And so ends...

... my time as a regular at Randalls. I am both frightened and excited for what the future will bring :)

I came to a crossroads today... My martial art is for health and defense only. That is all. If I were training to be a fighter fighter, then no school for me. But I choose my doctorate instead. I will be a doctor. I'll be a warrior doctor who fights when needed, but not for sport. I'll train for my body and health, but not to fight in the ring. I'll train to balance my life. But I can't train to fight as a lifestyle and get to be good at it without the expense of my brain. And that is completely out of the question. There's just no way. Name a boxer who became a doctor.

None.

School comes first. Don't get me wrong. I CAN fight. I just won't, nor will I be in the shape for fighting someone who is a fighter fighter by choice.

Thus...

... it begins. When this is over, it all will have been so worth it.

I feel...

... fat.

I haven't trained in 3 days and am really starting to feel guilty about it. Wonder if my body's strong enough for 1080 punches w/ 10 lb weights in each hand?

Goodbye Ashley...

I've been defanged...

This sucks.
Alisha, this deal stands.

"My Kind of Girl"

When I was younger, never went too far
Held my feelings and never even wanted to start
'Til when I met you, I didn't know
What you were gonna do with my heart

When you talk (I cling on every word you say)
When you move (Like a breeze on a summer day)
When you smile (the sky turns from gray to blue, that's what you do)
And you're the kind of girl I think of (yeah)
And you're the kind of girl I dream about (yeah)
My heart is telling me I need you in my world (in my world)
'Cause you're my kind of lady (you're my kind of girl)

When I'm not with you, wherever you are
Baby I'm counting the moments 'til I'm back in your arms
All I want is to have you here with me
Every night 'n' every day,

When you talk (I cling on every word you say)
When you move (Like a breeze on a summer day)
When you smile (the sky turns from gray to blue, that's what you do)
And you're the kind of girl I think of
And you're the kind of girl I dream about
My heart is telling me that I need you in my world (my world)
'Cause you're my kind of lady (you're my kind of girl)

Baby girl I need you here by my side
And if you're there everything will be alright
Cause this is the time for us, baby be mine (baby be mine)
And you're the kind of girl I think of
And you're the kind of girl I dream about (girl I dream about yeah)
My heart is telling me that I need you in my world (in my world)
'Cause you're my kind of lady (you're my kind of girl)

Mom's badass

So we had a drunk party over here last night. And I must say it was the most fun I've had in a while. Had more than "quite a bit" to drink (sake, goldschlager, sobeclear, mike's hard lemonade, bud select). Pwned at the vid games. Laughed at Mark Dacascos in "Only the Strong." Enjoyed the company of (mostly) deserving people, though I will say that should weed ever be brought onto my property again, someone's gon' wish he was dead. Thanks David and Danger ;-).

*sigh*

Kristin is right. I do not need to be dating her.

Thank you God...

... for bringing me back. That guy You blessed always reminds me. Good things about Kokuryu remain, and most of the bad is gone.

Part 4

San Sho Ryu: so
San Sho Ryu: I am told
San Sho Ryu: that after the afx teacher threatened me
San Sho Ryu: that Tree came in to work
N3ach: k
San Sho Ryu: and reaffirmed that what capt forehead said to me was not a threat
San Sho Ryu: but a promise
San Sho Ryu: he told Oso
San Sho Ryu: and Gage
N3ach: ive got his promise right here
N3ach: tell him i said that
San Sho Ryu: hahaha
San Sho Ryu: that is 3 times within 10 days that my life has been threatened
San Sho Ryu: I am not happy.

This is me

Damn it, Pam!

I wish I were older.

Not this time...

So I meet this cute girl named Sarah.
Blonde.
Light-blue eyes.
Pale skin.
Skinny.
Shorter'n me.
Shy, but friendly.












Then I realized she reminded me of Jenny, except for the "skinny" part.
...
I don't think so.

David is right. I find it harder to give up training.

Oy this shit never ends...

So today, I'm on my lunch and I sit with Kenisha, just chattin'. Who else should sit at the table next to me besides Captain Forehead? I say: "How you doin'?" and resume my conversation with Kenisha.

She gets up a little later, and Capitan Cabeza goes: "When you're finished with her, can I have a minute?"

And I'm like: "Sure."
"Oh, now?"
"Yes."

