Dear Mrs. Gagnet,
When I was your student in 1975 at Myrtle Grove Elementary School in Pensacola, Fla. (back then states had three letter abbreviations), I had a crush on you. Even though more than 30 years has passed, and you've been long married, changed your last name, had kids and grand kids, perhaps gone a little gray, and maybe not even be with us on Earth any longer, my memory of you as a newly graduated out of college twenty-something is fresh in my mind.
You always had my attention, not just because of your beauty, but because you had important things to say. You were honest in telling us if an atomic bomb went off nearby that the "duck and cover" drill we had to pracice wouldn't do us any good. I felt comforted when you said you wouldn't leave us alone in the classroom, if the bomb went off.
In the playground, you stopped the bullies from picking on me. And at lunchtime, you made sure your seat at the teachers' table was close to my class table; to keep an eye on us.
Back then, you had to teach every subject and with hindsight, that couldn't have been very easy. I especially liked the way you sang during music time. You got us all started on a chorus and you'd sing the lead or picked a song we could all do together.
On rainy days, you'd come into class with a hat on your head. Being French, I wondered why you never wore a baree'. On hot days, you'd roll up your sleeves like you meant business, as if you were about to bake a cake or butcher meat. One time, the principal called you over the intercom to go to his office. All of us students were unsupervised for about five minutes. I figured out that this was some kind of psychology experiment, and we were being monitored from the hallway and over the intercom. You came back a little disappointed that we didn't go berserker and tear the classroom or each other apart. You thanked us anyway for being such good boys and girls.
Since then, I've done a lot of growing and learning. I'm still doing a lot of growing and learning. Through the martial arts, I've also become a teacher and I hope you'd be proud that you've helped shape a person who could've gone on to do selfish things, but instead chose to do something selfless.
I often have lots of time to myself, usually very late at night after work and after teaching. I work on my writing projects and on something called a "blog." When I get bored with writing, I grab my guitar and play for awhile. Still, I wonder what life would've been like if I had stayed in Pensacola like my father had originally planned for us. I had Mrs. Whatley for 3rd grade. Who knows? You could've been my teacher for 4th grade.
As for sweethearts, I had a few out hear in California. But, nothing long-lasting. These days, it's hard to compete with the records of yester-year. So many people are moving too fast to get to nowhere. They think they know what they want, but settle for something different over the next horizon. I miss the comfort of my careless childhood. Sesame Street was dependable. 15 cent chocolate milks at the barber's shop by the school was dependable. Heck, even the racism was dependable.
And...Mrs. Gagnet's turtleneck sweaters, short skirts, and go-go boots were dependable! Let's face it, people. My first grade teacher was plain sexy. She looked a lot like Jeannie C. Riley (she recorded "Harper Valley PTA" in 1968). She didn't dress like that every day. Man, but when she did...wowzers!
So Mrs. Gagnet (and her family) please accept my most sincerest apologies for not being a gentleman in this instance. I've waited thirty years to get that off my chest.
I feel better now.
-Ernie, Chief Lab Rat
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Monday, December 10, 2007
Cold Weather Training
Since we’ve entered the winter season, I thought I’d share a little bit of my childhood in the snow...
When I was five and six years old, I lived in Iceland. My father was stationed there while he served in the U.S. Navy. During most of the year, the weather is quite mild. But in winter, it can get cold enough to throw boiling water from a pot out the front door and watch it freeze before it hits the ground.
I remember bundling up and my friends and I would go to the corner playground to build snowmen. One kid and I tried to ride the see-saw. He sat on the low end, and I climbed up on the high end. He suddenly stood up and I thought I was going to plop straight to the ground, as kids often cruelly play this joke on each other. But, it was so cold, ice had frozen the pivot point and I was suspended in mid-air. We laughed so hard our boogers shot out of our noses like icicles.
Now a Californian (SF Bay Area since 1975), I still prefer cooler weather. Even in winter, people often ask me “Aren’t you freezing?” because I normally wear shorts and a t-shirt. I just explain, “I’m used to it.”
Not so much, recently. In the past eight months, I’ve dropped about 23 pounds. I’ve always been a little on the porky side, even as a little kid. I really love bacon. And cheese. Oh, did I mention rice and potatoes, too? Well, smaller portions are the secret to my weight loss. But now I’m not so insulated. Perhaps, age and a smaller appetite have a lot to do with it, too.
