Bitseach

LOL@Kickchick's first reply! I used to agree that respect ought to be automatic to senior grades - having been in the MA for a lot of years now, and having been millitary trained myself, where a rigid rank system was the norm. I'm a bit jaded now, though, by the poor example set by many of the seniors in my (now former) club. (The full story can be read at http://www.karateforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=2195&forum=2 should anyone be interested!) I have also had the situation whereby someone has overtaken me in rank at a grading that I was unable to attend due to voluntary work commitments (!) and immediately became hugely patronising towards me as he was now my senior in rank!! Suddenly he would not allow me to show him kata that I knew and he didn't, even when instructed to do so by the Sensei, and he couldn't cope with my getting through his guard any more when we were sparring. (It was REALLY bizarre!) I've also seen quite a few Dan grades who can barely manage a nod at a lower grade, much less to bow properly and respectfully during training with that person. (some of the club members a few Dans higher had to have a word over that one too!) Personally I bow the same towards white belts as blacks as one should always respect the training partner/enemy but it seems this is not universal! Perhaps I expect too much of black belts because I've met some REALLY good ones early on who showed me how it should be done, but I am coming increasingly to the position that it can no longer be automatic without their showing some decency and strength of character to boot.

What does everyone think? Should black belts, Senseis, Sempeis etc be respected simply because they wear the belt or should they earn that respect? In the martial arts I was brought up to respect the rank automatically but I have since come across SUCH bad examples that I begin to wonder...

Yeah, but if the memo DID state that flight schools should be monitored and this did not get passed down to the local FBI field offices, or - worse - were passed on and not actioned, then heads should roll. Just read the BBC account: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_1991000/1991689.stm (hope this ain't seen as spamming!)

how do you post pictures and I'll show you mine! (oo-er Missus, etc)

Agree, and as for privatising the air traffic control system and the Royal Mail - well, some things should just be held in the hands of the State, in my opinion.

Mine is a word from the Gaelic Irish language, properly pronounced "BIT-shuch" with the "ch" sound sort of aspirated, like the Scottish "loch". Slán go foill! (tr: see you!) "A bhitseach" (the vocative form - now the "bh" is pronounced like a "v")

nice one! what is the URL? I didn't get it from your message (some of it didn't come out) (Or PM me with it if it's likely to go against forum policy) Cheers "A bhitseach"

Definitely sexist. Absolutely racist. Lewd? Absolutely! I *have* questioned the editorial policy but I understood that we both lived in countries where free speech was respected and encouraged and didn't expect such an over-sensitive response. I wasn't aware that we had to agree with you over every little thing. Incidently, I have had many messages of support from others who agree with me but are afraid to speak out because they have seen the response that I have got! I am not - again - writing this in anger, but certainly in disappointment, as I believe that it reflects nothing better than stubbornness because I dared to challenge you over general closure policy, thinking that debate would be seen as a good thing, not a threat to you personally. Forgetting that for a minute, this thread's being allowed to continue is a disgrace. You have chosen to make this public again. I PMed you, on your suggestion, and received nothing better than, well if you don't like it maybe you should just go away, a view you now repeat! But clearly there is no point continuing this as I have quite clearly got your back up by challenging your policy and you are never going to listen to anything I say now. It's a sad day for a "discussion" forum. However that's my last word on the subject. [gagged]

female! so any surprises yet? did it guess anyone wrong?

Having been trained both in MA and in the UK military, I know I could kill people but also know I never wish to. I suppose if anyone ever hurt my family, esp my nephews or nieces I would save my two strikes for them.

...and is this where to lay the blame? http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1989000/1989357.stm

We need to re-nationalise - sharpish! For the interim report into the Potter's Bar rail crash, see here: http://www.hse.gov.uk/railway/pottersbar/interim1.htm Makes interesting reading.

Unlikely to get a blood clot from a headache pill, true, esp when aspirin thins the blood by interfering with the prostaglandin pathway in platelets - may be something like a haemorrhagic stroke.... Many people are allergic to aspirin though and anaphylactic shock is a common cause of death - vastly different symptoms though and easily distinguishable. Frankly, I don't think we'll ever know. Perhaps if there were a freshish post mortem sample of blood where a full tox screen could be done, immunological tests performed, etc then some results would be meaningful, but otherwise....

Lawks a Lordy!

I have to visit NY in the summer and can't say that I'm thrilled with the idea of flying there. And I certainly will NOT be flying American Airlines! No way, no how!

I just shut my eyes and let zanshin do its magic. "feel the fooooooorce....."

[gagged]

Sai - cheers mate. It must be something like that but so far I haven't been able to analyse where I've been going wrong, or if I thought I had got it I'd try again and - CLUNK! - even harder this time!!! A helmet might be the answer until my arms get used to doing it properly again - it'll add to the boob-guard I currently wear when practising!! Believe me, clipping yourself on the nipple is no joke either!

LOL - oh well another year or so before we have to think of it again! Oh Lordy - when's Father's Day!! Aaaargh!! I have to phone at least once a week anyway or I get in trouble! They are in Ireland and I am in England

I have a beautiful but slow 50cc Piaggio Vespa scooter. She's GORGEOUS though and as I only tootle around London in her, quite fast enough (tops out at a massive 48mph!!)(phew!)

Gosh, interesting but what a thoroughly unpleasant man! His language is terrible, and the racist and homophobic comments just sound pathetic! (not that I'd say any of this to his face - heh heh!)

Cheers Kicky! So do you actually put on a lot of muscle? (I am a woman and don't really want to look like Schwarzenegger!) However I would be interested in it if it helped the aerobic stuff, concomitant with good training of course!

Yeah, but it's extra kudos to have a beaten-up black belt - it shows you've been a Dan for a while! So, yeah, probably exempt in this case! LOL

Great summary of gun ownership relating to crime in different countries: http://www.aegean.gr/sociology/Tseloni/icvs2.pdf Firearms law in the UK may be read at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/pcrg/firearms/policeguide.pdf Figures for crime in the UK may be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/crimstatvol2.pdf for any who are interested!