bushido_man96

In this case, I'd take the experience of Iron Mike in his prime. That guy was a killer in the ring; I don't think Lebron had that about him. I guess that adds another attribute to the mix though, doesn't it?

Well, I had another bad week. Meniere's acting up, and caused me to miss classes this week. I'm feeling a little better to start this next week, but now my work schedule is changing, and I'll be working in the afternoons. I'm hoping I can make a morning Aikido class one day a week (but it won't be weapons focused ) Otherwise, it will be solo training going forward.

I agree here.It sounds like you've got a good training partner there, which is fantastic. One of my favorite adages: when one teaches, two learn. Keep up the good work.

10/18/2023 TKD Class: T-Shirt Class: 6:30 - 7:00 pm. I only did a half-hour of class tonight; it's been kind of an off week for me, and I haven't liked how I've been feeling as of late. Pre-class, I spent some time in the Hot Box, and then in The Rack. I started with some wall kicking, doing front kicks, then side kicks, then round kicks, 5 each leg, and 3 sets of each. I focused on chamber, trajectory, lockout and holding, and then rechamber. It wasn't tension kicking, but it wasn't full speed kicking, either. After that, I set up the board holder on one of the bags, and went "around the horn" with hand techniques. I started with one blue board, and did a knifehand strike, reverse punch, upset knifehand strike, and reverse ridgehand strike, all with the right hand, and then with the left hand. I broke them all first time, so I went up to two blue boards, and did that all again, breaking each one the first time. By the time I was done, my hands were a little sore. On my knifehands and ridgehand strikes, I had some "finger slap" going on, where my finger would slap into the board upon striking with the striking tool. That stung more than anything. I thought I was holding my hands pretty tight, but maybe I can make them tighter to avoid that next week.

I saw the D-Backs won in walk-off fashion against the Phillies tonight, getting themselves back into the series.

I'm surprised they have struggled in the red zone, I though that was a strength of the team in recent years. Of course it is a new season and things can change fast in the NFL. It has been a strength. Their red zone TD percentage was at the top of the league last year; so far this year, its towards the bottom...not a good sign. But as we've seen, it's not how you start, but how you finish that matters. What I'll really be concerned with is how the numbers look down the stretch, over the course of the last 4 or 5 games. If they hit their stride at the right time, then that's what matters the most.KC brought back Mecole Hardman this week, which might be a boon, just having someone who's played with Patrick the past 4 or so years back in the fold. I hope he's able to contribute right away.

To make it really cheap, you and your partner could go as Adam and Eve. All you need is four big leaves!

This is a great practice to get into. Being open and honest should be the hallmark of what we do, but not all business people see it that way.

10/17/2023 Firearms Training: 8:00 - 10:30 am. Had some fun at the range today. We did several different shooting drills, using both strong hand and weak hand, and supported and non-supported grips. We did some shoot and move drills, which will be drills we do when we make some changes to our pistols coming up soon. I felt like I had a really good day, hitting the targets pretty consistently.

I thought something like that was in place prior, but Steinbrenner just went ahead and paid it. I could be wrong.

The Yankees used to just go out and pay for pitching. What's the deal now?

Chiefs pulled off a win against the Broncos, but they really worked harder for it than I think they needed to. They stalled too many times in the red zone. Butker was a manimal, thank goodness. I don't know if it's really just getting this new group of receivers to click or not, but I hope they start doing so soon. The defense has been outstanding so far, but once we match up with the likes of the Bills and the Bengals, KC is going to need to be able to capitalize in the end zone. Rashee Rice is coming along nicely; hopefully he blossoms into the offense in the next few weeks.

10/16/2023 Aikido Class: Weapons Class: 5:00 - 6:00 pm. We did some 4-cycle Okinaga breathing to open the class. I did ok in some spots, and not ok in some others. Holding the breath after releasing all my air is still a very foreign and unnerving concept. After we were done, Sensei said the last cycle was a 40 second interval, so 10 in, 10 hold, 10 out, 10 hold. Very tough. Next, we got right into weapons work with the bokken. After some initial practice of the basic strikes and thrusts, we did want I think he was referring to as some pre-aikitaiso movements, with tai-sabaki. Then it was into partner work, which was fun. I think there were what he referred to as the main aikitaiso movements, which he likened to TKD one-steps. After the "preparation" movements were performed, and my partner attacked, I would do a blocking movement into a strike. There were three different "timings" to work at, but I stayed pretty basic throughout, focusing on the footwork and the strikes landing properly. After exchanging attacks with shomenuchi (straight forward/downward strike), we attacked with tsuki (thrusts). This was really lots of fun today. This is by far my favorite hour in the week right now. TKD Class: Black Belt Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. The CI was out with his daughter's concert tonight, so the class was mine to teach. We warmed up with Do-Kangs 1-4 (I sat out 4 due my head not feeling well, and it has lots of spinning in it), then we broke up to do forms. The 3rd dan rec and I went through Se Jong several times, and the second dans did their black belt forms, Kwang Gae, Poe Eun, and Gae Baek. Next, we did three-steps, 1-9, and tinkered with trying to recall 10-12. After the curriculum portion of the class was over, I freelanced. I taught them the block/pass/pin drill, one part at a time, against both haymaker punches and straight punches. After getting through all three phases, I went back to the first phase and began adding "inserts," which is placing a strike at the time of the block (or pass, or pin) or right after. It's an enjoyable drill, and I find it quite practical, as well. A good class tonight, I thought.