I do an awful lot of outdoor training. I’ll hike in the woods and find an opening among the trees and practice kata for a couple of hours, then hike back. Sometimes the woods can be bitter cold. So can Northern California beaches where I also train.
Being able to withstand cold extremes is all a matter of diet and training. I believe conditioning yourself to endure cold requires regular exposure and having eaten enough calories to fuel a metabolic rate to keep your muscles active, since they are what generate body heat.
In Japan, group outdoor training in the snow is called fuyu-gasshuku.
When I was five and six years old, I lived in Iceland. My father was stationed there while he served in the U.S. Navy. During most of the year, the weather is quite mild. But in winter, it can get cold enough to throw boiling water from a pot out the front door and watch it freeze before it hits the ground.
I remember bundling up and my friends and I would go to the corner playground to build snowmen. One kid and I tried to ride the see-saw. He sat on the low end, and I climbed up on the high end. He suddenly stood up and I thought I was going to plop straight to the ground, as kids often cruelly play this joke on each other. But, it was so cold, ice had frozen the pivot point and I was suspended in mid-air. We laughed so hard our boogers shot out of our noses like icicles.
Now a Californian (SF Bay Area since 1975), I still prefer cooler weather. Even in winter, people often ask me “Aren’t you freezing?” because I normally wear shorts and a t-shirt. I just explain, “I’m used to it.”
Not so much, recently. In the past eight months, I’ve dropped about 23 pounds. I’ve always been a little on the porky side, even as a little kid. I really love bacon. And cheese. Oh, did I mention rice and potatoes, too? Well, smaller portions are the secret to my weight loss. But now I’m not so insulated. Perhaps, age and a smaller appetite have a lot to do with it, too.
I do an awful lot of outdoor training. I’ll hike in the woods and find an opening among the trees and practice kata for a couple of hours, then hike back. Sometimes the woods can be bitter cold. So can Northern California beaches where I also train.
Being able to withstand cold extremes is all a matter of diet and training. I believe conditioning yourself to endure cold requires regular exposure and having eaten enough calories to fuel a metabolic rate to keep your muscles active, since they are what generate body heat.
In Japan, group outdoor training in the snow is called fuyu-gasshuku.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Giving Money to Beggars
Here's someone using humor to bring attention to a real problem.
Most civic leaders and law enforcement officers here in the SF Bay Area advise citizens to not give money to beggars. It bothers me that the same advice they give is the same kind of thinking city managers have to control urban pigeon populations. If you don’t feed them, they’ll go away. What a lot of people don’t know is that when we don’t feed the pigeons, they feed on themselves.
Today, I finished my first full day of Christmas shopping and I’m nowhere near done. But, as I expected, I was approached by a man asking for money. Passive beggars, those on corners and sidewalks holding signs, are easy to ignore. The active beggars, those who select and approach individuals seeking a donation, make you give them attention.
Normally, I scan the parking lot when I leave a store to avoid beggars. This time, there were just too many people getting in and out of their cars for me to spot him. My avoidance technique might sound heartless to most people, but it’s the best way to avoid a potential robbery.
Here's an actual sign used by a real homeless person.
So anyway, this guy comes up to me and shows respect by not getting too close. He kindly explained that he’s Tongan and that Tongans have strong family bonds and stay together and support each other. He mistook me for Samoan, but I didn’t say I wasn’t. He was depending on me to understand the clan mentality of the island nations of the Pacific.
He said that he recently lost his job and that he and his family were homeless and hungry. It’s at this point when I choose whether or not to give money. I’ve had enough drug addicts and alcoholics beg me for money that I can see right through their false stories and I give them nothing.
This guy seemed different. First of all, I’ve never been approached by a Tongan asking for money. This guy was huge and powerful looking. He walked with a cane. Maybe he blew his knee out when he was younger, or had it to gain sympathy. Lots of Tongans play football and rugby as young men. He was probably in his late forties. His clothes were somewhat new and clean, and he spoke eloquently as if he had some education. From other things he said, I could also tell he was a deeply religious man.
I went to school with Samoans and Tongans. They are proud people. Whatever misfortune that fell on this man was hard enough to compel him to beg. He asked me for $20 because the day was growing dark and it could make the difference between getting a hotel room or staying out in the cold. Most addicts will take anything and aren’t specific about how much they ask for. I gave him $5 and said, “I’ve got others to support, too.” He replied, “I can tell by the way you paused [when I was selecting a bill to give] you wanted to give me a twenty, but you’ve got your own family to think about. That’s alright and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. God blesses you for helping me and my family.”
