[KF25] Member Interview: sensei8

[Patrick]

For our 25th birthday celebration, we're publishing an interview series with members from our community. We did this back in 2013 and sensei8 was one of the members that participated. 

Member Profile

@sensei8 (View Profile)

KarateForums.com Sensei

Joined: February 23, 2008

Posts: 17,451

KarateForums.com Awards: Member of the Year (2011, 2010, 2009), Community Spirit Award (2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013), Staff Member of the Year (2023, 2019, 2013, 2012), Karate Contributor of the Year (2015, 2014, 2013), Health and Fitness Contributor of the Year (2017), Instructors and School Owners Contributor of the Year (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013), and Article of the Year (2012, 2010)

Interview

Where has your martial arts journey taken you since our first interview in November 2013?

My martial arts journey has been vicissitudes, to say the least. 

Hierarchical changes; civil war erupted in every seam, crack, and corner that forced every dojo under the SKKA umbrella to break away in totality by canceling their membership from the SKKA for cause. Thereafter, the infrastructure quickly collapsed, and the SKKA and hombu closed permanently.

What martial arts do you currently take?

Shindokan Saitou-ryu: 1964 to present. Shindokan is an Okinawan martial art that's Shuri-te and Okinawa-te based; 85% hands and 15% feet. Tuite and Tegumi are deeply interwoven into the very conscious fibers of Shindokan. Founded by Fuyuhiko Saito Soke, Judan, in 1950. Yoshinobu Takahashi Dai-Soke, Judan, was my sensei.

What is your grade or level now?

Shindokan Saitou-ryu karate-do: Kudan (9th dan). Shindokan Saitou-ryu Kobudo: Hachidan (8th dan). Shindokan Shogo title: Hanshi (teacher of teachers). Tae Kwon Do: 6th gup (green belt).

When I asked you the highlight of your training back in 2013, you mentioned your students. Do you have any new highlights to add?

My students will always be my highlight, and that’ll never change. Without the memories of my students, I’m nothing.

In 2014, I celebrated my golden anniversary, 50 years on the floor, training in Shindokan. 61 years so far.

I was blessed to be chosen as a KarateForums.com Sensei on June 28, 2016. This highlight means quite a lot to me because just like a Shogo title, you have to have that honor bestowed upon you. Way back in November of 2011, I was chosen as KarateForums.com Sempai. Many here remember that in my earlier KF days, I was nearly banned. 

I’d be remiss if I don’t remind myself about what happened so long ago in my earlier times at KF. While I have earned @Patrick and the staff's support, friendship, and forgiveness for my unprofessional behavior during my darkest days, I can never take what they did for me lightly then, nor will I ever!

Where do you see yourself going in your martial arts journey in the next few years?

No matter what battles I might be facing with my health problems, I’m a martial artist, and martial artists train! I’ll always embrace that challenge.

As a martial artist, personal and skill development is crucial in the hopes of fine tuning my comings and my goings on and off the floor.

I suppose I see myself taking my martial arts journey one day at a time; 7 times down, 8 times up!

How would you sum up the last 13 years of your life?

Earlier, my life was quite promising across the board. The latter part of these 13 years was akin to a roller coaster ride through a never ending nightmare!

Why are you still visiting KarateForums.com? What's changed in the community over the last 13 years?

KF means everything to me. These are not idle words. At my lowest and highest moments of my life, on and off the floor, this community and its members were right there to strengthen me across the board.

Things that have changed at KF in the last 13 years that comes to my mind are the forum reorganization and the migration to new software. KarateForums.com is now much more orderly and much more user friendly.

What do you think it says about the community that we are doing this again, so many years later?

We're viable! KF has always had a strong community potential for growth and sustainability. The reason for this, in my humble opinion, is because of what Patrick brings to the table. He’s not afraid of change; he’s a proponent of "Who Moved My Cheese."

The community encapsulates that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. When we come to create something significant, we do it together instead of individually.

When we spoke back in 2013, you were a Sempai and later you became a Sensei, which you still are today. Why have you remained committed to the community in this way?

Because we are family! At KarateForums.com, there are shared goals and values, along with recognition, contributions, and a sense of belonging. Maybe I just want to see what happens next.

I'd like to end by repeating the last three questions I asked you previously, as I think these answers can change over time - or not. But they are worth asking for the sake of identifying what makes this community so special.

How, if at all, have you used KarateForums.com in your classes or training?

Many, many times. There’s a wealth of ideas to garner from the diversity of its members. Not just from senior ranks, but from all walks of martial arts lives. I can’t disregard advice or ideas from a beginner or non-martial artist because of what knowledge and experience they might possess. 

I take those ideas and apply the pressure tester on the floor to see if it’s effective. Members of KF are my living technical book and the wall to bounce off ideas and the like. 

Are there any members here who have had a particular influence or impact on you?

That’s a million dollar question! One way or another, I’ve been influenced and impacted these past 13 years by so many KF members, of which I’m truly proud and grateful for their timeless and effective advice. They’ve continued to awake in me that there’s so many other differing methodologies and ideologies that are away from Shindokan. 

Then there’s the vast amount of prayers, support, and love that I’ve received from KF members when I was fighting prostate cancer, which is still in complete remission. This compassion still continues as I fight the possibility of a brain tumor. There are no words big enough to express my deepest gratitude. KF members always have my back.

To each and every KF member: I’ll never forget you and neither will I ever take your friendship lightly. You all mean the world to me. 

If this is my last year on God’s green earth, I know that KF and its members have made me a far better person and martial artist. 

Can you share a memorable moment within the community where you received great advice or an experience that really affected you and your martial arts journey?

As far as the floor is concerned, I’ve received a ton of great advice from the plethora of KF members both MAists and non-MAists alike. After all, when it comes to the floor we all have one thing in common: Betterment. We want to be better in every single thing that’s the martial arts; not to be so-so but to be better than we were before. Because of every KF member, I’m better now on the floor than I was before. 

As mature as I am in my techniques, there’s far more to learn because we MAists are students first, teachers last. If you’ve never had the floor remind you that you’re not all that and a bag of chips, then you’re not going anywhere else effectively.

Off the floor, KarateForums.com members have given me great advice at the beginning onslaught of the impending SKKA civil war that finally closed the SKKA permanently.

Every time my back was to the wall, every time I didn’t know what was up or down, every time I had to make some critical decisions, every time I was mad with the current administration hierarchy, every time I needed help to shut down the machinery of my mind, every time I needed to find a way to pick up the thread of the past, every time I was at my ropes end, every time I had to fight harder, and every time I made sure that the student body was protected, KF members were there with some remarkable great advice. That gave me the courage to fight to the very end.

Congratulations and happy 25th anniversary, KarateForums.com. See you on and off the floor for many years to come!

Edited yesterday at 07:16 PM by Patrick

[Patrick]

Thank you for the kind words, Bob. It means a lot, and it is touching to read about how the community has impacted you and been there to support you in your life over the years. Similarly, you have had a great impact on many martial artists through your contributions here, and the community has a lot of love for you. This is demonstrated through countless posts of appreciation, as well as the KarateForums.com Awards. I am grateful for everything that you have done here, and for all of your kindness and support.

Patrick

[KarateKen]

I did not realize that @sensei8 had won Member of the Year three times in a row.  That is amazing.  Has anyone else done that @Patrick?

Bob, you are clearly one of the core members of this forum and have been for a long time.  Thanks for your contributions and be well sir. 

[bushido_man96]

@sensei8, you are perseverance incarnate!  Keep up the good fight, and we'll be here for you the whole way!