MAminute

2010-04-24T18:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFACrIx5SZ0

This video has a family of Orangutans. They use tools, use boats, into DIY. I thought this was interesting.

2007-12-19T12:48:00.000-08:00

I was reading this blog and it talked about sun-tzu's art of war. Well, here are my thoughts. The core of sun-tzu's writings are about people. Without people, one cannot know the information to decide the strategy one should use. However, now it is possible with the internet to gather information without people. Not that people are not necessary, but rather that there are other means of gather information.

2007-09-22T18:18:00.000-07:00

So I've been thinking, how could one best instill martial arts lessons into today's generation. One idea, is a theme park. A theme park? Yes a theme park.

For instance, take ninja warrior program, now image a big obstacle course. I mean the obstacles would have to be "dummed down" so no one got hurt and such. But alot of people like obstacle courses.

Or image a big maze with where people their could be projectors on the wall. Then without notice, an image of someone attacking you came on the wall. People would have to do the maze under a certain time limit.

Or image a remake of the shaolin temple. In a tourist town people might want to come and see it. Most might not make it too the "real" temple anyway.

2007-09-19T05:20:00.000-07:00

Where I want to start a school, the market is over saturated. I mean you have two franchises that are opening up school's in the area already, and the population is like of the town is 6,000. Also, the studio I studied at is 45 minutes away. So people do go come from there. Now if the city was a bigger city, let's say 20-30,000 of the area, then maybe it might be posssible.

Personally, I would be willing to teach for free, live out of the studio, and work a full-time job. Why? Because I find that is how I meet the people who I like being around. Now people look at me and look at how much stuff I've done at karate, and think I'm "naive" for doing it.

One thing is people have gotten me jobs because I've helped teach for free. I'm not saying, that one should go into teaching expecting that of course. However good people do know good people. For example, 90% of the jobs are unadvertised, and if one is capable of teaching well then might have other skills as well.

2007-09-18T05:56:00.000-07:00

I was looking at some of the latex larp stuff. Perhaps this could be used in weapons training for sparring.

2007-09-17T19:22:00.000-07:00

Alot of people are want to study at the Shaolin temple like it was in the old days. This involved basically being an indentured servant for a couple years, living on whatever your "master" gave you. You live in seclusion for 10-20 years training. Then you take you lift a metal box with your forearms, burning a tiger and dragon into your forearms. Then a chamber leads you to the outside where you must spend several days in the wild.

Then there's the other extreme. Where people can just buy a belt also known as the "McDojo." Just sign the dotted line and you get your belt. Doesn't matter whether you can fight your way out of paper bag, you will get many trophies.

Personally, I would like to do the third approach. To live in a community of like-minded individuals who enjoy the study of martial arts. Who wish to help each other become better. This is my dream.

2007-08-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

You know I read an interesting article written by a Tai kwon do practicioner, as to why sport martial arts is good. The basic premise was that your life is more in danger of a heart attack, stroke, etc. then getting attacked. Which I can understand. But couldn't one do a self-defense and get that exercise in?

2007-08-19T21:21:00.000-07:00

So I wanted to stop drinking soda. Went three days then get headaches. So my next solution is to go organic. I can buy organic soda. Have it special ordered to save costs. My cut down on the stuff.

2007-08-08T17:06:00.000-07:00

Over the last month I have been working on my website, www.maustonskkacademy.org. Trying to get it ready. I'm planning on putting some videos on it of my bo staff work on the site. So you may want to check it out in a few months.

2007-08-03T12:27:00.000-07:00

In the game of Go, it's best to spread one's pieces out. That way one, you gain more territory. However, I don't know if it might be better to group martial arts studios. For one thing, it's easier to support two studios close together. Another thing is if you have different people running these studios then they can grow exponetially.

2007-07-28T19:53:00.000-07:00

You know I used to think it was more important to have a good teacher than to be in a good system. Yet, I'm beginning to reconsider that. For example, if the system says one thing, the teacher can be overruled. Also, what if the teacher can't keep teaching and someone else takes over.