Why did I give him only $5? One can never truly be sure of a really good hustler. And, I hate it when I’ve been suckered. He and I parted paths peacefully, and that’s all I really cared about. He didn’t press me for more money, even though he knew I had more and that cane he had, which could’ve been used as a weapon, was propped behind him against a car and not in his hands. So, the five bucks I considered a “good conscience fee.” I don’t feed pigeons. But I won’t participate in sending anyone to feed on others either.
Let me offer everyone some tips here:
- Always maintain a “safe zone” between you and a beggar.
- Always have small amounts of cash in your pocket that is separate from a wallet or money clip.
- Never show exactly how much money you’re carrying, if you’re going to give money to a beggar. It would be very easy for a thief to just grab everything you had in your hands.
- Also, keep your transaction brief. If the parking lot starts to empty of eye witnesses, cut off any stories the beggar is telling. Either hand him or her some money, or walk away immediately.
- Treat beggars with respect. An over-the-top denial could enrage a needy person. A polite “no, thank you” should be enough when approached.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Fake Photos - Real Criminals?
Appearing in a privately funded exhibit at the New York Public Library called Line Up are six photos that have stirred political controversy. The exhibit opened November 29, 2007 and runs until January 27, 2008.
Nora Ligorano and Marshall Reese are the Brooklyn artists who digitally modified these images. At the library display, videos of each politician accompany the presentation with matching dates and times of the photos.
In the videos, when each politician makes statements about the Iraq War that the artists feel are criminal, camera flashes appear and the politicians’ appear in freeze frames, and jail bars shut in front them.
President George W. Bush
Vice-President Dick Cheney
Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
Secretary of State Dr. Condolezza Rice
Former Deputy Chief of Staff Carl Rove
Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
Library visitors’ responses to the photos are mixed. Obviously, Bush supporters were offended and Bush critics felt the artists had First Amendment protection. Other visitors felt a “political attack” at a publicly funded library was inappropriate. The library spokesman, Herb Shaer, stated that the New York Public Library has a long tradition of collecting political satire and caricature.
I rarely discuss or promote my own political beliefs, and I won’t bully people into believing as I do. Just take a look at these photos and place them in parallel with the results of their decisions. Then decide for yourself if this satire was in bad taste or without merit.
Keep in mind, not every American voted for the Bush/Cheney ticket, but every American that travels outside of the USA – as I have noticed – must walk on eggshells. Americans abroad “represent” the USA, and many of the world’s people do not understand that not every American thinks like Bush and Cheney, but are nevertheless victims of others frustrations over the USA on occassion.
It’s sad, but when an American in a foreign country reveals that he or she isn’t a fan of George W. Bush, that person gets invited to dinner, or to a party, or is treated to a free beer at the pub.
To save their own hides, reputations, and families, some former Bush staff and colleagues have stepped down or disassociated themselves from The White House and have started to speak against Bush policy.
In the next presidential election, the American public deserves the best presidential candidate who has the ability to repair our honor and status in the world, regardless of partisan affiliation. Again, it’s sad that the American voting public is so politically apathetic and under educated.
There’s an old saying: You get what you pay for!
Nora Ligorano and Marshall Reese are the Brooklyn artists who digitally modified these images. At the library display, videos of each politician accompany the presentation with matching dates and times of the photos.
In the videos, when each politician makes statements about the Iraq War that the artists feel are criminal, camera flashes appear and the politicians’ appear in freeze frames, and jail bars shut in front them.
President George W. Bush
Vice-President Dick Cheney
Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
Secretary of State Dr. Condolezza Rice
Former Deputy Chief of Staff Carl Rove
Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
Library visitors’ responses to the photos are mixed. Obviously, Bush supporters were offended and Bush critics felt the artists had First Amendment protection. Other visitors felt a “political attack” at a publicly funded library was inappropriate. The library spokesman, Herb Shaer, stated that the New York Public Library has a long tradition of collecting political satire and caricature.
I rarely discuss or promote my own political beliefs, and I won’t bully people into believing as I do. Just take a look at these photos and place them in parallel with the results of their decisions. Then decide for yourself if this satire was in bad taste or without merit.
