...so take a peek & see what you think. (Thanks, Karatechick on twitter.com)
Enjoy - http://adjix.com/p5hr
Sayonara,
Dan
Oom Yung Doe School Flags
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Mrs. T Gets a Black Belt...
Our longest-term student got her black belt today.
The ceremony is a combination of fun, joyful, and respectful all at the same time. I won't give too many details about the ceremony itself, except to say that there is kneeling, bowing, and hand-shaking galore.
There were 13 other black belts of our art there, all coming from different schools. Some were the heads of their own schools. (This includes our Sensei.) Sensei's Master was there as the highest-ranked teacher in the local branches of our art, Isshin Shorinji Ryu Okinawa Te.
Mrs. T's family and many friends were also present, and I think there might have been as many as 80 people in the room.
I tried to get all the guys in our class to lay at her feet in knocked-out poses for a picture after, but no one was game enough - lol.
It was very cool, and I am most happy for her. A great day.
I'll be back in class in early January, so I'll not likely post much between now and then.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanuka, and Happy Kwanzaa -
Sayonara, and thanks for reading.
Dan
The ceremony is a combination of fun, joyful, and respectful all at the same time. I won't give too many details about the ceremony itself, except to say that there is kneeling, bowing, and hand-shaking galore.
There were 13 other black belts of our art there, all coming from different schools. Some were the heads of their own schools. (This includes our Sensei.) Sensei's Master was there as the highest-ranked teacher in the local branches of our art, Isshin Shorinji Ryu Okinawa Te.
Mrs. T's family and many friends were also present, and I think there might have been as many as 80 people in the room.
I tried to get all the guys in our class to lay at her feet in knocked-out poses for a picture after, but no one was game enough - lol.
It was very cool, and I am most happy for her. A great day.
I'll be back in class in early January, so I'll not likely post much between now and then.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanuka, and Happy Kwanzaa -
Sayonara, and thanks for reading.
Dan
Monday, December 1, 2008
YMCA Membership Foibles Continued...
...but not for long. I'm all set to re-up on January 2nd - I would have done it today, but I didn't want to get in the same situation next year where my membership will expire prior to the last class session of the year and cause me to miss the last six weeks of Karate in 2009.
I just spoke to Sensei on the phone and he is well aware of the issues.
Sayonara,
Dan
I just spoke to Sensei on the phone and he is well aware of the issues.
Sayonara,
Dan
Friday, November 21, 2008
No class tonight...
...there was no class tonight, as I've started just going Tuesdays now. Also, there are no classes next week due to the holiday. (U.S. Thanksgiving)
I'll report back the week after Thanksgiving unless I find something cool to post.
Sayonara,
Dan
I'll report back the week after Thanksgiving unless I find something cool to post.
Sayonara,
Dan
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Great class, bag techniques...
...I got there a bit early, got a chance to talk to Sensei. I explained what I'm planning for my membership, so I will be going just on Tuesdays for the time being.
We started tonight with kata, and I was helping one of the new white belts perfect the first form, Takeoko Kai Ichei. He was reaching too far for his punches, for one thing, but he's doing better now.
After kata, we did bag techniques. We started with freestyle 30-seconds hand and foot techniques, then just feet, then just hands.
The final twenty minutes was sparring.
No classes next week due to Thanksgiving - I'll practice at home.
Sayonara,
Dan
We started tonight with kata, and I was helping one of the new white belts perfect the first form, Takeoko Kai Ichei. He was reaching too far for his punches, for one thing, but he's doing better now.
After kata, we did bag techniques. We started with freestyle 30-seconds hand and foot techniques, then just feet, then just hands.
The final twenty minutes was sparring.
No classes next week due to Thanksgiving - I'll practice at home.
Sayonara,
Dan
YMCA Membership Options...or, "Kata In Crisis."
There are several options, but for the time being, it looks like a "program-only" membership is the route I'll go. That runs $54.00 for the year, but the class session costs are double. Instead of $23.00 every six weeks, it will be $43.00 . Still, that beats not being able to go.
I was starting to get a bit anxious about how I was going to continue. The full adult-individual membership is $516.00 per year this year, going to $556.00 per year in January. There's just no way.
Sayonara,
Dan
I was starting to get a bit anxious about how I was going to continue. The full adult-individual membership is $516.00 per year this year, going to $556.00 per year in January. There's just no way.
Sayonara,
Dan
Thursday, November 13, 2008
A Wonderful Class...
...which I have greatly missed these past couple of weeks. It seems like it's been a month.
I will say this here and now: My Sensei is a kind and generous man. I will not discuss details, but I also will never forget.
