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My Journey with the Grandmaster
!Have you ever wondered what it would be like to train in Okinawa under one of the Grandmasters? Do you desire to understand the martial arts more deeply? Are you looking for a martial arts book that takes you on a fantastic journey? Look no further.
"My Journey with the Grandmaster" by Kyoshi Major William Hayes USMC (Ret.) is one of the most amazing books I have ever had the pleasure to read. Although there is not a single color photograph in the entire book, Kyoshi Hayes paints such a visually stunning picture of his journey in the martial arts, and of what life was like as a young Marine stationed in Okinawa learning under Shimabukuro Eizo, a Grandmaster of Okinawan Shorin-ryu Karate-do, that a reader can truly escape to Okinawa while indulging in this engrossing book.
"As I recall, the beach was almost overwhelming in its natural beauty. The sand was course but clean, the water, crystal clear close to the shoreline-deepening to a pure green and then deep blue as you looked out to sea. Over my shoulders I looked up to see some of the huge chunks of coral which had been pushed up from the ocean floor to help form the coastline. Thatches of lush greenery sprung from the seemingly hostile rocks and small sandcrabs scrambled about like tiny commuters on their way to and from work."
Vivid descriptions of the landscape, the people, the cuisine, the politics, the racial unrest during the Vietnam war in the military and of his intense training in Shorin-ryu provide the reader with a wealth of information to soak in and digest.
With the writing and the unique perspective he provides in this book, Kyoshi Hayes is able to transport you to Okinawa. Whether your style is Shorin-Ryu or something else entirely, there is something to be learned from this book. Through his retelling of some of his training stories, one can glean so much information that it makes you think about your martial arts training in a way you never have before.
"At that point in your training you are no longer in a position where a "block" is necessary. You also start to understand that the "blocking" motions can now have totally different purposes. Some of the motions may become strikes to selected points on the body or can be used to manipulate the joints-painfully-especially when the timing of the movements is changed along with the angle. These techniques when combined with the real purpose of stances expand your arsenal and the scope of the art itself."
Although it’s a book that can be easily read cover to cover in a matter of days, I found myself slowly reading it chapter by chapter to fully think about the knowledge Kyoshi Hayes was imparting through his writing. I also wanted to make it last longer since it is such an enjoyable and insightful book to read.
His insight regarding traditional karate is authoritative, and with good reason. The evolution of Kyoshi Hayes as a martial artist is apparent in every aspect of this book.
"Okinawan karate was never developed for the purpose of winning tournaments, it was formulated as a means of killing those who deserve to die and as a means of protecting the lives of those who deserve to live. Pretty basic stuff. To be sure, many of the world’s well-known karate tournament champions are students of Okinawan Karate styles but the systems put together on a tiny island of Okinawa were developed so that the practitioner would survive in real combat situations first and foremost. There were no trophies or rules in the early days of real encounters on Okinawa and such encounters required the ultimate in both efficiency and effectiveness."
Kyoshi Hayes is about to have the 6th edition of his book printed and it will be available to purchase directly through the author. For more information about the book or to purchase it directly, send an email to oldstudent1 at cox dot net. The book is available for purchase for $23 (Virginia residents add 4.5% sales tax). You can even request that the author signs the book for you, making it a treasured purchase for years to come.
My only critique of the book is that it wasn’t longer. This is the first book in a long time that I just didn’t want to end. If you’re a martial artist and you haven’t yet read this book, there’s really only one question to ask yourself: Why not?
"My Journey with the Grandmaster" is the "Grandmaster" of martial arts books, and you don’t want to miss it! For the way the book manages to transport you to the beaches and dojo of Okinawa, for the knowledge it imparts unto its readers, and for the way that it completely makes you rethink about every part of your training, BBM gives "My Journey with the Grandmaster" an unprecedented (and highest honor in the martial arts and on this site) red belt:
All excerpts from the book are printed with the authors permission.
KD Elite Pro Quality Curved Body Shield
Wailing on a striking bag can be a great feeling. Unfortunately, training partners rarely get as much joy out of the experience. Not to mention it enhances their motivation to retaliate during their turn. The goal of the KD Elite Curved Body Shield is to allow for intense training with no bruised ribs or feelings.