Keep in mind, not every American voted for the Bush/Cheney ticket, but every American that travels outside of the USA – as I have noticed – must walk on eggshells. Americans abroad “represent” the USA, and many of the world’s people do not understand that not every American thinks like Bush and Cheney, but are nevertheless victims of others frustrations over the USA on occassion.
It’s sad, but when an American in a foreign country reveals that he or she isn’t a fan of George W. Bush, that person gets invited to dinner, or to a party, or is treated to a free beer at the pub.
To save their own hides, reputations, and families, some former Bush staff and colleagues have stepped down or disassociated themselves from The White House and have started to speak against Bush policy.
In the next presidential election, the American public deserves the best presidential candidate who has the ability to repair our honor and status in the world, regardless of partisan affiliation. Again, it’s sad that the American voting public is so politically apathetic and under educated.
There’s an old saying: You get what you pay for!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Last Day of the Month
For most of us office pukes, "month end" can be scary or frustrating. Since tomorrow, for me, is the first day for Christmas shopping and a reminder to do some serious thinkng about the plight of others less fortunate or away from their loved ones. This is my last opportunity to goof off, kick my shoes off, let my hair down, drop the clutch, and eat anything I want before the New Year hits me on the head.
Therefore, I give you three ugly, but incredibly talented Canadians... RUSH! YYZ played live in front of a bunch of excited Brazilians.
Happy Friday Everybody!
-Ernie, Chief Lab Rat
For those who prefer something a little more quiet and calming... try this.
Therefore, I give you three ugly, but incredibly talented Canadians... RUSH! YYZ played live in front of a bunch of excited Brazilians.
Happy Friday Everybody!
-Ernie, Chief Lab Rat
For those who prefer something a little more quiet and calming... try this.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Trance/Electronica and Chloe Bruce
Directed by Mark Adcock.
Next to Modern Jazz, New Contemporary Folk, and Rock of the '80's, I find the genre of Trance/Electronica to be fascinating. Pair it with martial arts and you've got my attention.
I encountered this actual music video for the song "Rewind" by the artist known as Cylob (real name - Chris Jeffs). The martial artist performing is named Chloe Bruce. Normally, I don't follow the Tae Kwon Do and XMA scene, but the unusual talent of this woman made me take a deeper look into the choreography.
But initially, I was more interested in how the director shot this video. For one, did he use motion control? Or was the camera and crane controlled manually? Watch the video again and you'll notice there's no editing. It was all done in one take. Notice the grids on the floor and walls. They make calibrating motion control systems easier, especially if you're going to replace the background.
At times, it seemed Chloe's timing was restrained because she had to be at certain places on the floor to be in frame while the camera/crane was in motion. This leads me to believe they used a "click track" (similar to a metronome to define rhythm) instead of music playback to make it easier to adjust timing during post-production.
As for Chloe's martial arts in the video... Due to her video record on YouTube, I'm going to assume she had some help with the choreography. There are elements of Wushu, Shaolin Chi Gung, and XMA. Her primary art is Tae Kwon Do. Except for this video, which came out in 1999, she doesn't demonstrate ecclectic techniques again in her tournament appearances, performances with her touring group, or in her film and TV roles.
I would love to see her explore the dynamic side of Wushu on a long term basis. Her flexibility, muscle control, and proven level of commitment to training would serve her well like her patented Scorpion Kick has over the years.
Learn How to do the Scorpion Kick with Chloe's tutorial.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Writers Guild of America (WGA) Strike
I’m supporting the Writers Guild of America strike because the creative process needs protection from start to finish. During the late 1980’s and the early 1990’s, I was forced to give up pursuing a career in audio engineering and film making because all the time I invested in non-union productions amounted to nothing. All the promised screen credits and future distribution profits went nowhere. Recently, I've taken steps to re-enter the entertainment industry and writing is part of it. So, obviously the WGA has my support.
The samurai revered the artists and farmers of feudal Japan. Why? They fed their warrior minds an imaginative place to escape and kept their stomachs full, respectively. Even though the samurai were the bosses, they conceded that the poor and humble artists and farmers were high class people.
What writers do for our society is that they provide us with relevant commentary. They report. They satirize. They compose. They suggest. And, they offer doorways for us to explore. But most importantly, they keep us entertained. Writers are the lifeblood of the film and TV entertainment industry. Without them, producers, directors, studio crews, marketing firms, movie theatres, and TV stations have nothing new to work with.