2007-07-17T05:17:00.000-07:00

So often in the martial arts, an organization gets to be a certain size then it splits. One thing I've been wondering about is perhaps it would be better for there to be school owners who own multiple locations, then have a person running the school. If you would have multiple school owners for the same number of schools then that would be that many number of people your going to be dealing with.

2007-07-13T20:16:00.000-07:00

softness prepares for the hard

One thing I'm wondering in the Okinawin Kubudo, is if perhaps their is too much hardness. Perhaps if there were more softness, then people would be more able to do the hard style. For instance I was told kenjutsu is not for everyone. So why then should it be part of the entire school's curriculum? Perhaps a seminar or two or even a class.

2007-07-02T09:01:00.001-07:00

To practice the "Drunken Monkey style" one usually must drink copious amounts of certain beverages. Although there is another way. At work we have a carts that get busted up, needless to say they move around a bit when you push them around.

2007-07-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

Hard versus soft

Soft has a negative meaning to it. Most people when they think of soft equate it too weakness. When I think of soft I think of flexibility, being able to adapt to the situation, controlling how much force one uses.

2007-06-28T05:32:00.001-07:00

"The fastest draw is when the sword never leaves the scabbard,
The strongest way to block, is never to provoke a blow,
And the cleanest cut is the one withheld."

Unknown

2007-06-20T10:04:00.000-07:00

My approach to starting a school

Here's my approach. Before I even have a physical location, I want to have a client list. So when I open the doors, I already have money coming in. It's one thing to already have people your working with and start a school, but it's another to not have anyone and open one.

2007-06-15T07:38:00.000-07:00

One thing my instructor recommended is that I start a school, then six months later adopt the Villari system as the Villari system. Basically, they don't want me to infringe on the Villari name. If I run it as a shaolin kempo karate school that's fine.

2007-05-30T08:25:00.000-07:00

I was reading an article that was discussing whether today's Judoka are as good as yesterday's. One thing it discussed, is traveling costs. For instance, to train an olympic judoka, you would probably want go to training camps where you could get instruction from the best. One thing though, is it is easier to send one person somewhere then a bunch of people.

An example of this is that by the time an owner of a martial arts school goes to seminar, he might as well put one on at his school. One reason is that then he get's help defraying the cost of the seminar. Also, your working with a bunch more people.

2007-05-24T06:16:00.000-07:00

Colors of Character

One idea I had with the Colors of Character is perhaps that instead of Self-discipline, Self-Control, and respect, we instead do the five rules of the school. That way it ties into the rules of the school.

2007-05-15T05:22:00.000-07:00

Demo Team

I was watching the demo team. Alot of teenagers are involved with it. One of my thoughts is a demo team should demonstrate the techniques of that school. So people say I want to learn that, it looks cool.

In the past people have had trouble recognizing what demo team is doing. So perhaps weapons techniques would be good, because people understand, oh he got attacked by a club, or a knife. Perhaps focus more on the applications of techniques.

2007-05-11T06:51:00.000-07:00

“Love is like a friendship
caught on fire.
In the beginning a flame, very pretty,
often hot and fierce,
but still only light and flickering.
As love grows older,
our hearts mature
and our love becomes as coals,
deep-burning and unquenchable.”

~ Bruce Lee ~

2007-05-02T19:21:00.000-07:00

kama practice

Kama's were usually used like a handaxe. So splitting wood with them, would be one way to practice with them.

2007-04-25T19:31:00.000-07:00

Weapons class

Their seems to be two systems in the weapons class; the escrima, and the okinawan Kubudo. One thing my teacher told me is I would have to choose what I teach. I've thinking perhaps it would be better to teach straight kubudo then escrima. Not that I don't like escrima, I do.

Another thing I've been told is not to be a jack-of-all trades. One thing is if one studies more forms from the same system, then are kind of similiar in regards to philosophy. Where as if one studies forms from the same system, they tend to reinforce themselves. Whereas learning different weapons from different systems may not. One could for example, study the Japanese katana, the chinese rope spear, the okinawin whip rope, the philipines sticks, but that's alot of stuff to remember in and it's easy to mix them up.