Class has a bit of a new structure now. We come in at 7:30pm and joing the second half of the beginner's class, and help them work on various techniques at Sensei's discretion.
After the beginner class bows out at 8:00, we bow in for our class.
Tonight, we started with kata, and Sensei broke a few of us back in with Takeoko Kai Ichei before going into Takeoko Kai Shii and Go. (Takeoko Kai 1,4,5 resprectively.)
At that point I had to stay with Takeoko Kai Shii, because I hadn't started learning Takeoko Kai Go yet. After a couple of rounds, he had one of the other yellow belts a bit futher along than I show me the first half of Go tonight.
After kata, Sensei had us doing eight-point soft blocks and 14-point hard blocks, but with a twist, literally. During the soft blocks, we had to turn in place after each block, one turn for each move. Following that, we had to SPEED DRILL the same thing - blocking and turning as quickly as we could.
Next, he had us go through the 14-point hard blocks with our eyes closed, then speed drill with our eyes closed, then speed drill and turn-per-move with our eyes closed.
That was the first half hour.
The second half hour was all sparring, free style two-minute rounds.
I almost forgot - Sensei & two advanced students used bat-pads (literally like square-padded baseball bats) at the end of the beginner sesssion, and had us all use our hard and soft blocks to block pokes and swings with the bats.
Quite an interesting class.
Sayonara,
Dan
I will say this here and now: My Sensei is a kind and generous man. I will not discuss details, but I also will never forget.
Class has a bit of a new structure now. We come in at 7:30pm and joing the second half of the beginner's class, and help them work on various techniques at Sensei's discretion.
After the beginner class bows out at 8:00, we bow in for our class.
Tonight, we started with kata, and Sensei broke a few of us back in with Takeoko Kai Ichei before going into Takeoko Kai Shii and Go. (Takeoko Kai 1,4,5 resprectively.)
At that point I had to stay with Takeoko Kai Shii, because I hadn't started learning Takeoko Kai Go yet. After a couple of rounds, he had one of the other yellow belts a bit futher along than I show me the first half of Go tonight.
After kata, Sensei had us doing eight-point soft blocks and 14-point hard blocks, but with a twist, literally. During the soft blocks, we had to turn in place after each block, one turn for each move. Following that, we had to SPEED DRILL the same thing - blocking and turning as quickly as we could.
Next, he had us go through the 14-point hard blocks with our eyes closed, then speed drill with our eyes closed, then speed drill and turn-per-move with our eyes closed.
That was the first half hour.
The second half hour was all sparring, free style two-minute rounds.
I almost forgot - Sensei & two advanced students used bat-pads (literally like square-padded baseball bats) at the end of the beginner sesssion, and had us all use our hard and soft blocks to block pokes and swings with the bats.
Quite an interesting class.
Sayonara,
Dan
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Just watched "Forbidden Kingdom"...
...with Jackie Chan & Jet Li. That was a completely fun movie, even my wife liked it. The cinematography was great, though not quite on par with "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" or "House Of Flying Daggers." Still, it was way up there for Kung Fu movies. I liked what they said, good musicians or poets have their own form of Kung Fu. (I do a bit of both)
I really think the spirit is the deepest part of everything. Set your mind right, and the limits can be gradually...dissolved. Like water eroding rock, practice brings your spirit into alignment with the source skills of the endeavor by aligning your inner energy with it. Call it Chi if you will, but there is more to it than meets the eye - or the feet and fists.
Sayonara,
Dan
I really think the spirit is the deepest part of everything. Set your mind right, and the limits can be gradually...dissolved. Like water eroding rock, practice brings your spirit into alignment with the source skills of the endeavor by aligning your inner energy with it. Call it Chi if you will, but there is more to it than meets the eye - or the feet and fists.
Sayonara,
Dan
The Fun With My YMCA Membership
Well, part of learning karate at the YMCA is keeping your membership up to date. Finances are kicking me as hard as a flying side kick of late, just like much of the rest of the country.
I'm trying to figure out how to renew my membership, which expires in late November. Since my membership is ending before the class registration would, the YMCA is not letting me register for the current class session.
Sensei will let me attend one class this coming week while I try to get the mess addressed, and I will update here once I know.
Part of the issue is, will I re-up my Y membership as family, or individual. We've had family the whole last year, but only I have really used it. This means, of course, discussion with my lovely wife, which can take a bit of time to sort out.
Kiai! I want to fix this last week! But it will have to wait until Friday at the earliest.
Sayonara & wish me luck.