That sounds like a very awesome week of training! Getting all those little things shaded in are just as important as learning new things. Glad you were able to have such a great week of training and learning.

10/12/2023 TKD Class: T-Shirt Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. I was very conservative tonight, with the way I've been feeling lately, and I also had pain in my right foot, making it difficult to push off, plant, or pivot on the foot. Still, I got some work in. Picked up on forms where I left off on Monday, doing Yul Gok, Jun Gun, Toi Gye, Hwa Rang, Choong Moo, Kwang Gae, Poe Eun, Gae Baek, Se Jong, Yoo Sin, and Choong Jang. Finished going over three-steps, 1-9.

100% agree here. Tbh the size/weight is more important than the height. someone equally skilled, my height but decent amount lighter i usually feel i can 'bully' a little when sparring; someone equally skilled, shorter but same or greater weight usually feels a LOT harder (especially if they can take a hit) - it's why they have weight classes and not height classes Would you say then that reach advantages are overrated? Not challenging your opinion, just asking. I think reach can be advantageous, but again, it can be situational. Someone who is 6'3" with long arms and legs but only weighs 130 lbs....typically, I am not going to worry as much about their reach. I'll take a few tags to get inside that. Now, if that person is 6'3" and 230 lbs, then that'll be a different story, even though I would still have weight on them.

I saw that. Should be interesting.

I know Allen is a big guy, but man, I can't help but think he's going to take a shot that eventually that grounds him for a while. Mahomes doesn't look for that contact when he runs, but it seems Allen does at times.

I agree with all of the above. There are so many factors to take into consideration that it's impossible to answer this question. Ideally, I would say to train in something, and also work on getting bigger and stronger yourself while you train, to help even out the strength curve. Nothing you can do about getting taller, but everyone can get stronger.

Great thoughts by aurik there, and I concur. My initial thought, just to throw a number out there, would be maybe around $50 per month, per student. I like to offer some tiered discounts for family members though, to encourage families to do it together. I'd go something like full price for the first family member, maybe $30 or half at $25 for the second member, maybe $10 for the third, and then $5 for each additional family member beyond that. But, like aurik mentioned, you should start with what your expenses and overhead is going to be, and then work backwards to determine how many students you need at what price point to break even. The problem is dealing with the ebb and flow of student numbers, and making sure to keep a price competitive enough to attract students and cover the costs based on a minimum student number, or something like that.

I'd have to look into whether vertical are offered for the brand or not. I'd have to see if they have any boards made so the magnets line up differently. 10/9/2023 Aikido Class: Weapons Class: 5:00 - 6:00 pm. Opened with some two-cycle Okinaga breathing, where the emphasis became on really extending the exhalation of the breath. Difficult still, but not as uncomfortable as the four-cycle Okinaga breathing. After breathing, we did jo kata 1 (just on the right side), several times at count, and then kind of on our own for the last run through. Sensei pointed out a few things as far as posture and hand positions went, and the direction and trajectory of some strikes. Overall, I felt pretty good about it, but it will still take some time to get it memorized. Next was bokken kata 1. I feel like I've got it down; it seems much more straightforward to me, and it's quite a bit shorter. After doing that several times, we practiced a sword disarm, which was very Aiki in nature. I really enjoyed it. TKD Class: Black Belt Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Pre-class warmup was going through Chon Ji, Dan Gun, Bo Chung, Do San, and Won Hyo. We had a freshly graded 3rd dan recommended who got to learn Se Jong today, so me and the other three students practiced Do-Kangs. We did 1, 2 twice, 3 twice, 4 twice, 5 and then 6. I had one student repeat 4 a few times so he could get it down.

My oldest son has been playing that. He seems to enjoy it. I hear it's quite a vast game.

I saw the Twins advanced, and there was some scuttle about the Jays pulling their pitcher.

I've been enjoying it. I really hope the Chiefs can get this new roster of receivers rolling. They've not been winning handily at all, but Patrick willed out a win on last Sunday night against the Jets. I have faith that Andy Reid will get things pointed in the right direction. I'm super glad Chris Jones is back in the lineup, and hope they can get him signed next off-season. The Bills really showed up against the Dolphins last week. It's crazy how things can swing from week to week. The Lions are a legitimate threat to win the NFC Norse division, and I think the NFC East comes down to a fight between the Cowboys and Eagles.

10/4/2023 TKD Class: T-Shirt Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. I warmed up with all 5 Do-Kangs, and then rolled out the heavy bag, strapped on the rebreakable board holder, and went back to work. I started with just one grey board, doing punches. I got it with the right hand, but not the left. Went down to a blue board the left hand and got it. Kind of the same deal with knife hand strikes. On reverse knife hand strike, I got one blue board on each hand. For kicks, I did back leg round kicks and spin heel kicks, using one grey board for each kick, both sides. One of the many things I don't like about this rebreakable board setup is that I can't rotate the boards between having the crease going horizontal or vertical; it's always vertical. Round kicks I prefer to have the grain vertical, as well as front kicks. I did not like the way the right leg round kick felt on contact with the board being horizontal.