my opinion

I'd like to know who exactly is going to be the "dojo-police"? Who considers themselves knowledgable about all the forms of karate out there to judge which dojo should or should not remain open? And then what? We move on to the McKwoons, the McGyms, the Mc Training Centres? Every MA will have someone, somewhere trying to make a quick buck out of it.

I guess the moral of the story is we all have our breaking points when we say, enough is enough, and start to take responsibility four our own actions. Unfortunately for some people that breaking point comes too late.

Just a quick question. Have you ever said anything to him, in a polite way, about his manner? He may just need a quiet rebuttal. For example if you are talking and he butts in, just politely inform him that you were talking and he should wait his turn. if you are both adults your instructor may be inclined to think you should deal with it like adults, even taking into account his autism.

If you mean Dim Mak as in pressure points, 5 element theory etc.... Yes.

That film was poo. I saw the Grudge - it scared me quite a bit, in a jumpy kind of way. I thought it was a lot better than the Ring. I want to get Ju-On now though, because I think it will a lot scarier.

My friend bought me some belts for when I passed my last grading well over two weeks ago . He paid for express delivery and gave them my address as delivery address as he is in Wales and I am in Torbay. The belts didn't turn up. My mate phoned them and they said that the belts had been dispatched to him, but now they weren't sure where they were. They said that they would reissue some belts to me which would be here by Wednesday at the latest. Well I have still not received any so I just rang their "customer service" line. They appeared to be clueless as to what was going on, and told me the belts had been signed for by someone (I have no idea whom) so as far as they were concerned the matter was closed (what's the point of signed for service if they just give it to anyone???). She then contradicted herself and said to ignore that but that she didn't know what was going on so she would get someone to ring back, maybe later today but most likely Monday. The women seemed brusk and rude.... She also tried to initially make out that they didn't have my address despite the email sitting in front of me to the contrary! I will most definitely not be using blitz again!

It says his name on the book!

"Just 10 more minutes" - it's my morning motto!

good point AngelaG...wasn't there a connection between Moneymaker and Dillman somewhere in the discussion? In as much as Moneymaker was once Dillman's student, but left. I don't see how that should reflect on Moneymaker? I'd like to think in 25 years that I am counted as more than the sum of all my old sensei.

I thought the discussion was about Moneymaker, not Dillman......

Nope. I occasionally buy Traditional Karate Magazine, or Martial Arts Illustrated but I really don't like Black Belt Magazine.

Look my personal opinion that there are attributes that a good MArtial Artists should have - these are humility, dedication, truthfulness, loyalty and other such positive traits. However not everyone subscribes to that belief - and to automatically dismiss someone because they don't care about the more traditional values would be a mistake IMO. I wouldn't even want to venture an opinion on whether he is a great MA or not unless I had got on the mat an trained with him. I certainly have better things to do than smugly decry people I hadn't even heard of, let alone trained with. I really don't understand why people care so much about what other MAists out here are doing?! I'm secure in what I train with and if someone wants to call themselves 15th dan, I don't care!! The only ability I can judge truely is mine, and that of people I train with. The only people whose credentials I care about are those that I chose to instruct me. People are judging him for displaying those grades, and saying that it shows the wrong MA attitude, well I think it shows the completely wrong attitude to come on a forum and start judging and insulting people and dojos that you know nothing about and have no vested interest in (not to mention lack of tolerance). Live and let live. How humble are all those that think they can sit in judgement?

Just read Net force. It was ok but I felt it was a little amateurish in places. JMHO

How many tatts is that now Aefibird? There's a guy at my dojo who has literally only just got his 9th kyu, who within a few weeks of joining got the club's logo tattooed on the inside of his arm. Seems a bit reckless to me!

To play Devil's Advocate - we can only take somone's word on it that they are a "senior" grade or age... I especially don't like the idea that people can get to pull "rank" in these forums - I thought the idea was to promote open discussions.

That really is a terrible argument. I could call myself a 100th dan - it does nothing to take away the training I've already done. Just because he isn't particularly humble does not necessarily make him crap! His 9th Degree BB in Torite is recognized by the Dai Nippon Butokuki. I can't think of many other organisations as prestigious as that. Maybe he hasn't spent time in all he other MA as he "should" do, but maybe they recognised that a lot of MA are variations on a theme, and therefore decided to award his skills...

I have one on my shoulder blade. It didn't hurt too bad. The tattoo parlour had a sign in it, it read: "If you are worried about the pain, we are worried about how much you want a tattoo"

Yeah, he's secure as long as he doesn't have to fight anyone. He's totally bogus. There no way you can get ONE authentic 9th dan promtion in 25 years of experience. Unless the art is TKD where they take under 3 years to get to black belt. I would still be cautious if the guy had several 5th dans and even more dan ranks under that from 25 years. But 2 or more 9th dans? sorry. He's crap. That's a very odd argument. The guy could have 100 10th dans - it would be unwise to assume that he couldn't tear your head off and spit down your neck. He may have inflated ranks in some things (I'm not going to comment as I don't know the history of how he earned them), but that doesn't mean that he is necessarily a crap MAist. Like I said - I know of a few senior people that would love to go and train with him, and think he is very impressive.

I think the red belts tend to come in about 9th Dan in a lot of systems.

How steady handed are you? I got up to level 4. http://www.starterupsteve.com/swf/steadyhand.html

I suspect that Mr. Moneymaker probably doesn't care what you guys think though... I'm sure he is secure enough in his own skills to not worry.

Try Paragon Martial Arts, they are very good.

Shouldn't the UK people start our own thread... we'll get lost in this one if not?

Sorry - I meant height as in just for punching, or long enough to be used for kicks as well?