Perhaps, it would be better to teach the Ni-Chon Tan-Bo then the escrima sticks. They are an Okinawan weapon so it would be the same system. But that's just my opinion.

2007-04-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

I was watching Jet Li's fearless. One thing is in the movie he took on students whoever asked. His students almost backrupted him. Then they got him in a fight with another teacher, whom he killed. Later it was found out the guy was sleeping with the other school's teacher's mistress.

People would say this is a business. However, as sun-tzu said "it is foolish to let fate decide your troops." One thing is in martial arts school your students are the people who will get you more students, buy stuff, and help out with things.

2007-04-11T19:01:00.000-07:00

One thing I have been thinking about is when you work one on one then your time just benifets one person. However, when you work with five people then your time helps five people at once. When a master gives a seminar, if there is a hundred people, then he gives a little knowledge to each person.

2007-04-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

Making of a Wing Chun Dummy

Think of making a wing chun dummy for someone I go to school with. Thing is there is a bunch of different designs of one. So maybe I will come up with a unique design.

2007-03-31T11:46:00.000-07:00

Mentor program

One thing with home study programs, is I know people who are interested in martial arts, but can't make regular classes (going to college, etc.) Well, one thing is it would be good if I perhaps in a home study program someone who was advanced could help them with material, then they would test by video. One thing I was thinking, is it would be easier to give someone a video tape of the form first, then teach them because then they would be more familiar with it.

2007-03-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

One thing I don't like about the Inain siliwali counts is that if you do it wrong, then your partner might get hit. It probably would be better to if the person who did wrong got hit.

2007-03-10T12:48:00.000-08:00

Footwork, and blocking before teaching forms?

I think it would be easier too teach someone a form, such as one pinion, if certain things were worked on first. For example, working on half-mooning, eight point blocking system, doing a villari v, etc, since people do parts of those things in the form.

2007-03-08T11:59:00.000-08:00

I was reading an article about a martial artist. Instead of opening a school, he taught privately. That's an interesting way of teaching.

2007-03-04T11:06:00.001-08:00

I saw this on speeding up your learning. One thing I wish would have been better is more on memorization.

2007-02-28T18:12:00.000-08:00

kneeling or sitting

I read an article about a Japanese sensi who came and kneeled while he watched people do forms. One thing is some people's knees can't handle that.

2007-02-23T21:26:00.000-08:00

High Energy = Good Person?

One thing that bothers me is when High energy is mistaken for being a good person. A high energy person could do things that aren't very good. A person who doesn't have alot of energy could be a good person.

I ran into someone I know from Karate. She said she would go more if she had more energy. This is a person who is getting ready for there blackbelt.

2007-02-10T10:01:00.001-08:00

I was doing seven combination with footwork with someone before weapons class and it made me think of something. If one stands does the technique one is going to get used to standing there. I was also thinking in empty hand class how we do strikes in a horse stance. Perhaps we should be having people move around more. Once people learn the material of course.

2007-02-08T11:37:00.000-08:00

Traditionalists or sport martial arts?

I recently read an article in Black Belt Magazine, brought up the decline of Traditionalists in Martial Arts. That there are fewer and fewer traditionalists in Martial Arts. More and more people who practice martial arts as a sport are in business.

Well, for one thing, society likes winners. People who can put champion before his name have celebrity status. Also, I was talking with someone about eventually starting a school. He pointed out that if someone was in the Olympics, and versus a guy who was a black belt, who would you go with?

But on the flip side. To teach good technique does have to be as hard on students as a traditional teacher? One thing is that some training techniques such as using hot sand can be detrimental to one's health.

I'm more of a middle line appoach. My thought is why can't we make things fun. How can most people gain from there training? Most people wouldn't be able to handle the "Traditional" way of doing things. Then when they have to defend themselves, they will be ready.

2007-02-05T06:44:00.000-08:00

Spot Runner

Saw this website on tv. One thing I was thinking of is this could help martial arts studio's. Since it's a focus on local instead of national television.

