bushido_man96

Thanks. It went really well. We have three instructors there for the grading and one of them is from another dojo who just comes for these. He mentioned to me how impressed he was with the improvement he saw in me since the last one. Apparently he's a tough person to get a compliment from.... so, pretty happy with that Well done and congrats!

Yes. I listened to ESPN radio for a while yesterday, and listened to the reactions and feelings of some of the guys on the team. It had to be tough for them. Jamaal Charles was one of the worst felt about it, because I guess he introduced Belcher's girlfriend to him, as it sounded like she was a cousin to his wife. I feel for everyone there.

After the tragedy involving Javon Belcher this week, the Chiefs went ahead and played their scheduled game with the Panthers, and they pulled out a pretty nice victory. Brady Quinn played solid football all around, and the last weeks of the season here need to tell KC if he can finally be the starter he was projected as coming out of college, or if KC needs to search in other areas for a starting QB.

Hoping it works out for you, Patrick.

And thank you all for the kind words!

I agree that little kids MAs are a great program for helping to supplement a school's income, and for getting kids ready for Martial Arts classes, should they choose to enter those in the future. They may not be learning the same things adults are, but they are still getting Martial Arts based training, and having fun while doing it.

12/3/2012 One-steps: all 30 Do-Kangs: 1-4 Forms Colored Belt Chon Ji, Dan Gun, Bo Chuung, Do San, Won Hyo, Yul Gok, Joong Gun, Toi Gye, Hwa Rang, Choong Moo Black Belt Kwang Gae, Poe Eun, Gae Baek, Se Jong, Yoo Sin Stretch

The weight of the gi you get shouldn't have any bearing on rank. If you want to try a heavy weight gi, then do so. Its more about personal preference than rank.

Yes, but for some reason, the Koreans didn't tend to keep their records....

Well put, MasterPain. And I loved the D&D analogies, as well.

Sounds like things are going well for you. Keep it up!

Missed both goals. But, with work, family life being busy, and an arm injury late in the year, it slowed things down. But, enough excuses. I am now gearing up for my testing, and I think I will try to test in March of 2013. I am practicing all of my required material now, and am going to work in some days for just conditioning type stuff. As for the weights, I was getting closer, but the arm injury ended all that. So, the testing first, and we'll take things one at a time after that falls in.

Cool experience there. Thanks for sharing it with us.

I'll second Talhoffer's work. Lots of good stuff there, and very revealing as to what the Western Arts had to offer.

I think we all have ego, to an extent. Otherwise, we wouldn't add the adjective "big" to describe those with "big egos," or what we would refer to as an "ego problem." We all have a view of ourselves, and we strive to make ourselves better as we go along in life. Those with the big egos like to show others how they have bettered themselves, put it on display, and show how they are better than us by doing this. Good call here, Patrick. You post was spot on, overall.

Congrats!

Thanks, and congrats to everyone else as well! I love this site so much!

What it appears to sound like to me is that if one is studying to learn self-defense, then they aren't studying Martial Arts, and that's what bugs me. Ninjitsu, although a style with a specialized focus, did contain techniques that were combat techniques, whether with weapons or hands. It was a broad skill set, but yes, still Martial Artists. The idea behind a Martial Art, if it is going to be titled as such, was that it has Martial application in some way, shape, or form, for fighting. Otherwise, I just don't see how you can attach the name to it. I do agree that there are other reasons to study Martial Arts nowadays; for personal expression, for exercise, for sport, etc. But, at the very base of it, learning applicable self-defense should be at least a side affect of learning a Martial Art. If its not, then I just can't call it that. Yes, Boxing is a combat sport, but it has evolved over the years, and in its beginning, it was a more inclusive, well-rounded fighting style that was self-defense. Even Medieval Combat styles, including sword combat, can be applicable in the use of sticks in self-defense. I think we have different points of view here. I think that by looking at the moves from a self-defense perspective, you can derive what the moves mean, and how to apply them in self-defense aspects. We both appear to be arriving at the same place, with different points of view. I guess this would sum up my view on this whole argument: it appears that it is ok to learn a Martial Art as "a way of life," and study and cling to all the aspects of the philosophies and ideals of said style (which is really nothing more than the thoughts and beliefs of the person who didn't even necessarily create the style, but was able to codify it to the point of bringing it to the public), with self-defense as a secondary or tertiary aspect, and one is referred to as a Martial Artist. But if one is learning the self-defense aspects of the Martial Arts first and foremost, and doesn't necessarily give a lick about someone's ideals, philosophies, and history, more often than not, many are reluctant to refer to them as a Martial Artist, but rather as just a person who fights. I just don't agree with this, and think it is a short-sighted point of view.