A script isn’t a commissioned painting that’s sold, re-sold, and auctioned repeatedly after the painter’s death for millions more than its original worth and then displayed at a gallery to be seen for the price of admission. Scripts that a writer has sold and is produced will continue to earn money and value while the writer is still alive. That writer is entitled to earn residuals, a percentage of future profits. With the emergence of new technologies and broadcast methods, WGA members are due their fair share of developing revenues.
All across the USA, various organized unions have won over managements time and time again. So, Hollywood and New York big-wigs need to figure out real quick that their bread and butter are made by artists and farmers called “writers.” Give them the respect they deserve and pay them what they’re worth. Realize that most writers go unemployed for long periods of time (in between) scripts, and rely on residuals while they create new ideas and spend as much as three to five years writing and re-writing stories until they’re ready to be pitched.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Tsugaru Shamisen & Taiko
I don't need to say much here. Spend three minutes and change...
'nuf said!
Extra...
Awesome shamisen playing by Osanai Kaoru
SF Taiko Dojo do something like this please.
'nuf said!
Extra...
Awesome shamisen playing by Osanai Kaoru
SF Taiko Dojo do something like this please.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Majime - 真面目
Majime - 真面目 translated means: Sincerity. But, it means more than just that. The word to me emotes a deeper feeling because of its kan'ji's alternate pronunciation: Shinmenmoku - しんめんもく. Through this alternate reading, others have interpreted it to mean, "one's true character." This is so since the first character 真 (shin) is "truth," the second 面 (men) is "head," and the third 目(moku) is "eye." The flow of the characters is like a zoom lens into the mind through your eyes. Have you ever judged anyone by the look of their eyes? It's a human instinct.
I don't meditate as much as I used to when I was a college student. A working professional life limits me to weekends. When I do make the time, I sometimes use "shinmenmoku" as a mantra. It's a nice break from chanting the common Sanskrit phrases Om ma ni pad mi hum or Gate gate paragate parasamgate ("Hail to one's Overself" and "Gone, gone, gone far beyond," respectively).
Greek mythology is resplendid with examples of how hubris (over confidence or too much pride) in hero figures are humbled by the gods through loss or tragedy. So, it's often said that the only cure for hubris is nemesis (downfall or punishment).
(Image from www.dottyparker.com)
A week ago, my pick up truck needed a new water pump. It had been seriously leaking anti-freeze everywhere I parked. For the past couple of years, I've been taking my vehicles to service stations for repairs. But lately, money has been tight. So, I decided I'd tackle this job myself. I knew from past experience, the local shops would charge me around $450 (that's the pump, gasket, sealant, coolant, new fan belt, toxic waste fee, and labor). I've changed my own water pumps in the past, and I knew I could do it.
I took two days off of work because I knew that by the time I bought all the parts and supplies, half the day would be over (after inserting a good lunch at my favorite diner). The other half would be taken up with draining the radiator, removing the pump, and scraping off the old gasket. The next morning, I slapped the pump on, waited two hours for the sealant to cure, filled the radiator, installed a new fan belt, ran the engine with the rad cap off to bleed out any air bubbles in the cooling system, test drove it and was done. No more leaks!
That night, I bragged to my dojo mates that I saved a ton of money and I did the work myself. I was patting myself on the back a bit too much. I was being really smug about it. The next morning, on my way to work, I heard something bouncing underneath my truck as I crossed an overpass. I thought, I hope the fan belt didn't snap. When I parked at work, I opened the hood and found that the fan belt was still in place.
Later that day, going out for lunch, I discovered I had a flat tire. The object that was bouncing around underneath my truck was a padlock that had fallen off of a trailer, perhaps. It still had the keys in it. The lock had fallen away, but one of the keys had cut a one inch gash into the tread. I jacked the truck up to remove the wheel and discovered that my factory lug wrench wouldn't fit the aftermarket wheel lock for the new rims I had bought awhile back. I went to the maintenance shop of the warehouse where the mechanics there work on forklifts. So I knew they've got plenty of sockets that would fit my application.
I slapped on the spare and took the flat to my local wheel and tire shop, where I had bought all four wheels and tires new. I'm glad I bought the "no questions asked" guarantee and got my tire replaced for free. I cut my hand on the padlock key that was still stuck in the tire when I unloaded it. And, by now, my lunch hour was over and I had to get back to the office.
