For those of you used to seeing my bald Chinese Monk side, here’s my top-knotted Japanese Ronin side. This my real hair now (mullets RULE!!) and my tribute to my hero, Toshiro (not to mention Belushi!) Welcome to October and Happy Halloween!
http://store.yahoo.com/martialartsmart/samuraiwarrior.html
Gene Ching
Asst. Publisher
Kungfu Qigong Magazine & www.KUNGFUmagazine.com
you are my hero!
hey brother,
wow…you make a great samurai!
laterz,
dieter
Samurai Kungfu?
Uh, like Shaolin Ninjitsu? or Japanese Shaolin?
..
My dictionary says a mullet is an edible fish.
You have fish in your hair?
“A wish to go to Heaven is the very beginning of falling into Hell.”
Ahhh, the things we do for money eh Gene? hahahaha,We’re have to start a new nick name besides “The General” for you.
Something like “Gene Ching - Man of a Thousand Faces” (any similarity to Lon chaney or the estate of Lon Chaney and all its holdings not intended) 
peace
Kung Lek
Gene, you set new levels for ridiculousness. How will I ever reach such high levels? I must train!
“She ain’t got no muscles in her teeth.”
“Gene Ching - Man of a Thousand Faces”
please tell me that’s not you in the “sexy ninja” outfit, too.
Merciless is Mercy.
D@mmit man I nearly sh@t myself laughing.
cxxx:::::::::::>
You’re fu(king up my chi
Nice look!!! 
“Bruce Leroy. That’s who!”
You and watchman should meet and compare mullets 
Free thinkers are dangerous!
mullets and topknots rule
I actually studied Kendo, Iaido and Battojitsu many years ago, but I had to cheat and look in my books to remember how to tie into that gear properly. Alas, my ronin days were great fun. I miss that art.
kung lek - I should ask for a bonus for my great modelling skill, eh? yeah, right.
stumblefist - don’t you try to eat my hair…
lyle - you ain’t seen nuthin yet…
daniel madar - We’ve already had requests for the sexy ninja poster. Needless to say, the rest of us models are disappointed. The sexy ninja works here and I’ll let you know if we make that poster…
Gene Ching
Asst. Publisher
Kungfu Qigong Magazine & www.KUNGFUmagazine.com
25 year old thread necromancy…
Health09 September 2025
ByDavid Nield
[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://www.sciencealert.com/images/2025/09/samurai_armor_header-642x260.jpg”}[/IMG2](Yuji Ozeki/Getty Images Plus)
Ancient Japanese samurai were warriors of distinction, with a reputation for discipline and mastery of precision. Their deliberate and composed approach to movement could be an effective strength training method for elderly individuals.
A randomized controlled trial by researchers from Tohoku University in Japan shows the daily practice of Rei-ho – a mindful practice of physical etiquette involving slow and careful sitting, standing, and walking movements – can boost strength in the knees, potentially protecting seniors against falls and injuries.
It’s easy to do, requires no equipment, and takes just five minutes a day to see the effects.
Related: Brain Boost Linked to Exercise Can Last Several Years, Scientists Find
“Knee extension strength – the force used to straighten knees – is a key measure of mobility and daily functioning,” says exercise physiologist Ayaka Ogasawara. “These exciting results suggest that Rei-ho may help seniors maintain their independence.”
The researchers recruited 34 healthy adults aged over 20 with no experience in Rei-ho, and split them into two groups. One group was instructed to continue their daily activities, while the other was asked to spend five minutes following between 20 and 22 Rei-ho squats and sit-to-stand exercises once a day, four days a week. [IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://www.sciencealert.com/images/2025/09/StudyExercises.jpg”}[/IMG2] Typical sitting and standing motions (b and d), compared with body positions in Rei-ho (a and c). (Ogasawara et al., Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2025)
After three months of Rei-ho, the group using the exercises showed an average 25.9 percent increase in knee extension strength, compared to an increase of just 2.5 percent in the control group – a significant difference in a short space of time.
While the volunteers involved in the study weren’t seniors, the researchers speculate that older individuals may benefit most from the findings.
“In recent years, the decline in muscle strength and physical fitness has become a significant public health concern,” write the researchers in their published paper.
“Muscle strength naturally diminishes with age, often leading to conditions such as sarcopenia and frailty.”
“This decline is further aggravated by the widespread prevalence of sedentary lifestyles. Importantly, the reduction in strength tends to be more pronounced in the lower limbs than in the upper limbs.”
Importantly, the exercise routine used in the research relies solely on the body’s own weight, and is slow and deliberate, reducing the risk of injury and common consequences of other exercises, such as increased blood pressure.
Though the number of people involved in the study was relatively small, and participants were trusted to perform the tasks without supervision, other studies have reached similar conclusions, and in older people.
This is far from the first time that traditional approaches to health have been shown to be beneficial – perhaps something to bear in mind in the fast-changing modern world, where much of our focus is on the future.
“We think it’s also valuable that those outside of Japan who want to try Rei-ho would also be able to experience a unique aspect of ancient Japanese tradition in addition to the health benefits,” says exercise physiologist Akira Sato.
The research has been published in the Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine.