How the heck did that happen?

[shotokan101]

So Jim; who is not supposed to be fearful, the student or the sensei
Paul B

Me

[fujicolt]

Steve,

I truly appreciate your love & concern. I know it is genuine. You have touched a nerve here because this is a serious character defect of mine. I don't know how to slow down. I will probably just keep going till I get too hurt. I just hope it's not due to an injury that is perminent or very debilitating.
I am actually looking for suggestions as to how I might slow down. Maybe it's my ego, competitiveness, machismo - probably all of the above. But I have a need to teach every class myself, start every drill, increase the tempo & participate in every round of kumite.

Thanks,
Tom

I personally feel that if this happened many would go thank goodness.

Go to your Most Senior and longterm students and say this...

'Guys and Girls, as i hope you know i have always tried to lead from the front - and will continue to do so if you wish me to but several realities need to be faced...

'firstly - i am not as young as i once was and as much as i hate to admit it - my body does not recover as it used to and the fact is i need to heed that fact seriously
BUT secondly and more importantly - i hope i have instructed you well and i really feel that i must continue your instruction by giving you more responsibility now - so i am gonna push YOU forward now to take responsibility for things like warm ups and cool downs - teaching assignments etc and a more proactive involvement in the club - i shall over see it and still do a lot of it whilst i am helping you develop but it is time for us to work together to move things on realistically - because tis your turn now so i want to get you ready for it'

Jim - watch them smile and dive in to help - they understand

'

[Tom O'Brien]

Steve,

You are right on point. I have to face the fact that I am older & it is not about me anymore. I sometimes resemble this old joke: - Q - How many senseis does it take to change a light bulb?
A - Only one, but is has to be me. I put the bulb in and the world revolves around me.
It is time to step back & let my juniors take the reins. I really need to take this advice.

Disclaimer: I'll do it in September - I'm having too much fun right now.

Thanks,
Tom

[Lyndon_Davies]

Steve,

I truly appreciate your love & concern. I know it is genuine. You have touched a nerve here because this is a serious character defect of mine. I don't know how to slow down. I will probably just keep going till I get too hurt. I just hope it's not due to an injury that is perminent or very debilitating.
I am actually looking for suggestions as to how I might slow down. Maybe it's my ego, competitiveness, machismo - probably all of the above. But I have a need to teach every class myself, start every drill, increase the tempo & participate in every round of kumite.

Thanks,
Tom

Tom, I don't think that attitude's such a bad thing (possibly because I share it) and it is what makes you the karateka you are. And despite what you say, it is ALWAYS about you, and your needs. Yes, Steve does have a point in that we're all getting older, but it's a matter of pushing for as long as possible - sometimes just to keep up.

That said, I will have nights where I do slightly less, perhaps don't fight all the top guys, maybe just teach the kata rather than demonstrate it as well... did I feel guilty the first time I "dropped out"? - you bet your life, but the next session (when I was aching less and felt more "up") I did a little more to convince myself I was making up for it.
It's a matter of finding a balance between your body's needs and your personal needs. Sometimes you just can't do it, sometimes you can. The time to worry is when your personal needs become less than your body is able to meet - then you're giving up.

[Tom O'Brien]

I appreciate the input & advice. Yeah - guilty - it's all about me & it's all my ego, selfishness & self-centerdness. I'm a legend in my own mind. I need to change. I am trying, honestly I am, but it's baby steps. I notice that I can get the same satisfaction, vicariously now, through my students. Just have to take a deep breath & step back. It's a natural process that must happen. It's time for the 'young guns' to take over. Acceptance is the key. I'm confident I will get there with the help of all you guys.

Thanks,
Tom

[Lyndon_Davies]

Yeah - guilty - it's all about me & it's all my ego, selfishness & self-centerdness.

You say that like it's a bad thing.....

[Paul Bedard]

I think that a person that exels in any field would be very dishonest if they denied having said attributes
Paul B

[Tom O'Brien]

You guys are too kind. I am working on my ability to be more humble though. Today we did some judo - ronduri & ne-waza, we also did some kumite and it was all good. The ronduri was all about throw & be thrown & the kumite was all about hit & be hit. Just a good work out - no egos. Great fun too. Progress for me. I think I also have this fear of being one of those - old, fat, out of shape senseis that lives by - do as I say not as I do. I will just try to do whatever the class is doing and not try to out-do anyone. I am finding balance.

Thanks,
Tom

[Tom O'Brien]

looks like I have some torn cartilage in my left knee. I know because I have experienced this 3 times before. I had arthoscopic knee surgery 3X, once on my right knee & 2X on my left. I have been told by the doctors that I can probably have it done again. We shall see.

In any case it may be good for me to slow down.

Thanks,
Tom

[fujicolt]

Will SOMEONE please go and sit on Tom for at least a month and let the man's body recover!

TOM - behave yer daft old sod

[Tom O'Brien]

Aye, Aye sir. Slowing down - got no choice.

Thanks,
Tom

[Paul Bedard]

Tom at least they are still giving you hope of a chance for improvement. I recently went to an orthopedic surgion hoping for the orthoscopic thing & was told it won`t work on my old arthritic joints, what a let down, so as Steve would point out I guess I have to listen to my body & not push at times unless I`m willing to pay for it. I`m don`t know about the willing part but I`m getting used to the pay for it part The specialist told me that when I can`t walk a block anymore to come back for a knee replacement. I guess that I can at least be thankful for the fact that thanks to karate training I can still move fairly well for an arthritic middle aged guy He told me to keep doing what I was doing as he was actualy impressed at what my body would still let me do
If only I knew then, what I know now, when I was younger...
Paul B

[Tom O'Brien]

Yeah Paul,

If we only knew then, what we now know. You can say that again. I have arthritis too, mostly in my right wrist. Hmm - makiwara training may have helped expedite that process. Tameshiwara may not have helped either. I will probably continue doing just what I am doing till I can't walk a block either. We should make a wager as to which one of us will be unable to accomplish that feat first. Wait - an NYC block or a London block?

Thanks,
Tom

[Tom O'Brien]

Went to the doc today. He said I have arthritis in my knee. I said I wanted a second opinion. He said OK, you're ugly too.

Thanks,
Tom

[Paul Bedard]

It would seem that our doctors went to the same med. school
Paul B