'HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW....WANSU....TAIKYOKU......ETC!

This statement refers to remarks made by other instructors in criticism of certain master who simply never learned a lot of kata or forms and patterns that might be considered basic.

'THE FIRST THING IN A KNIFE ATTACK IS TO GET THE KNIFE OUT OF THE WAY!'

At first glance this sounds like good advice until you realize that you might well get 'cut or killed' and such tactics should only be undertaken by an expert or a policeman who is more apt ot shoot an attacker than disarm him. More can be said on this.

'LET ME GIVE YOU A SHOT OF KI!'

Dosages of the KI,CHI,ETC. by aikido and other martial arts practitioners can be 'dangerous' and lead to unforseen consequences, particulary when done by instructors and masters on female practitioners! Believers in this 'energy' type, this psychic force or whatever abound and only a few can make it work effectively, which means in most cases they have a great knowledge of LEVERAGE especially and sometimes the 'stunts' and 'tests' and 'demos' of this work and sometimes they don't. It depends on many factors.

'IF I WAS TO HIT THE BACK OF YOUR NECK WITH THE EDGE OF MY HAND....'

This was usually said to impress people and to indicate that their stint in Japan or elsewhere was not all spent in bars and nightclubs,etc. as they struck the table(s) with the edge of their hand(little finger side in a shuto) usually in bars at that, after a few drinks and questions about if they had studied karate or martial arts and they didn't want to lose face, so-to-speak,especially in front of girls.

''GET OUT OF HERE WITH YOUR SISSY KARATE!"

No, this is not what Count Dante, John Keehan, said to attackers,though he did think ordinary karate methods and training were for sissies. This was said at times by actual 'masters' and 'instructors'etc. to those who had studied some other style other than the one being taught or shown and the more aggressive ones followed up with kicks and punches and knockouts!

'MY HANDS ARE REGISTERED!'

This statement is like the previous one but is issued by the person who makes the claim for reasons to either stop a fight and warn off attackers or simply to impress by standers,etc. among others.

'YOU HAVE TO REGISTER YOUR HANDS!'

In the early days of karate in the US this statement was often made by people for various reasons and taken to be an indication of karate's 'deadliness'etc. The rumor is still around but the fact is that use of the hands and feet can have legal consequences,more so today, when employed in fights or self-defense.

'HOW HIGH CAN YOU KICK?'

This question arises when people, influenced by movies and TV,etc. find out you know something about martial arts of some kind,which I do not think they ask ballet stars or dancers,etc. the same thing, but martial artists are singled out for this inquiry because kicking, especially the spectacular kind that demands extreme agility and flexibility as well as coordination, is associated in their minds with martial arts, possibly the endall/beall of such. Bruce Lee is taken as model for you to emulate as well. As every martial arts person and fighter knows high kicks do not insure winning any fights or battles except perhaps in movies scripts. Kicking the air is one thing and kicking a person is another.

'HE KNOWS KARATE!' HE KNOWS JUDO, AIKIDO, KUNGFU!'

This sort of statement was always issued by admirers of the person who assumed a 'karate' or 'kungfu' stance or bellowed a 'kiai' of sorts or for an effect to 'scare off' attackers of would be belligerants,etc. In some situations, like dark alleys, 'the person who knows karate' goes first with others following on tiptoes.

'DO SOME KNUCKLE PUSHUPS-MY COUNT!"

This 'disciplinary' action was imposed on neophytes and beginners, many of whom were forbidden to wear the white belt until they had 'earned it', because of 'serious' infractions in dojo protocol(s) and to tougthen them up and also to allow time for some instructors of these deadly arts to think of what to teach or do next,especially if they did not have much experience or knowledge and ability. The foreknuckles of the closed fists were also being developed in this process which tended to justify nearly each and every opportunity to improve and develop the beginners. Other methods existed as well to achieve some of this.

"WAIT UNTIL I TAKE OFF MY SHOES...!"

'ALL YOU REALLY NEED IS THE FRONT SNAP KICK AND THE REVERSE PUNCH"

'I LOVE TO SIT IN SEIZA!"

THE OPEN FIST & THE CLOSED PALM: ANECDOTES OF THE DOJO

These are things that I have heard around the DOJOS and other training places,like bars and gyms,etc. These things will not be attributed for the most part to the persons or people who said them nor in any real degree of accuracy per se but as I recall them strictly from memory. I welcome comments on any and all of them.