I continue

For the record, I am still defined as having  Paraneoplastic Neuromyopathy & Neuropathy. Still no clue to the cause. After all the tests and all the Doctors my condition is still a mystery.

 

I have come through Colan  Cancer, Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy and I am told there is no cancer now.

 

It would be easy to stop and abandon karate.

 

Among the symptoms are my speech is affected, my central nervous system (such as affecting balance) general weakness, etc. I do not drive for others safety, taking walks outdoors I use a walker to prevent fall.

 

I practice daily, but have rarely more energy to do 3 kata. My Yang tai chi after 35 years of practice is impossible to practice as I was taught. I spent a year to work up a different version to work within my current abilities.

 

I still help teach the beginners, with some assistance from Devin VanCurren. I still run the adult group.

 

I studied with so many people there are still lessons to share.

 

With so much free time, I still research for clues I can find what karate is. For example in the past year I am still finding more clues. There are few secrets anymore. But each new bit located still shows how much isn’t shown.

 

I am constantly reviewing my notes from my studies, with many instructors. Both to verify those portions in my curriculum, and to review the many parts I didn’t include to seek usefulness for the instructors. I still share some of them with the group..

 

I attempt to share some of what I have seen on this blog, should any student of mine want to join that search, And those practices are not lost to them.

 

I continue in my larger product, to understand more and more about the application potential of the Isshinryu system. I just completed a two month study into 32 application potentials of a kamae within Isshinryu SunNuSu Kata.

 

Karate posseses both hard and soft. With my current weakness I spend much time looking at the softer use of Isshinryu technique. While trining to use the hard is logical We all ageor are weaker than others. Teaching youth makes that more clear. I have many studies from other systems that use softer power, and continur to find uses within Isshinryu,

 

The Way of Inhaling and Exhaling is Softness and Hardness.

 

I started the studies for myself. Not fame or acknowledgement of others.

 

I competed to push myself, None noticed for the most part. I was lucky for some of the best were there, and make me work  better to compete against them. I did have some success, but that was a secondary event. I realized 1 second after the event, it was gone, Judges might well have a different opinion a second later. I was never seeking a judges approval. My university deabate coach made that clear, Quoting him “The logical answer, is to think of the judge as an idiot.  You compete to strengthen your case. If the judges are idiots, then gaining their approval just means idiots agreed with your performance. Hardly what you need in the long run.” I never forgot that. The logic applies at the tournament for karate too.

 

To work towards that understanding I have competed at one time or another with Isshinryu, Nothern Shaolin, Shotokan, Tai Chi,Northers Preying Mantis, Bando Staff. Each effort was instructive.

I have one rule for myself, to work to double my understanding what karate is each year. I am still committed to that principle.

 

I have long maintained it I ended up in the desert I would end up teaching rocks to do Isshinryu.

 

The beat goes on, and on, and on