Next time I fix my car, I'm keeping my mouth shut. I should have been content with the good feeling that I wasn't polluting the environment (as much) with anti-freeze leaking out like a waterfall anymore. Lesson learned...practicing what I preach. Shin...Men...Moku.
I don't meditate as much as I used to when I was a college student. A working professional life limits me to weekends. When I do make the time, I sometimes use "shinmenmoku" as a mantra. It's a nice break from chanting the common Sanskrit phrases Om ma ni pad mi hum or Gate gate paragate parasamgate ("Hail to one's Overself" and "Gone, gone, gone far beyond," respectively).
Greek mythology is resplendid with examples of how hubris (over confidence or too much pride) in hero figures are humbled by the gods through loss or tragedy. So, it's often said that the only cure for hubris is nemesis (downfall or punishment).
(Image from www.dottyparker.com)
A week ago, my pick up truck needed a new water pump. It had been seriously leaking anti-freeze everywhere I parked. For the past couple of years, I've been taking my vehicles to service stations for repairs. But lately, money has been tight. So, I decided I'd tackle this job myself. I knew from past experience, the local shops would charge me around $450 (that's the pump, gasket, sealant, coolant, new fan belt, toxic waste fee, and labor). I've changed my own water pumps in the past, and I knew I could do it.
I took two days off of work because I knew that by the time I bought all the parts and supplies, half the day would be over (after inserting a good lunch at my favorite diner). The other half would be taken up with draining the radiator, removing the pump, and scraping off the old gasket. The next morning, I slapped the pump on, waited two hours for the sealant to cure, filled the radiator, installed a new fan belt, ran the engine with the rad cap off to bleed out any air bubbles in the cooling system, test drove it and was done. No more leaks!
That night, I bragged to my dojo mates that I saved a ton of money and I did the work myself. I was patting myself on the back a bit too much. I was being really smug about it. The next morning, on my way to work, I heard something bouncing underneath my truck as I crossed an overpass. I thought, I hope the fan belt didn't snap. When I parked at work, I opened the hood and found that the fan belt was still in place.
Later that day, going out for lunch, I discovered I had a flat tire. The object that was bouncing around underneath my truck was a padlock that had fallen off of a trailer, perhaps. It still had the keys in it. The lock had fallen away, but one of the keys had cut a one inch gash into the tread. I jacked the truck up to remove the wheel and discovered that my factory lug wrench wouldn't fit the aftermarket wheel lock for the new rims I had bought awhile back. I went to the maintenance shop of the warehouse where the mechanics there work on forklifts. So I knew they've got plenty of sockets that would fit my application.
I slapped on the spare and took the flat to my local wheel and tire shop, where I had bought all four wheels and tires new. I'm glad I bought the "no questions asked" guarantee and got my tire replaced for free. I cut my hand on the padlock key that was still stuck in the tire when I unloaded it. And, by now, my lunch hour was over and I had to get back to the office.
Next time I fix my car, I'm keeping my mouth shut. I should have been content with the good feeling that I wasn't polluting the environment (as much) with anti-freeze leaking out like a waterfall anymore. Lesson learned...practicing what I preach. Shin...Men...Moku.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (S/N)
This is going to win me lots of love...
The quality of audio equipment can be judged and measured by their signal-to-noise ratio. Obviously, the less noise there is in a broadcast or playback the clearer the signal will be. This is known as fidelity.
In my practice and teaching of karate and kobudo, I strive to keep everything I've learned "as-is." As I studied several arts (kajukenbo, 3 different karate styles, tai chi, kobudo, and escrima), the more I emphasized keeping them separate. It's a given that with each generation techniques and methods take on the characteristics of the players. Here, I'm referring to the "core" principles, the soul of each art.
I'm bothered that there are schools here in the USA that list "karate, gung fu, jujitsu, tae kwon do, & kenpo" all on their storefront windows. But on closer inspection, the vast majority of these schools have blended theses arts into an amalgem. It takes a lifetime to master even one art. How is it possible to claim enough authority to teach six different empty-hand arts while the chief instructor is younger than 45.
If the teachers have one major style of study (15+ years)and only has a few years (5 or less) in the other arts, in all honesty shouldn't be included in their curriculum. If their studies of auxillary arts are on-going, that's a different story. Attend a weekend seminar and plug it in...sensei please.