He then proceeds to babble about the waivers, which he never brandished, saying things like the last time anyone sparred with him was 14 years ago, when a TKD 2nd degree black belt sparred with whoever and broke his arm. The TKD'er proceeded to sue him for 300k. Yeah ok. So what?
He explains that the waivers are for this and the waivers are for that... etc etc... insurance purposes. I really don't give a shit, since he didn't brandish them the last time we were there. He also lectures me on respect.

Mr Ray Ashton, for as much respect I actually have for you, I showed you a helluva lot of respect that day at your "fitness center." Even Gage said I was respectful, completely different from the previous image he had of me.

This is the kicker though...
At the end, he was like: "I can't say this in a civilian area" so he gets up and sits in front of me and tells me to lean forward.
I do.
Quoting to the best of my memory:
"If I am disrespected ever again, I will make sure that you have just enough time to see your heart in my hand. Have a good day."

And I smile, trying to keep from laughing. I think that was a threat.

Let the trash talking begin!

SHOBU DA!

Power

As each day passes, I feel more powerful and the power tempts me. I hate this whole cliched "With great power comes great responsibility" bullshit. Sometimes, you have to demonstrate to power simply to test it. Sure, you can help people, and sometimes you're the only one who CAN help those people. But why help them if they don't deserve it? Why help them if their attitudes and subsequent actions don't warrant your efforts? Fuck it. Shut them down and shoot them down (not literally). Now don't get me wrong, some dumb fuckers aren't even worth your time. So do zilch. Nothing. Pretend that they don't exist. Recently though, it seems to me that every time I do anything, I hold back, knowing/fearing that I could hurt someone. I don't want to have to hold back just because the other person is too weak to handle it. Smile bitches, Kokuryu is back.

Alisha, I LOVED talking to you tonight.

So...

... I am joined by Nick Smith, Oso, David, Will Greenshield, and Neal and Mitch (the latter two who are just there to watch) at the Affects Fitness center. The day before, we had been invited by Walter Reynolds (referred to hereafter as "Tree"), an orange belt, to join in on the class and/or to spar. As such, our goal is to spar with students, students who are blindly following Captain Forehead (Ray Ashton) in believing that Affects is the most deadly martial art on the planet. This man solicits at the Randalls store so much that the managers have had to escort him out. So the group of us walk in before the class, and we sit and wait. When Capt Forehead walks in, I stand up and shake his hand: "Respectfully sir, I'd like to spar with some of your students later." He responds to which as: "Ok."

Before the class begins, the dear Capt. enlightens us with his history... how he was the only non-Asian to be taught by some grandmaster who's 104 years old, how he spent 25 years developing Affects, and how he has three world records in hand speed.

The man is fast. But I've seen faster.

So, we sit and watch for about five minutes...

They begin doing forms... without stretching. I see Tree run his ass in and start doing his forms.

They yell a lot.

Bored, I stand up and ask if I can warm up with my group. He goes: "Sure." So I take the punching mitts and the kicking clapper and go off to the side. I first do some pushups, then some handstand pushups.

Ray Ashton interjects: "Impressive. But try 2 finger pushups on one leg." And he gets down and does them.
I shrug and say: "Yeah, I've got the 2 fingers, but just not the leg."

Oso starts to feed me punches, while Smith and David work kicks. A few good powered punches, and Capt Forehead interjects:
"Uh, if you're going to be making noise, you're going to be distracting. You can join in on the class if you like and do what they're doing or..."
I say: "Ok, we'll be back." and we go outside to warmup.

Cycling through punching and kicking, I notice that the dear Capt is checking on us every so often, scoping out what we can do.

We go back in and sit down and just watch, taking apart their movements. They do not use the hip for power. Woefully fatal. You can hit me all you want with your arm, but I'll be able to take it. Then I'll give you a good hook and you'll be out.

This is Tae Bo using semi-classical forms. And even Tae Bo is better for you.

Throughout the class, he tries to explain each and every form's purpose, each of which has a good application to real life in theory. But no one practices it on each other. He also says multiple times that we will have to sign waivers in case of injury etc etc etc. He also goes to say that: "When we spar, we start out like this..." Think Enter the Dragon. In the tournament, they start, hands touching. Hahaha that's my range. Y'all are DEAD. He also demonstrates one technique for us, and goes: "That's what you're up against."

And clearly... none of us are fazed.

