Karate Kids Kick at Demonstration

A small group of my students from our Dojo (Tai Crane Karate) did a Karate Demonstration at Mayberry Park's Summer Concert in the Park and was a great success. Students are learning well. This is one way of observing whether students are learning and training at a competent level or whether their Sensei is teaching them correctly. So far so good.

I applaud all my students and their parents for doing a great job! Most, if not all, Parents attended with great enthusiasm.

The Dark Knight: Batman Made His Choice, or Did He?

Batman was my favorite DC hero as a child. A hero that, as children, we fantasized being and roll played with friends and siblings. Superman didn’t do much for me. Speed racer was the guy I loved as a kid, but Batman hit something deeper, at the core.

My brother and I had a very thick encyclopedia of DC super heroes that sketched, in cartoon, how and why they become who they are: heroes. I don’t know if that book is around, but as a kid it allowed us to understand a hero and to identify with one or more. Batman was my guy in this book.

The new release of the “Dark Knight” was a solid philosophical return to why Batman is who he is: a dark hero. It was no surprise, but it was great to see it played out for people to meditate on. I didn’t quite pay attention to the chronology of these movies and or whether this was an early story of his cape career. However, I believe he made the underlining philosophical choice earlier then this movie cut.

The decision was made at the point of his tragedy. He later came to a realization who he really is, what he must do, how and the balance he maintains within himself.

In the movie, Bruce Wayne says: People are dying, Alfred. What would you have me do?

Alfred Pennyworth replied: Endure, Master Wayne. Take it. He'll hate you for it. But that's the point of Batman, he can be the outcast. He can make the choice that no one else can make, the right choice.

I believe that there is more here. Batman realizes who he is and what he can’t be (especially to others). The realization that he is both Dark and light. In this realization, he knows that he must be, at time and in perception, Dark and only he and a few know the intensity of his light. Esoteric Budo, Taoist at heart.

Batman is forged fudoshin.

Film: "Tabarly" - Magnificent! Score by Yann Tiersen

Tabarly - bande annonce
Uploaded by -Addison-

A Legend and an extraordinary adventurer. I'm in awe of people like Tabarly who make adventure (sailing) a full time occupation, immerse their whole being in it, and are free in doing so.. When you see and hear this man, his soul speaks to you.

"For the 10th anniversary of Eric Tabarly's death, a famous skipper from Brittany (Northwest of France), the director Pierre Marcel and Galatée Film release a biography of this unsurpassed sailor on June, 11. Galatée Film did not hesitate at all to suggest another exceptional Breton (from Brittany), i.e. Yann Tiersen to compose the soundtrack of this outstanding film. As usual, Yann Tiersen did not just make a music that illustrate the film, but he made a full-fledged, independent, personal and powerful music. Yann made an instrumental music that gives pride of place to the piano and to the intimist melodies which will delight his biggest fans. This record is a kind of bridge in the artist's evolution, from his first loves to his new folk trend. Under this peacefull, mastered and warm movie soundtrack, lies actually a new allbum. After Eric Zonca's « la vie rêvée des anges » , « Amélie from Montmartre » and « Goodbye Lenin », Yann Tiersen composed his fourth soundtrack and as the previous films, it is a safe bet that it will be a success! The record has been initially made for vinyl and the mastering has been made from this vinyl. The sound is therefore warm and powerful."

http://www.myspace.com/yanntierseninprogress

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From Wikipedia:

Eric Tabarly's boat Pen Duick II in Port Haliguen.Éric Tabarly (July 24, 1931 in Nantes – June 14, 1998) was a notable French sailor.

A former officer in the French navy who is often considered the father of French yachting, Tabarly was a record-setting distance sailor who won several notable races aboard his boats, all named Pen Duick. He was lost at sea when struck by a gaff during heavy swell and knocked overboard from his yacht near Wales while on his way to the Fife Regatta in Scotland. His body was recovered five weeks later off the coast of Ireland by a French fishing trawler.

Hiking and Camping at Little Harbor was Paradise!

Little Habor, Catalina (Hike-in). Paradise! My "Moon's, California Camping", book was right and then more. It's rated a 10 and exceeded all, if any, expectations.

I arrived through Two Harbors which is a beautiful little harbor and pier. The people were very pleasant. I had a bite to eat at the little restaurant. The Kobe hamburger was killer!

When entering the Little Harbor, the little harbor ocean view opened up beautifully. Amazing place with fantastic and grand views. It has everything, swimming, hiking, kayaking, fishing, and other naturalist thing to do.

There is just too much to mention. Ranger Gilligan is the Ranger for this site as well (Blackjack). Again, the coolest down to earth guy you can BS with and he is very informative and helpful.