patusai

I have a rather interesting experience to share. When I was 17, my family moved to Atlanta. I got a job at the local McDonalds, and the first night I was working, my car wouldn't start, so the assistant manager offered to give me a lift home. We had a pleasant conversation, and he told me about his girlfriend, his family in Illinois, and where to go for fun in Atlanta. Nothing out of the ordinary. The following night he showed up at a manager's meeting with a bandage on his hand, seeming out of sorts. The day after that he didn't show up for his regular shift, and we discovered later that day that he was being eagerly sought by the police for a brutal murder that had occurred the previous evening at his apartment complex. To make a long story short, he eventually was caught and convicted for the murder of his secret boyfriend (and disposing of the body in a very Dahmer-esque fashion) and he remained on death row for nearly 21 years until he was executed in Georgia in 2005. I left McDonalds after only a month. I was a bit freaked out, understandably. With respect, Sohan Wow, most interesting indeed.

Nice. Who had the high pitched scream at the end?

It sounds like one of those political things that some KF members and myself find discouraging in MA. If one can get along with another then maybe they should split apart and start their own style. It would not be the first time. It is probably headed there anyhow. As for the students and youself, you will be the onces that suffer. Eventually you may have to make a decision as to where to go and who to follow. Good Luck

I never know there was one form and now you say that there are 7? If somebody knows any and can post it on Youtube that would be great.

I didn't know that!...that is about Al Bundy. Sometimes, when I watch Married with Children I see...my life...Oh...Noo...

Welcome

Welcome. I hope that you find what you are looking for....here and everywhere else

Welcome! I'm glad that you joined us!

Welcome to you!

Welcome!

welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome Back!!

Welcome

Welcome

Happy New Year to everyone!

Maybe I misunderstood the subject. I always felt that karate (traditionally) and kata were synonomus. Masters (old ones) used kata. Many of them also developed their techniques in the street by getting into fights. Regarding present day kata, over the years, especially in the most recent years modern day teachers and masters have changed kata to suit their own style, needs and because of other such things. Far too many of them changed kata because they did not fully understand the specifics of kata. Some, especially after Bruce Lee spoke about the uselessness of kata, dropped kata all together. Sometimes when one can't see usefullness in something you can't find it because, frankly, there is nothing useful there. Sometimes it is because one is not looking hard enough. Frankly, kata originally was used to hide techniques because the study of karate was outlawed. Kata contains "hidden" meanings, if you will, within them for that reason. To say that the best fighters do not train in kata may very well be accurate but then those fighters have a killer instinct within them that most other people do not have. I am not suggesting that they are bad. They have a competitive edge far beyond that of one who has a competator mentality. I do see benefit in training in street tactics. Some of the really good, at least in my opinion, schools also prepare a student with this training as well. As far as I am concerned, I do not , or should I say I did not, practice so that I can defeat them all and everyone. That would take far to much time and energy and, frankly, there are other things in my life would suffer as a result. These other things are a bit more important in life to me. I am not going to live forever regardless of how intense I train. Also, I do not have the "killer" instinct within me. My instructors did not require that I defeat all non-black belts before receiving my black belt and after my black belt if I lost to a brown belt or a streetfighter (who only wore a black belt that he bought at Kmart) my black belt was not taken away. I know that this probably does not make me a good martial artist or a karateka but then all I want to do is be the best I can be given life happens. I do admire those who can spend the time and energy in the ultra intense training and there are times that I wish I had that ability too. There are other times that I do not and that I appreciate the balance that my teacher gave me because that balance was right for me personally.

I was a paper boy. It was only part time (local paper delivered once a week). If that does not count I was a busboy at food place inside of a Ramada Inn but that was a few days a week. The first time I worked 40 hours a week I moved furnature and was a stockman for a Marhsall Field's but that too was a long time ago..

updating the lighting a little at a time. Painting is next but that will probably be done in the spring.

karate is only one way to learn to fight. There are others. A good street fighter can defeat a black belt. Street fighting is a martial art. There are many valid points that were offered that suggested good reasons to train not using kata. It does not matter how one trains because the outcome depends on so much. As for great street fighting tactics, face it, if you are in a street fight, regardless of what you know or how you practice, and you are out matched and you see a brick at your feet you are going to use it. How many times has a person, while on the losing end of a street fight, pulls a knife, small club or gun to "even" things up so that they can walk away. Kata may be looked at as useless but then when practing using sparing development techniques is also pretty much useless against hand held weapons brought to a fight. Train, train, train and train some more and when you find yourself in a situation where you have to use your training...get the heck out of there if you can. If you can't...well...do your best.

I do not believe in smoking and MA. I know that back in the day a lot of guys did. I also heard that farther back in time MA smoked as well (perhaps not as much as they did 20 - 30 years ago). It is a difficult habit to kick but to each his/her own. What MA do outside of the class is their own business. How they live their lives is their business too. I know MA who have and still smoked and there are those MA such as myself who find comfort in food. As a result I am not the best example of a Martial Artist either. Now, and I have seen this too back in the day, having a cigarette during class...well...that was way too much. I have not seen anything like this in years though. That's good. Each of us (perhaps I should say many of us) have their own vices that are not a good reflection on MA if we look at them carefully. Cigarettes are not good and should be avoided but then...there is life and reality

It is nice that he is excited and wants to tell you all about it. From that alone you can tell it was a good thing...not that at the time it was any easier to let him go. I am really happy for you

That's great! It appears that you really cleaned up!! You must have been very very good. Have a good time with the stuff!!