Harmony

I know your pain, I recently started in kyokushin and I could hardly move the first week!

No classic kung fu movie collection is complete without Master of the Flying Guillotine. I also like any of them that show how the young disciple must train in all those bizarre exercises to learn to fight and take revenge.

Is there not a chief instructor? Someone needs to get a handle on those senior students. If this is their typical behavior, they have missed something in there training. If the main school administrator is oblivious to this problem, I would suggest bringing it to his/her attention, or perhaps suggesting to your daytime teacher that he consider developing his own school.

If your not within arms length, or there is alot of space between you, I wouldnt risk it, unless of course I felt he/she is squeezing the trigger regardless. Then I would suggest remembering the gun is useless without the human. Never attack the weapon, attack the human. Before I get too flamed, I know there are circumstances that may allude to dealing directly with the assailants weapon, but Im speaking in the broader sense.

I'm sorry for your loss.

The Bujinkan teaches or has taught eye exercises, for increased reflex to movement in dimly lit areas or at night. I"ve heard Stephen Hayes speak on them, and they are covered in text within one of his books.

Even handed and informative moderation. (Thanks Patrick)

I started MA at 7 so I dont recall too many fights before then, but because of unusual circumstances, I have been in several real fights.

Im placing an order this week, so I'll look into it for you.

I respect others traditions, but to me the belt at any color is just a symbol to remind us of the level we have achieved in self understanding and technical prowess. What Ive become through training, no belt can encompass, wash it or not, wear it or not, not important to me. Theyre just adornments that accompany the learning process on the the way to my main goal, and that is to be the best fighter I can be, and survive the best I can.

I double checked first so I know Im right, the 2005 century catalog sells multi colored or solid, and yes the have purple and green. So maybe they can still be an option. Good luck regardless of what you choose!

Although I wouldnt agree that sparring full contact or not, is actually combat training. I still think sparring is going to benefit you because you can see the techniques youve learned applied to a fighting situation. That alone is helpful to your training. Does it prepare you for actual combat? Alone, I would say no. Still a very important part of training though.

Im not so eloquent as to know all the right words to say, so I'll borrow a quote I once read: "A Black Belt is more than something you wear, its more than something you earn, a Black Belt is something you become." Considering my past, and my life, it is one of the most remarkable events of my life.

I hope that my greatest moments are yet to come, but to date, the greatest achievement/moment for me was hearing several small children shouting yes sir! at the first class of the first day my school opened. I felt like I arrived at the first rest stop on the Martial journey.

I incorporate it in my triaining regimen once a month. I also mix shugyo with a technique of training from 10 pm at night until dawn. I offer shugyo to my students roughy 4 times a year. Some however get together with me for occasional private sessions. In my humble opinion no training system is complete without it. Glad to hear from someone else who does it.