Forehead asks lil Will to get up and to take the practice knife for a knife disarm demonstration. It takes the man 4 tries to disarm Will. How about... he's dead??

Asks me to come demonstrate a gun disarm. A lot less entertaining. He judo chops me in the neck (Remember what I would have taken during that gun disarm for later).

"We don't do that Hollywood crap." But yet you describe situations where you're sounded by three guys, one with a knife, the other with a bat, and the last swinging a chain, and what you should do in that situation (his first step is a LEAP in the AIR!!! AHAHAHAHA!). And yet, you have moves like "Leaping Tiger" and "Falling Falcon." What. The. FUCK. IS. THAT?
And then he says: "All that other stuff is just playing with your dick."
How unprofessional is that??? For a "master."

After a billion forms, he then asks us to go up and to demonstrate that which we know. His class hasn't sparred, or really practiced on each other. They've done forms, practiced one or two weapons, hit the bag, and done some weighted forms with 1.5 lb weights. Try my 1080 slow punches with 10 pound weights, motherfucker!!!

I quickly go over my background, and the teacher keeps interrupting me. So I explain that I need to show where my skills come from. After I have, Forehead asks me to demonstrate what I would do being in a bent over headlock. I demonstrate a takedown on Oso from being in said headlock, and the Capt says: "Takes too much time. My way would be over in 2 seconds." He demonstrates that he'd've hit the nuts. Ok, sure. I would have too. But then my grappling game isn't that good. Smith demonstrates a body slam on me from that same position. After that technique, Will goes to defend Tae Kwon Do and demonstrates a quick kick to MY NECK. It hurt! Fuck you Captain Forehead and your judo chop. I demonstrate a trap to multiple hits to a rolling takedown on Will. Oso demonstrates a takedown and a knee to MY HEAD.

The man uses tiny details to discredit us. Oh Jesus Christ (Gfm). I say: "Options."

He goes: "The purpose of our martial arts is to walk away." Sure, but then why is he talking about ripping out vital organs? Or why is he saying shit like: "I'd knock you to the wall." or saying (some time ago) that: "Nick's dancing is all good for show and sport, but it'd just take one kick to take him out." Riiiiiiiite.

So I call him out on his techniques there:
"It's only theory."
His eyes go wide. "It's not just theory."
"Sure it is, you haven't proven it."
He walks over to me to prove it, but why would I GIVE him that situation to prove it in?
Nick Smith said it best: "Situation dictates."
From taking a one handed choke, Smith demonstrates an arm break, but the Captain Forehead's all: "Nonono, you hit the inside of the elbow and the wrist." to loosen your attacker's grip. If he's got a GOOD grip, he'd only further traumatize his throat.
Capt Forehead goes: "You are incorrect." Fine, I can deal with that.
So I ask to spar with his students... I've been waiting for the waivers.
"We don't spar."
"Well I would like to get a real feel for the techniques you are using."
"We don't spar. We kill."
"Again, then it's only theory."

I forget what happens next, but he says later on: "You challenge my students you challenge ME."
I say: "Why?"
"Because 2 months ago you said you'd put me out of business."
"I said no such thing."
"And you came here today to challenge me."
"Actually, I was going to let that go. But yesterday Will [Tree/Walter] invited us all."
"2 months ago..."... was 2 months ago. This was yesterday.
He says: "Good day, gentlemen."

As I'm leaving, I shake Captain Forehead's hand, and say:
"I have no doubt that you are a formiddable man..." He smiles.
"... But I could destroy any of your students."
He says: "Ignorance is foolish."
"Except it's the truth."
"Ignorance--"
"I know what I'm saying. I've done my research on you."
He comes up really close to me and whispers:
"You don't know what I know... I train killers."
"Right."

Ironically, his top rank student, Gage, was impressed with us and would like to train with me.
Ain't that a kick in the teeth?

Where were the fuckin' waivers?

Quotes from the night:
Ray Ashton (PP): "After a student receives his Affects black belt, I'd put him up against any black belt on the planet."
RA: "In Tae Kwon Do, you can get a black belt in 6 months."
David Jones(PP): "Those white belts are arrogant."

The best story told by Mr Ray Ashton.
"A man held me up at gunpoint and asked me how much money I had. I said: 'No. How much money do YOU have?' Then I took the gun away from him and took his money and gave it to some kids."

Watch out for me today, Big Guy.