Courtesy of Karate Depot. Check em out!
The most noticeable feature for this bag is the curvature which provides some unique training opportunities. The design coupled with a firm interior padding allows for very solid striking with minimal impact on the bag holder. Strong techniques can still be felt, but the shield disperses a lot of the energy.
Another benefit is the different techniques an attacker can perform. The top curve can be used for upper-cutting and simulating palm-heel strikes under the chin. The bottom curve can be used for side stomp kicks. The logo on the front is also a great target, which can help students hone their accuracy.
Despite my fondness for the bags design, I did have mixed feelings about the handles. There are two mid-level straps that unVelcro, and a top handle with a high quality rubber coating. I really liked the top handle because it granted excellent bag control when doing techniques near the top of the bag. It also helped stabilize techniques at the bottom of the bag.
For the middle straps, I found myself Velcroing one around my arm, and holding on to the other. Both straps were designed to be Velcroed around the arm, leaving the hand free. I feel as if I have less control when holding that way. So I ended up holding one strap inappropriately, and the comfort level was diminished because of it.
The bag also doesn’t have side handles. Side handles are useful for posting the bag right up against your upper body, allowing for a bit more contact and conditioning. This isn’t a necessary feature for bags, but would have been nice.
The surface quality for the KD Elite was top notch. The material was highly durable, but at the same time easy on the hands. You might expect something coarse and abrasive from a bag such as this, but that wasn’t the case. It was a good balance that would work equally well for kids or for powerful adults.
The KD Elite Curved Body Shield offers enough unique usability that having one or two in the dojo might not be a bad idea. But I wouldn’t rely on it solely. That being the case…
Ikigai108 gives the KD Elite Pro Quality Curved Body Shield…
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Do you have a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse fan in the house? If so, you won’t want to miss out on the latest toy. My two-year old daughter starts every day off with a DVR’d episode of "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" on the Disney Channel. Now that she owns the toy, instead of watching an episode every morning, she’s creating one.
The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (about $39.99 depending on the store) is an interactive play set that looks very much like the clubhouse from the show. The set comes with an interactive Mickey Mouse and Toodles. I’ve read multiple reviews about the poor construction of the play set and I have to admit that the slide and the shoe do fall off frequently. However, I challenge you to find a toy that does stay together well when designed for this age group. It only takes a second to put back together and frequently, my daughter is content to play with the toy as is, without the slide and shoe attached.
The Clubhouse comes with one interactive Mickey Mouse. When placed on the proper receptacle in the clubhouse, Mickey talks and moves his arms up and down. It’s really pretty cool. The only problem with this feature is that it’s difficult for little hands to get the figures on and off. Most of the time, my daughter is content to make the characters talk on their own, so the difficulty of this feature isn’t really an issue for us.
In addition to the Clubhouse, this line of toys also features other characters from the show: Minney Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy and Pluto. Additional add-on packs include different characters. Because my daughter has the Mickey Mouse car and airplane, she now has two additional Mickey Mouse characters (one dressed in race car attire and the other in a pilot’s uniform). Each interactive character has different phrases that they say when placed on different spots.
Goofy’s magic platform provides completely different sayings than the other interactive stations. The Mickey Mouse car is interactive too. Pushed forward, children hear Mickey Mouse count from 1 to 20. Push backwards, Mickey Mouse counts backwards from 20 back to 1. There are other available sets too, including one that features Pluto’s dog house ($12.99/varies by store) and also a Band Stand ($24.99/varies by store).
The Mickey airplane responds to your motions. If you fly the plane to the left, it says so. If you point the plane downwards, Mickey talks about going down and landing. These add on toys are easy to work and add additional fun.
Of course it’s not without additional cost. The airplane can be found for about $19.99. Prices vary from store to store.
Although the cost of getting all the additional character packs and accessories can really add up, the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and accessories have been a big hit at our house. I’ve never seen a little one wake up in the morning and immediately say "Play wif Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" for so many days in a row. This is one toy that just doesn’t get old.