In my audio analogy, the concept of "fidelity" finds pertinence here. The less "noise" your art has the more truthful it is to its soul. Some may justify that these mega-schools list all these arts to attract people who don't know the difference from one to the other and then clarify later. Jee, well, er...I call that deception and false advertising.
With the genesis of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), one may ask, "So what's the problem with 'mixing' different arts?" OK. MMA is fought in a cage or ring. Not, in a dojo. MMA is for people who already gained some profiency in one art and has moved on to another. MMA is for fighters 18 years old and older.
Using another audio analogy: An oversaturated tape recording will produce crosstalk, where signal on one track bleeds over to the adjacent track. When teaching children and adults new to martial arts, it's important not to feed them mixed signals (bad info). Karate doesn't have a ground game. Jujitsu doesn't rely on a stand up plan. A Chinese Long Fist strike inserted into a Judo drill doesn't belong.
Finally: Know your history! I feel really bad for teachers who can't trace their style or schools' lineage. At a minimum, every practitioner should be able to trace their lineage three teachers back. Know their names. Where they lived. Their professions. Some of their fellow dojo mates. Other styles or arts they studied. Their hobbies. There's more to be learned from your teachers than just martial arts. They're people, too, afterall. Why do I need to know this stuff? Budo is a way of life. If all you focus on is fighting skill or dojo life, then your existence outside the dojo becomes out of balance.
You don't need surround sound. Some of the best recordings I've ever heard were stereophonic. We only have two ears. Given the right circumstance (atmosphere) and proper record and playback equipment (lesson plan and teaching skill), you can recreate the original signal (budo) in high fidelity.
The quality of audio equipment can be judged and measured by their signal-to-noise ratio. Obviously, the less noise there is in a broadcast or playback the clearer the signal will be. This is known as fidelity.
In my practice and teaching of karate and kobudo, I strive to keep everything I've learned "as-is." As I studied several arts (kajukenbo, 3 different karate styles, tai chi, kobudo, and escrima), the more I emphasized keeping them separate. It's a given that with each generation techniques and methods take on the characteristics of the players. Here, I'm referring to the "core" principles, the soul of each art.
I'm bothered that there are schools here in the USA that list "karate, gung fu, jujitsu, tae kwon do, & kenpo" all on their storefront windows. But on closer inspection, the vast majority of these schools have blended theses arts into an amalgem. It takes a lifetime to master even one art. How is it possible to claim enough authority to teach six different empty-hand arts while the chief instructor is younger than 45.
If the teachers have one major style of study (15+ years)and only has a few years (5 or less) in the other arts, in all honesty shouldn't be included in their curriculum. If their studies of auxillary arts are on-going, that's a different story. Attend a weekend seminar and plug it in...sensei please.
In my audio analogy, the concept of "fidelity" finds pertinence here. The less "noise" your art has the more truthful it is to its soul. Some may justify that these mega-schools list all these arts to attract people who don't know the difference from one to the other and then clarify later. Jee, well, er...I call that deception and false advertising.
With the genesis of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), one may ask, "So what's the problem with 'mixing' different arts?" OK. MMA is fought in a cage or ring. Not, in a dojo. MMA is for people who already gained some profiency in one art and has moved on to another. MMA is for fighters 18 years old and older.
Using another audio analogy: An oversaturated tape recording will produce crosstalk, where signal on one track bleeds over to the adjacent track. When teaching children and adults new to martial arts, it's important not to feed them mixed signals (bad info). Karate doesn't have a ground game. Jujitsu doesn't rely on a stand up plan. A Chinese Long Fist strike inserted into a Judo drill doesn't belong.
Finally: Know your history! I feel really bad for teachers who can't trace their style or schools' lineage. At a minimum, every practitioner should be able to trace their lineage three teachers back. Know their names. Where they lived. Their professions. Some of their fellow dojo mates. Other styles or arts they studied. Their hobbies. There's more to be learned from your teachers than just martial arts. They're people, too, afterall. Why do I need to know this stuff? Budo is a way of life. If all you focus on is fighting skill or dojo life, then your existence outside the dojo becomes out of balance.
You don't need surround sound. Some of the best recordings I've ever heard were stereophonic. We only have two ears. Given the right circumstance (atmosphere) and proper record and playback equipment (lesson plan and teaching skill), you can recreate the original signal (budo) in high fidelity.
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