patusai

You tried helping and unfortunately that is much more then most people do. I believe that Cathal is right. People thought he was a bum and wanted nothing to do with him. I commend you for your efforts.

There is a GM is each of the systems that I study. One even has the style founder still around to the best of my knowledge (who was taught by Toyama Kanken). Unfortunately none of them are in this country. However, my instructors studied with them. As for how it is different..I would imagine that there are no questions as to the right way and that during testing you are a bit more nervous since the man/woman it the all to that style. Everyone works harder becaue of the heart pumping more because he/she is who he/she is. It would also be such an honor to have the opportunity. I envy you temendously.

I viewed the site...it was quite interesting. The "Excecutive Black Belt" was something different or seemed to be. Thanks

I remember the original GI Joe. He sure has come a long way and he doesn't seem to be getting any older either

If the Halodeck is real life situations and since I believe that you can die on the Halodeck unless you end the program then the training on it would be pretty much as good as the programer...provided that the master programed it and the halodeck had the ability to be totally intelligent. Just my thoughts. As for kata, there would never be any doubt as to the authenticity and accuracy of it (unless of course something new was able to be programmed into it ... they would need to lock out any ability to change that part of the program.

Thank you for the response and information. the last thing I ever had was Intellivision (don't expect anyone to know what that is )

Just curious, my daughter is asking for a gaming unit such as PS2, X box and such (the PS3 seems nice but it cost far too much). She is 13 years old. What would be a good game unit?

I have a 10 speed C.Itoh bike that was bought in 1971. I think C. Itoh is into computers now but the bike lasted pretty well. I ride but more for fun rather than serious stuff. The only racing that I ever did was around the block (or two) with daughter and/or my wife. The thought if that brought back nice memories As gas prices continue to climb I'm going to start riding to the train station every morning. Save some serious money!

Me too!

First of all I was told to watch your students do kata and from there you can see how good your's is. Students watch us and perform like us sometimes. However, sometimes it is the student's too. Young students are...well...young students. Some are really not ready to be able to perform good kata. Their attention span is very short, among other things. What upsets me is when people feel that the belt that they have earned was well placed around their waist because they worked hard for it and...there are those (looking down their nose) who have not. We should all worry about our own belts and our own MA and quit looking around at others. They don't matter! If we are ever called upon to use our MA to defend ourselves the only thing that would matter was how well we were trained and how well we trained. How the students at my rank or above at XYZ school, at that point, means absolutely nothing.

I agree. Craming for the test now (if you would have too) would mean that you were not ready or near ready. It should come naturally. it is all something that you have learned already and this is basically nothing more than a demonstration of what you know. This is Sho Dan not Max Dan. Good Luck

I agree. I've known high ranking instructors change technique and when one student was bold enough to as "Why did you change that?" the response was "Why was it there to begin with?" (the instructor's question was why was the spear hand techniques used here in this exact place.) to which the student had no answer. That should have been an opportunity for training and enlightenment. I started my MA training with this instructor as a white belt with him over 30 years ago. The fact was it was his karate and he decided what stays and what gets changed and blast tradition. He is doing very well with his schools. He is very good technically and is an excellent fighter too...even at his age. He is highly respected. Although I believe kata should stay traditional w/o change the fact is that it does and it has over the years. Even instructors 100 years ago changed kata so finding "original" kata would be very difficult if not impossible. I think changing technique simply because an instructor does not know the significance as to why the technique is used in that way in that application is wrong. It happens. At my age and with my leg/foot injury I cannot perform kata exactly as I was taught anymore so I practice it with "adjustments" (sorry sensei!). It's wrong but that's life. MHO

I agree with everyone so far. Everybody has something special about them and some have the ability for MA naturally

It something like a college degree. It too is a piece of paper which can open doors for you that would otherwise be closed.

Welcome

First of all making sure that you have practice your kata and bunkai encough and are ready to perform it is probably the most difficult part (except for perhaps sparring). You either can do the pushups or not. If not...better start working on that too but I would think you can do them by now. As for the wood break (again) either you can do it or not. When perfroming the break remember good techniquie and most importantly focus through beyond the board. Good luck

Welcome Back Alexander!!!!

use to go three times a week

Welcome Kevin

Good Luck. Stay safe.

Male 52 -- after reading the rest of these I feel older than ever

Spiderman

on can mixed with a cup of amonia, anticeptic mouthwash, dish detergent and tobacco juice can be used to spray a lawn to help it green up and get it healthy -- from Jerry Baker the master gardener.

Superman