Poised!!

[sensei8]

Martial Artists, of all genre, have a beginning, a middle, and an end to their MA journey. Whether the journey was purposeful or a mistake or by accident, their journey was indeed, travelled to some type of conclusion, and hopefully, not for an assumptive conclusion.

Everything that makes a MAist a MAist is done for, or should be, an ability to rise up and over any and all complications, no matter the size, and no matter the type.

We MAists are here for a reason, and not for just a season. Albeit, some journeys are only last a blink, while others last a lifetime. Life happens, and life is not a respecter of persons, and will run you over for whatever the reasons might be.

Trials and tribulations are abound on any MA schools floor. It's how one handles these adverse conditions define the MAist. We drill unending, we train unending, we learn unending, we strive unending, we do this and we do that unending.

But for what?

Self-aggrandizement?

For rank/titles?

For recognition?

For acceptance?

But what about...improvement? Ones MA betterment should show many levels of improvement over ones MA journey. As one grows older, one faces the demon of "WORTH"...am I still worth the effort...am I still worthy...am I now, more than ever, worthless???????????????

Age slows us all down, one way or another. Not all of us can maintain the physicality that's required of the MA, and in that, not all of us can maintain the illusion that was once. Either one can't or one can; there's no middle ground, imho!!

No matter how long one has been a MAist, I ask you this...

Are YOU still effective? Were you ever effective?

[Spartacus Maximus]

Gaining and refining or improving skills is relatively easy in martial arts. The real challenge and lifelong goal is maintaining these in spite of getting older. The first step towards doing this seems to be to never stop or slow down. However, the older one gets, the harder one must train to make up for age-related issues such as reduction of muscle-mass and slower recovery process. It is feasible, but it is hard work that few are willing to put themselves through for the benefits.

[bushido_man96]

I think I am. I'm not in as good of shape, but I'm still trying.

[sensei8]

High Dan ranks have the unsettling, as well as the unmitigated pleasure of assumption concerning their effectiveness from others. For the most part, I believe that High Dan ranks are effective across the board, albeit, not every High Dan ranks are.

Effectiveness is easily revealed once on the floor. However, whomever interprets the floor, has to be effective themselves first and foremost. Otherwise, their interpretations are vain and left void!!

"But, wait, the older one gets the less effective one becomes; the curse of getting older." What I have to say about that is this...

Ha, speak for yourself and not for others!!

Propping up High Dan ranks on their so called...pedestals, is done by those who are easily impressed. It just happens, and for those High Dan ranks that don't put a stop to that, well, they should be ashamed of themselves to the Nth degree!!

Am I effective?

In what Brian here says...bears weight...

I think I am. I'm not in as good of shape, but I'm still trying.

Was I ever effective?

Not at first; nobody is!! Things take time!!

Only one person, at any given moment, can accurately express whether one's effective or not!! Who is that one person? The one that stands before at that given moment...that's who!!

We are guardians of what is and what isn't effective!! But be forewarned, we/you better be right. Otherwise, we've no right to pass unsolicited judgement on any MAist, living or not.