Boston Dynamics had unveiled a new Atlas robot for commercial use. It is entirely powered by electricity. I can imagine if they can bring the price down, the robot can be a perfect sparring partner for practice. He can try out deadly karate strikes without fear of injuries. The robot can measure his...

Muhammad Ali began slurring his words three years before his retirement from boxing and six years before being diagnosed with Parkinson's syndrome at age 42. In fact, Ali's speech once slowed by 16 percent after completing 15 brutal rounds with Earnie Shavers in 1977, where Ali was struck by 266 dev...

"Does anyone remember when weapons were taught in the Futenma Dojo" Sensei George Mattson, during his years training at Futenma were never taught with weapons. They use only hands and feet. When he taught at the Boston's Dojo, he never practiced with weapons, teaching with the Uechi-ryu sp...

"Matsumura’s Useishi"

The Gojushiho kata is the most advanced kata of the Shuri Te branch of Okinawan karate. It literally means 54 steps. In the native tongue of ancient Okinawa the kata was called Useishi, meaning 54 steps.
https://www.shorin-ryu.com/kata

A bunkai is when a partner perform a predefined attack and the defender perform a specific set of kata (techniques) to block that attack. It is a great way for the student to learn what make the movements effective by analyzing each form. I've watched bunkai in action many times during Chinese Moon ...

One great aspect of karate is the emphasis of stretching. Remember the many hours of stretching we would do during classes while I was a child. Stretching is known to benefit people suffering from arthritis by lubricating joints and enhancing and maintaining range-of-motion. https://www.arthritis.or...

"Why would a peaceful nation have military forces?" Reminds me of Ronald Reagan's 1984 "Bear in the woods" campaign commercial. "There is a bear in the woods. For some people, the bear is easy to see. Others don't see it at all. Some people say the bear is tame. Others say i...

It apparently was a big event. Basic daily exercise class, which normally has several people attending Zoom sessions, shrank to one or two during the WinterFest.

"On his seventy third birthday he once again went before the emperor asking to be tested. Using his Sanchin form he carried a four-hundred pound rock.” It is an impressive feat and may be an exaggeration. It's hard even for horses. Strathorn Farm, in UK, has a rule that the Clydesdale, their bi...

Ughh!! Brings back memories of the fights I would see while walking in Boston. Good point. It has happened here. https://www.masslive.com/news/boston/2015/02/as_systemic_mbta_delays_contin.html Often, the commute trains and busses are so crowded that the riders are pressed up on one another and can ...

Stories describing women being not being welcomed in martial arts during the old days are probably fake news. One example is Fang Qīniáng (方七娘; Amoy Min Nan: Hng Chhit-niâ), a female martial artist who developed the White Crane style during the mid-17th century. The style was designed to defeat the ...

This forum has a few great threads on women's experience. Sanchin checks on women: https://forums.uechi-ryu.com/viewtopic.php?t=3251 Here are a few links on the web: https://www.tamarabenarroch.com/single-project https://www.martialjournal.com/being-a-woman-what-martial-arts-has-taught-me/ Interview...

This forum has an excellent thread on jar training to strengthen the grip. https://www.uechi-ryu.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17587 Another great way to strengthen the hands is kneading dough when making yeast rolls or bread. I tried it out when making rolls for the Easter dinner. My grandma, then ano...

I can organize and post the photos if anyone needs help.

I had been using Windows 10 professional for years now and like it's performance, I keep the auto update turned on because many updates are security fixes. Many computers were hacked because they weren't updated and the bad guys were able to take advantage of known security flaws. I hadn't yet updat...