Thanks, Danielle. Good luck with your upcoming testing candidates, as well. Our breaks are set. There are two sets of breaks, and we pick one to go with. Both include a flying side kick over obstacles, and its been so long now, I don't recall what I did. I think I did spin heel kick, jump front snap kick, back leg round kick (power break/3 boards), and the flying side kick. But the choices are a spinning technique, a jumping technique, a hand technique, and the flying side kick. The HQ is supposed to be emailing a new list, because there was supposed to be a hand technique, which none did the last time. So, I'll pick then, and let you know what I decide to do.

Good advise there, Yamesu.

Here's the link: http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/cops-jovan-belcher-kansas-city-chiefs-player-from-long-island-kills-girlfriend-self-1.4281729?qr=1 This is just a terrible tragedy. I always wonder how things can get so bad. I'm a big Chiefs fan, but regardless of that, this is just terrible. Its also a wake up call that as much as we love our sports heros, we just don't really know them. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families and friends affected by this terrible tragedy.

I think there was also mention that he supposedly learned Taek Kyon from some ancient master in secret, as well, but, I just don't feel comfortable with that idea, either.

I'm in a situation where I tend to see ego quite a bit. I just tell myself that I won't be like that, I will be appreciative of everyone around me, and not let it affect my training. Now this doesn't always work, because its just human nature that there will always be those we don't get along with. With the concepts of respect, rank, and such being a part of the Martial Arts, especially Eastern styles, and even competition success in more Western styles, tend to be driving forces in ego production. Now, on the other side of the ego experience, is our friend "humbleness." We take ideas like cleaning the dojo floor after class and other such things as an act of humility. Well, this is the 21st century, and for as much as I pay for monthly memberships, I think those floors should be cleaned by someone other than myself. Now, I won't say this is the case in all schools, because I know some operate on a shoe-string budget, but for the most part, I think notions like this have really died out for the most part. Now, with that said, I'm not too proud to get down on my hands and knees and clean the tatami after getting thrown around. But, this ego/humility exchange is kind of a circle; "I'm of such rank now, and have done my time cleaning the mats. Its time for the new low ranks to earn their keep and clean in my place." Is this ego, or has the senior student earned the right to sit it out? I think there are good arguments on either side. Another question I'd throw out; can one have ego, and still be respectful? I think so. One with ego probably just respects him/herself more.

Congrats! I'm guessing this means you passed, yes?

Testing prep begins! 6 minute warmup on elliptical. Forms Colored belt Chon Ji Dan Gun Bo Chuung Do San Won Hyo Yul Gok Joong Gun Toi Gye Hwa Rang Choong Moo Black Belt Kwang Gae Poe Eun Gae Baek Se Jong Yoo Sin Do-Kang 1, Do-Kang 2, Do-Kang 3, Do-Kang 4 All one-steps, 31 total. Stretch briefly; stretching was painful, as my left heel is severely bruised from the board break on testing night. But, I also had a buddy in the gym lifting, and he was doing dead lifts, and I asked to do just one. Got it. Dead lift: 315 lbs x1. Barefoot, no belt or straps, and haven't lifted since May, and hadn't done a dead lift since April.