The toy provides hours of fun, but there are a couple negatives. The slide and shoe do fall apart which can get frustrating. This isn’t, however, something a little super glue couldn’t fix or a reason to not buy the toy for a real Clubhouse fan. The cost of adding all the characters and accessories can also really add up. To balance out the good with the bad, Black Belt Mama gives the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and related accessories a:
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About TKDDaughter
I am a 30-something mom who lives in Western Pennsylvania with my 3 year old son, my 30-something husband, and our two very fat, very lazy cats. We are working on restoring a 125 year old Queen Anne Victorian home to its original splendor…if only we had the money to do it! My husband does all of his own work, so the process is slow going.
I attended a small liberal arts college where I majored in both English and Theatre with great aspirations of someday winning a Tony Award. Once reality set in and I realized my talent was only as good as a community theater regular, I began to pursue ways to finance my life.
I worked in retail management for far more years than I would like to admit while working on two Masters degrees-one in Literature, one in Secondary Education. Retail provided me the foundation for every other job to come and gave me richer experience than any other job since. I applaud those who continue retail careers-it’s a tough job. So, dear readers, be kind to retail employees-chances are, someone was just really rude to them!
Upon finishing my graduate degrees, I began my calling as an English teacher at a small, private Catholic high school. I love my students, I love my colleagues (most of the time), and I love curriculum. Now if only the administration could get a clue…
I took a year off when I had my son and worked from my home as sales assistant for a major bra company. I despised every bloody second of it, but it allowed me to stay at home with my son during his first year and a half. Why I thought I would enjoy working with numbers all day is beyond me-I am a words kind of girl!
While on my year sabbatical, I also began a new phase of my teaching career working for a cyber charter school. I remain at both teaching jobs part-time now and love them both equally. They are drastically different, but equally challenging!
Besides being a mom, wife and teacher, I am addicted to stamping and scrapbooking and all things crafty. I am trying my hand at knitting and crocheting, but I’m not sure if I have the talent for it. I have a background in theater and while I don’t get to work in the theater anymore, I still enjoy seeing plays and musicals. I am always reading many books at the same time, most for pleasure, some for my job. I love Jane Austen and Shakespeare and Ian McEwan.
Unlike the other reviewers for this site, my only link to the martial arts is my father, a 3rd degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do (which he earned in his late 50’s!) who desperately tried to get me interested, but was too annoyed after my constant giggling as he tried to teach me techniques. I am, however, tremendously proud of him as he continues his training at his late 60’s.
Likes: Hearing my son laugh, potato chips, cheese, peanut butter cups, dark chocolate, classy people, a great novel, seeing my students master a skill
Dislikes: Seeing my son upset, rude people, lazy people, melons of any kind (I know…weird…), bad acting
You can read even more about me at "Renovation Girl."
Email TKDDaughter.
About TSDAdam
I’m a 30 year old (I prefer the terms twenty-ten or twenteen to be honest, I’m sure you’re meant to feel more grown up at this age) married man from Cornwall, in the very South-West tip of the UK where I live with my wife, two cats and our new pup.
When I’m not working in my current role as a Project Officer, I like to read, socialise, play games, and most of all – my all-cosuming passion – martial arts. In my case, the martial art of choice is Tang Soo Do, which is essentially Korean Karate. After nearly two years of training I’m currently at 5th Gup (or Kyu for fans of the Japanese/Okinawan styles), working hard and horribly addicted! I started for several reasons, most notably a desire to get fit again and lose weight, but also because it was always one of those things I always wanted to do, but never got around to. Now I train because I can’t imagine my life without it. My interest has also led me to doing a lot of my own reading and research into the history of the art I’m learning and its predecessors.
As mentioned above, one of my interests is games, or more specifically video games. I’ve been playing with computers and games consoles for as long as I can remember, and over the last few years I’ve taken the step to try to enthuse others in the same way I have been, by turning my hand to penning some reviews. I write reviews and articles for the UK-based, import-centric ntsc-uk.com, so it seemed like a natural progression for me then to combine my interest in writing/reviewing with my newfound love of martial arts. So here I am!
Likes: Peanut butter, Autumn, taking a good hit in sparring.
Dislikes: Egos, poor spelling, narrow-mindedness.
If I’ve a few minutes spare to myself, I also keep my blog updated when I have something to write about. You can see for yourself how my leaky sponge of a brain works here
at Adam’s Cerebral Spillage.
Email TSDAdam.
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