Re: Des, Some more thoughts

[Guest guest]

I know the frustration. I couldn't get my own son to continue coming to

classes, but of course it's a different thing to learn from your dad and I

didn't

want to pressure him too much.

This is probably not a group topic so maybe we can continue the dialogue

directly if you want.

Des

In a message dated 6/30/2004 4:53:32 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

sungold518@... writes:

In my work as a family therapist, I have tried to get troubled teens to

sign up for karate classes. Unfortunately I've never gotten it to happen

-- for various reasons. But I have remained convinced that the experience

would somehow " shift " the teen in his/her floundering for a sense of self.

That it would help provide them with an " inner locus of control. "

Self-esteem, pride -- and humility. I bow to you in your work with teens.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/30/2004 6:58:03 AM Pacific Standard Time,

redace_us@... writes:

Understand you're a Bay Area guy, is this true?

Yup. I live in Palo Alto.

In another lifetime I studied Kenpo for a couple of years in San

Diego at one of the schools. At 55, I'm not sure I'm ready to

try anything like it again...but are there katas that might be useful

as rehab for people like me?

I don't know if you ever did Sanchin kata but it's totally isometric and a

great exercise you can do until your dying day. No kicks but good leg tensioning

and hip exercise. Goju Ryu is a circular style which emphasizes low kicking

so it's ok for geriatrics like us.

Do you have a dojo?

I have a small dojo where I teach teenagers but I'm also president of the US

branch of an international organization which has branches around California

and in other States.

Des

[Guest guest]

Methinks any mind activity involving give and take is therapeutically useful.

Karate is a bit violent and primitive but other martial arts like Tai Chi and

Aikido are great. Aikido is a little brutal for the brittle.

In a message dated 6/30/2004 8:18:43 AM Pacific Standard Time,

moneyhill@... writes:

Hey-I'm a family therapist too, but with older 65's and their families,

and in the UK. Hmm-mm-could karate be useful there too?

[Guest guest]

Hi Joyce

Hey-I'm a family therapist too, but with older 65's and their families,

and in the UK. Hmm-mm-could karate be useful there too?

Eleanor

Re: Des, Some more thoughts

In my work as a family therapist, I have tried to get troubled teens to

sign up for karate classes. Unfortunately I've never gotten it to

happen

-- for various reasons. But I have remained convinced that the

experience

would somehow " shift " the teen in his/her floundering for a sense of

self.

That it would help provide them with an " inner locus of control. "

Self-esteem, pride -- and humility. I bow to you in your work with

teens.

Joyce (Dr Gross, LHR, 2/2/04)

sungold518@...

Re: Des, Some more thoughts

Thanks for saying that Joyce.

It's really propelled me through life. I encourage even those of you who

think they're too " old " to investigate some sort of martial art, even

Tai

Chi, to

experience the tranquility of it.With your new-found flexibility and

elimination of the pain, you can only grow.

Most of my enjoyment comes from sharing what I've learned with

teenagers,

and

then learning from them in the process. They keep me youthful, hopefully

indefinitely.

Des

In a message dated 6/29/2004 6:34:23 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

sungold518@... writes:

Des, I so admire (is that the word?) the way what you write must reflect

upon the relationship you have with karate. I am very curious about

things

that -- what? -- that move us along this journey and those things seem

to

be so vividly, subtly, and wonderfully reflected in a mastering of the

self-discipline and " release " that must be integral to karate. I LOVE

that

sort of reflection.

[Guest guest]

Hi Joyce

Hey-I'm a family therapist too, but with older 65's and their families,

and in the UK. Hmm-mm-could karate be useful there too?

Eleanor

Re: Des, Some more thoughts

In my work as a family therapist, I have tried to get troubled teens to

sign up for karate classes. Unfortunately I've never gotten it to

happen

-- for various reasons. But I have remained convinced that the

experience

would somehow " shift " the teen in his/her floundering for a sense of

self.

That it would help provide them with an " inner locus of control. "

Self-esteem, pride -- and humility. I bow to you in your work with

teens.

Joyce (Dr Gross, LHR, 2/2/04)

sungold518@...

Re: Des, Some more thoughts

Thanks for saying that Joyce.

It's really propelled me through life. I encourage even those of you who

think they're too " old " to investigate some sort of martial art, even

Tai

Chi, to

experience the tranquility of it.With your new-found flexibility and

elimination of the pain, you can only grow.

Most of my enjoyment comes from sharing what I've learned with

teenagers,

and

then learning from them in the process. They keep me youthful, hopefully

indefinitely.

Des

In a message dated 6/29/2004 6:34:23 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

sungold518@... writes:

Des, I so admire (is that the word?) the way what you write must reflect

upon the relationship you have with karate. I am very curious about

things

that -- what? -- that move us along this journey and those things seem

to

be so vividly, subtly, and wonderfully reflected in a mastering of the

self-discipline and " release " that must be integral to karate. I LOVE

that

sort of reflection.

[Guest guest]

>Methinks any mind activity involving give and take is therapeutically

useful.

>Karate is a bit violent and primitive but other martial arts like Tai Chi

and

>Aikido are great. Aikido is a little brutal for the brittle.

True, but one study I heard (no cite, but I can dig) found that seniors who

did some of the tumbling had a markedly lower incidence of falls and

therefore fractures. The mechanism they postulate is that older people lose

their balance and in an effort to keep from falling, over-correct, thereby

causing the fall. A little low-key rolling made them more aware of their

balance and inhibited this tendency.

Of course, I pretty much think everybody should do some tumbling any way

since it is one thing we are all apt to need at some point.

Aikido (which I don't do) is good at that and if you approach it as just

healthy exercise (good teachers should let us geezers regulate this

ourselves) there shouldn't be much of a problem. As always, any teacher

that asks you to do something that exceeds your physical limitations

probably should be avoided. " No pain, no gain " works great if there are no

consequences to training.

-- Jeff

rBHR Aug. 1, 2001

Mr. McMinn

>

>In a message dated 6/30/2004 8:18:43 AM Pacific Standard Time,

>moneyhill@... writes:

>Hey-I'm a family therapist too, but with older 65's and their families,

>and in the UK. Hmm-mm-could karate be useful there too?

>

>

>