Moh Kempo Myths (?)
I was recently web surfing when I came across this page. http://www.kevinboone.com/karate_myths.html It would seem that the students of Moh are not the only ones to fooled with.

A couple of my favourites... "To master karate, one must achieve inner peace and tranquility I know some extremely competent karate players who are as far from inner tranquility as it's possible to get. Personally, I think that the whole idea that practising martial arts makes one a better person is a load of cobblers. To be sure, there are those who feel that the routine of karate gives them a sense of the oneness of all things and a glimpse of satori, and to those people I say: good luck to you. What karate gives me is joint stiffness, sweat, and hard breathing." I can definately think of a few people that applies to... "There are secret karate techniques known only to the most advanced practitioners Have you ever wondered how some martial artists can punch through an eight-inch thickness of concrete slabs? I'm going to let you into a closely-guarded secret here, so listen carefully. All you have to do is -- are you paying attention? -- all you have to do is to practice punching hard objects for years and years and years. That's all there is to it. But don't tell anyone I told you, because it's a secret." I have to admit the karate hamste is annoying. Hopefully I think I set that avatar to change at 19 or 20 posts...

Karate is good for fitness training If only! I've been training regularly in martial arts for over twenty years, and I've never found that this improved my fitness. And of all the various martial arts around, karate is probably the worst for fitness training. The problem is that karate training tends to involve intense bursts of activity interspersed with standing still. To improve your general fitness you need a steady, moderate level of exercise that lasts for a fair amount of time. Running, swimming, cycling, and walking all qualify; karate usually doesn't. Where karate scores over running, etc., as a form of exercise is that it's quite interesting. Most forms of aerobic exercise that are carried on outside the bedroom are deadly dull. So while you may only get the same amount of aerobic activity from 90 minutes of karate that you get from 15 minutes of running, it's possible to contemplate 90 minutes of karate without slashing your wrists, which is more than can be said of running. I am not sure where or what style he has trained in but I have always found that training improved your fitness, that is if it is done properly.

P.S. How many posts do I need to do to get rid of the dancing banana.

five, but then its the annoying pink floaty thing...

four

five

Mr, Boone typed, "Karate is good for fitness training If only! I've been training regularly in martial arts for over twenty years, and I've never found that this improved my fitness. And of all the various martial arts around, karate is probably the worst for fitness training. The problem is that karate training tends to involve intense bursts of activity interspersed with standing still. To improve your general fitness you need a steady, moderate level of exercise that lasts for a fair amount of time. Running, swimming, cycling, and walking all qualify; karate usually doesn't. Where karate scores over running, etc., as a form of exercise is that it's quite interesting. Most forms of aerobic exercise that are carried on outside the bedroom are deadly dull. So while you may only get the same amount of aerobic activity from 90 minutes of karate that you get from 15 minutes of running, it's possible to contemplate 90 minutes of karate without slashing your wrists, which is more than can be said of running." My experiences, When I went for my yellow belt, I was in great shape. The last drill of the test was performing 50 push ups. I did 49 (after an hour long test). Then I changed provinces. My higher belt tests were actually harderer but not more physically demanding. I was expected to perform techniques that were powerful and effective. My fitness level was strictly of secondary importance. If I interperet Mr. Boone's webpage right, I would say that fighting ability is more than being fit. On the other hand, having bad cardio or being weak or slow is no good either. I have found that I usually have to train my fitness separate from martial arts. Otherwise there is a tendency to focus on the cardio, flex or strenghth perspective instead of the hand to hand combat skills.

By John Leporati This fella says it well. http://www.caringhandstaichi.com/true_transmission.htm

ddepends a lot on the focus of the school as to if it is good fitness training or not. I personally think it should be. THe more fit you are the better you learn not to mention your improved survivability.

To all, I ran across this link. http://www.24fightingchickens.com/2006/05/28/capitalism-for-dummies/ The guy in it is referring to Shotokan Karate. He is well versed in it. The article is about capitalism and martial arts. While it is an interesting article, I’m not going to get into the gist of it here. I am going to point out the similarities in his complaints to mine. The author states,” I think it is the insistence that Karate be a money-losing endeavor that has caused so many problems – “ I agree, a uniformed public has allowed the bad business model to flourish for decades. He says,” that and the fact that Karate organizations seem to be operated in a way that is contradictory to how a corporation is best run in a capitalist environment.”. Using sound business principles is a separate matter from the product being sold. The author also states,” If they were really interested in their balance sheet, they would work to retain their assets which give them strength - their high ranking instructors and talented up and comers. Instead, they begin to view such people as threats as they rise higher and higher, and history shows that Karate orgs, much like the Soviet Communist Party, tend to eliminate these people instead of leverage them as they become more powerful. “ This reads so much like what has happened to TKF. The list of talented people who have been forced out is much too long to get into here. As well,” Mistreated workers revolt, strike, and produce little. Well treated and heavily rewarded workers behave in much the opposite fashion, because modern capitalists view them as assets, not as labor. They invest in their training, they invest funds in finding and convincing them to work, and they invest money in protecting them. They are an intangible and yet extremely valuable asset.” This could apply to all the disgruntled people here. He states,” Instead of operating in a professional manner, instead they operate as multi-level marketing companies in which the guy at the top receives the lion’s share of the revenue, and the people on levels below him take their cut as the money passes hands on its way up the triangle to the top.” Again, this applies to SKS and TKF at various times. His suggestion,” I have written before that Karate associations would do well to operate as consulting firms and present a friendly, tolerant, and team-building face to their potential customers instead of operating as tyrannical franchisers who, when they detect some resistance to the company standards, are quick to step in and criticize, control, or dismiss anyone refusing to toe the line." Boy would this have been a step in the right direction. He laments,” But they are not. They are just confused consulting firms who are only fooling a few people into thinking that their brand has recognition (none do except within the niche of experienced Shotokan players) and therefore value to a Karate instructor.” BAHZING!!! Comments? Regards, MrE2Me2 Without prejudice E&OE

MrE2Me2, I agree with your analysis of the article about capitalism and martial arts. I think the main problem is that most people running martial arts studios have very little prior business education and experience. They simply don't realize that their business model is "bad" until it is too late. That is one of the major differences about the new TKF owners. They have operated successful businesses and know what works and what doesn't. That is why they are doing their best to lay all the previous bad practices aside and replace them with a professional, modernized model. And thus far they have been quite successful. We've had a number of old students and instructors come back after having left years ago for all the reasons most of you have left. They've been amazed at the difference.

Hello Vortexx, I think you are right about little prior business education and experience. I'm glad that the change is working so well. May you continue to have success with it! Regards, MrE2Me2

Moh Myths To all, I was talking with my wife this afternoon. She had never heard the tale of the shaolin monks and their urn. (Now I know that there is more than one honorable way out of the monastery. It is possible to leave healthy, alive and unscarred. But I’m talking of the myth here.) The version I heard went something like this: First, a monk has to be able to walk down a corridor covered with rice paper. He has to be able to do this without leaving any footprints. (Interestingly enough, when I studied Kyokushinkai, they had this story too. In their version, one used stepping from sanchin dachi to sanchin dachi. And I heard this back around 1972.) But, on to the ordeal! Once a monk decides to leave, he has to go down a corridor. This corridor is really a gauntlet. It is filled with monks who will attack without warning. Or it is filled with wooden and metal booby traps. If the monk makes it through the gauntlet, he finds himself in a room. This room is filled with weapons…and a golden shovel. He is to pick the shovel and exit the room. The next corridor is filled with scorpions. He must shovel his way to safety. (Ya, I am thinking the same thing about shoveling it!) Anyway, the third room has the red hot giant urn. This has the dragon and tiger on its sides. He lifts it up, is branded and goes free. When I told my wife this tale, I said the scorpion corridor was optional. (Meaning, in some versions it was there and in some it wasn’t.) Well, she starts to laugh. So I ask her what is so funny, specifically. She responds,” I can just see a monk looking for the optional button.” Regards, MrE2Me2

To all, The really nice thing about martial arts myths is that you don’t have to beat them. Some of these tales are so tall that there is no way they can be true or even plausible. For whatever reason, they have left the possible and become the impossibly ideal. And if this inspires us, then it isn’t such a bad thing. It is only when we engage in foolish or dangerous activities that I really have a problem. Things like not allowing injuries to heal before continuing would fall here. And I think many of us would know what it’s like to practice with an injury. I personally hate to wait when I’m down (I’d rather be practicing). Perhaps that is how some myths got started or embellished. Take an mid level practitioner of martial arts. Injure him and give him a lot of time on his hands. It’s likely he’ll find a way to use that time. Regards, MrE2Me2