Author Archives: benk8319

About benk8319

I practice a lot of martial arts, including Kempo Jujitsu; Tang Soo Do and occasionally Muay Thai. I'm also a working musician, playing bass; guitar and singing, and i study sociology and media. I like to voice my opinions only when they are justified ;)

Deus Ex: Why it’s the BEST GAME EVER


The previous two blogs have been regarding conspiracy theories – Illuminati; Men in Black and Majestic 12. Part of my new fascination with these things comes from The X Files; but really it was because of the game that took me 8 years … Continue reading

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Men In Black: Time To Get a Few Things Straight…


“Oh fucking hell, here we go again!” Well look, I’m bored to death of switching on my TV and having stories of tabloid phone hacking and witnessing back-bench celebrity nonces like Hugh Grant and Steve Coogan attempting to play Mr Morality; when … Continue reading

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Do the Illuminati Exist…?


“Oh shit, Ben’s been reading too far into conspiracy theories!” Yeah, I guess. But it’s bloody interesting. What else to do during an extended summer break? So to start off, I’ll give a moderately detailed overview of what the Illuminati is all about, … Continue reading

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HORROR REMAKES: Ones to Watch; and Ones to Avoid Like a Bad Horror Remake…


So it would seem that Hollywood has finally ran out of ideas in the horror department! Remakes are a 10 a penny phenomenon nowadays, and many horror film aficonados such as myself often get pissed off when we hear that some unknown director … Continue reading

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POWER RANGERS: the top 10 best Rangers of all time


So I live in England. And as is customary in England, every decent franchise from America and/or New Zealand comes to our general awareness a year late. The same naturally goes for my doseage of Power Rangers. If it were … Continue reading

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“Avoiding a McDojo: A Comprehensive Guide by Ben” Part 3: A Few Words on Kids in the Dojo


In my Jujitsu class, there are no kids. It is an adult class suitable for anyone aged 14 and up, with full contact sparring and an emphasis on self defence. That is the way that serious martial art clubs ought … Continue reading

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“Avoiding a McDojo: A Comprehensive Guide by Ben” Part 2: Signs and Signals


Is it the martial arts alone that give the student intergrity; concentration; perseverance; respect; obedience; self control; humility and an indomitable spirit? OR is it the teacher that helps the students develop skills that will last them a lifetime? The … Continue reading

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“Avoiding a McDojo: A Comprehensive Guide by Ben” Part 1: General Definition


“McDojo” is a term coined by western martial artists to describe a martial arts school (of any style) that teaches a watered down, impractical form of martial arts, simply for the money. McDojos and their instructors don’t care about you, or about helping … Continue reading

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The Best Martial Art?


I am 18 years of age and have been practicing the martial arts for about 13 years. I’ve been bullied; mugged in broad daylight; competed in local, national, european and world championships; and I own in excess of 110 martial arts … Continue reading

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