2007-02-02T11:15:00.000-08:00

Been thinking recently, that if one wants to teach martial arts for a living, one should study other things. For example, you could probably make more as a massage therapist, or a write than as a martial arts teacher.

2007-02-01T10:11:00.000-08:00

I recently stumbled on this. Now, no question on how tough the guy is, or that he's trying out to do good. But it seems his goal is to help someone take responsibility.

One thing I was thinking about is why would he put people into tournaments unless they raise the money for it? To me this seems like it would be a lesson in itself. Another thing is he wants young men. Well, young men are not known to be for their maturity.

Personally, I would love to train everyday. I don't think I would ever get accepted to a place like that. But it's interesting none the less.

2007-02-01T06:15:00.000-08:00

Sports versus martial arts

Sports versus martial arts or Sports versus music or Sports versus Scouting. Why does it have to be sports? Why can't the kids do multiple activities?

You know I was watching this program, this young woman was going for the Chinese Olympic Team. If she doesn't try for it, she will live for the rest of her life wondering what could have been. But most of the kids aren't that committed.

2007-01-31T10:22:00.000-08:00

Power and Distance

I have been told power and distance are the two most important factors in Okinawan Kubudo. Why? If you look back the Okinawan's were devoid of weapons such as spears and swords.

If someone's got armor on, 3 foot razor blade, and you have a bo staff, it might be wise for you to keep your distance. Furthermore, dealing with an opponent who has armor on you had better hit hard.

Yet, there are two types of power; shoulder and hip power. Power that comes from the shoulder's versus the hips. One thing that I found interesting, is that Matayoshi studied chinese boxing as well as chinese acupuncture.

One thing I have heard is that some of I have studied are Tai Chish. Where as other's are hard. Perhaps this was by design. One thing on my research is that the system was put together for spiritual, mental, and physical development.

2007-01-26T09:52:00.000-08:00

You make success easy by using your existing position or form as your springboard to future positions. Regular people tend to think negatively about their current situation. This negativity results in a sense of inadequacy and inferiority. Successful fighters see the unique value in their special position. Warriors are keenly aware of their own assets. Without a proper appreciation of your current position and form, you cannot advance that position, move forward, and master new forms.

The Ancient Bing-Fa: Martial Arts Strategy by Sun Tzu and Gary Gagliardi

2007-01-20T07:21:00.000-08:00

I hear about kids being kidnapped, and I wonder if they knew how to defend themselves then it maybe there would be less of it going on. After all, if the child predators knew kids would put up a fight, they wouldn't likely go after children now would they? or they would be going after someone else.

No I don't expect kids to be kick an adults butt. But if a kid can learn to Kia, fight, there chances of survival are much better than getting in the car. It's sad that society is like that today. For example, if a kid was riding his bike, if he used his bike lock as a weapon to defend himself.

2007-01-17T08:38:00.000-08:00

Blackbelt healer

Looks interesting, this blackbelt healer thing. Don't know though if it would stand up in my state or not. But interesting none the less.

2007-01-14T12:46:00.000-08:00

A MA leadership Team guide

So I'm attempting to write a leadership team guide. If anyone is interested in reading please let me know and I will see what I can do about inviting them to the site.

2007-01-12T19:28:00.000-08:00

24/7 online study course

Well, I saw this. Now with home study no waiting for video's to arrive. They just come online. To bad no escrima or kobudo.

2007-01-08T11:51:00.000-08:00

Kobudo

I'm been doing some research into Okinawin Kobudo. It is hard to find good Okinawan Kobudo. Something interesting is that the founders put this together for the mental, physical, and spirtual development of their students. Also found it interesting they studied different weapon systems.

I have been told it would better to stick with one thing, then be a jack of all trades. One thing is I'm not an "professional" instructor. As much as I would love to do some things, I can't do everything.

One thing thing I like about kubudo is the variety of the weapons you learn. Each helps to develop a certain part of the body. Also practicing helps so that they only used to one.

2007-01-07T06:01:00.000-08:00

Home Study programs

I once worked on a tai chi form, trying to teach it to myself. However, when I showed it to my instructor I had missed some angles as well as some other smaller details. For this reason I think onsite instruction is still a good idea.

However, it's not to say dvd's aren't a good supplement to regular training. I personally wonder how long until these home study programs have you start uploading the videos via the internet. Rather than send them through the mail. Less waiting time.

But stepping back from this, what if the people got together once a year for a two week period or maybe a week for some intense training. It would help to cement what they had learned. Hmm...

2007-01-06T10:30:00.000-08:00

That looks cool, let's change it

It personally annoys me when someone either starts adding more to a form or changes something because "it looks cool". For one thing, these forms it's not respectful to the person who created the form. Second it takes years of experience to start to understand how something is put together. Third, if you call I pinion, but you change around the form around. It is no longer one pinion. It's something else. So it's misleading to call it one pinion when it's not. Fourth the tradition, these forms were passed down over the centuries.

Sure I know change is going to happen whether I like it or not. I'm also one for innovation, and improvement. I'm just not sure it's for the better.

If you want to change something. Then make up your own form. Call it what you like.

2007-01-06T10:27:00.000-08:00

Summer camp

I was reading a martial arts book on teaching. It mentioned summer camps. I could see where taking the camp for a few days and having some intensive training with them could be benefital.

Something like that has to be done a year in advance. You need a trained medical person too. You need a location.

2007-01-06T10:25:00.000-08:00

A demo team and weapons class

One thing I have been thinking about, is perhaps it would be better to teach people weapons in a demo team, rather than a dedicated class. One thing is if have some experience in demo team then they might learn faster in the class. Plus they don't have to pay for it. Another thing is kids have so much going on, if their grades drop then they got to cut back.

2007-01-06T10:23:00.000-08:00

Rank System

I've been thinking alot of the rank in the system. Even in a monastary, you have student, disciple, and master. Of course two there is the guy running the monastary too. I mean even if you don't have belts you still must break the curriculum down for beginners, intermediate, and advanced practioners.

Yet then you have the karate systems with so many belts. Each belt you have too go through a belt test. Of course there are other systems, that give belts out after a few minutes of review.

Then of course you have systems where you must compete for your belt. Other systems one must teach. Other systems, it's just how much money one puts down.

Is it important to give back to the school? Yes, I feel it is. Yet there is also alot of work that doesn't involve teaching. So should it be a requirement to teach? I dont' know. I personally find teaching helps me reinforce what I already know.

Also, what about people who are incharge of territories? For example, should someone who has two people who run schools under him, be the same as the guy who has four?

Another question is the optimal size of the school. If you want to have a mega school, let's say a thousand students, or is forty student school better? Personally, from what i've seen over a hundred students it can be hard to keep track of people.

So, I don't. Just some thoughts of mine.

2007-01-06T10:21:00.000-08:00

Damascas Steel

Well saw this interesting article on Damacas Steel. Thought it might be interesting to some people.

2007-01-06T10:19:00.000-08:00

The Blind Master

ideas for martial arts movies the blind master. Blinded by an accident as a child, he studies martial arts. Then one night he is attacked by a street gang. They follow him, and he must defend himself. One of them is severly injured whom he nurses back to health and becomes his student.

2007-01-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

Centuries Catalog

I was kind of disappointed some of the books I wanted were not in the new version of the century catalog. They were available last year so I guess I will have to go someplace else.

2007-01-06T10:14:00.000-08:00

Michael Kwan

I heard Michael Kwan pulled a groin muscle, and it will ruin her chance for gold. I've also heard she usually likes not warming up too much. Here's what I think happened, as an athlete gets older, it takes longer to warm up. If someone shows up and is used to a short warm up... well... I don't know the circumstances that well. But in the martial arts it's important to warmup well before training.

2007-01-06T10:09:00.000-08:00

Music generating website

I found this site. It generates music to relax one person. One can choose between different sounds.