Dan
I'm trying to figure out how to renew my membership, which expires in late November. Since my membership is ending before the class registration would, the YMCA is not letting me register for the current class session.
Sensei will let me attend one class this coming week while I try to get the mess addressed, and I will update here once I know.
Part of the issue is, will I re-up my Y membership as family, or individual. We've had family the whole last year, but only I have really used it. This means, of course, discussion with my lovely wife, which can take a bit of time to sort out.
Kiai! I want to fix this last week! But it will have to wait until Friday at the earliest.
Sayonara & wish me luck.
Dan
Friday, October 24, 2008
What A Workout!
Tonight, we sparred almost the entire class. We did do kata a couple of times, in our sparring gear. THAT was different. Some of the sparring we had three or four people to one, three-way fights, etc. A very unusual class and very washagi. One interesting thing that happened when I was sparring with a brown belt - I caught one of her kicks. I COULD have flipped her over, but I didn't. *grin*
Sayonara,
Dan
Sayonara,
Dan
Thursday, October 2, 2008
I'm pretty much stuck at the same level right now
I've been working on Takeoko Kai Shii for weeks, but the thrust kicks are still kickin' my butt.
It doesn't help that we had a three week hiatus due to construction at the YMCA, either. That was the last two weeks of August & the first week of September.
There really hasn't been much new to report other than we practiced katas and sparred. A few new students, which is to be expected.
Sensei's teacher is coming to visit on December 6th as we have our highest ranked student being hopefully promoted to black belt that day.
I will try to get here more regularly after classes while I'm fresh, but I don't want to get too monotonous, either.
One new thing I just learned Tuesday, however, was the reverse crescent kick. Not too easy to do.
Sensei also had us practice a rear-leg roundhouse kick followed immediately by a side kick. That is one very tough combo to execute.
Sayonara,
Dan
It doesn't help that we had a three week hiatus due to construction at the YMCA, either. That was the last two weeks of August & the first week of September.
There really hasn't been much new to report other than we practiced katas and sparred. A few new students, which is to be expected.
Sensei's teacher is coming to visit on December 6th as we have our highest ranked student being hopefully promoted to black belt that day.
I will try to get here more regularly after classes while I'm fresh, but I don't want to get too monotonous, either.
One new thing I just learned Tuesday, however, was the reverse crescent kick. Not too easy to do.
Sensei also had us practice a rear-leg roundhouse kick followed immediately by a side kick. That is one very tough combo to execute.
Sayonara,
Dan
Friday, August 15, 2008
Still Sticking On That Kata...
...I am really having a tough time with this one, although I do find incremental improvement.
I've had about three sparring sessions since the last post, the first and second of which I really learned some lessons.
The earliest, I was sparring with one of the guys my age, and we kept jamming each others' kicks shin-to-shin, neither wearing shin guards. I think both of us were pretty bruised up.
The second to last, I was sparring with a gal about half my weight, another yellow belt who started a day after I did, so my peer in class rank. We jammed kicks, and her other foot slipped out from under her, and she fell really hard. I stopped right away and went to help her up, but she hit the floor hard enough that she was just lying there crying. (Later we found out she slammed her elbow / funny bone on the floor) I was scared she'd hit her head even with the padded helmet. That fall was hard and very fast.
I felt like crap, but it really wasn't my fault or hers, she slipped on the under-strap of her foot guard. All I could do was apologize, but even she said it wasn't my fault. I was just glad she was ok in the end. She's a good sport. We were both leery of sparring each other last night, but thankfully no more mis-haps.
Last night during sparring, I had to spar Sensei - I actually scored a couple of points, a first for me. I also sparred just about everyone in class, including two young yellow-green belts a third my size/weight and one rank higher than me. Those kids did a great job, at that size they are lightning-quick. I saw one of them walking out with his Mom at the end of the evening, and I told her she should be proud of her son, because he almost kicked my butt in class. LOL - in Karate that can be very literal...
We are now going on a three-week break due to construction projects and floor-refinishing at the YMCA.
I'll have to practice on my own at home. I'll let you know how it goes.
Sayonara,
Dan
I've had about three sparring sessions since the last post, the first and second of which I really learned some lessons.
The earliest, I was sparring with one of the guys my age, and we kept jamming each others' kicks shin-to-shin, neither wearing shin guards. I think both of us were pretty bruised up.
The second to last, I was sparring with a gal about half my weight, another yellow belt who started a day after I did, so my peer in class rank. We jammed kicks, and her other foot slipped out from under her, and she fell really hard. I stopped right away and went to help her up, but she hit the floor hard enough that she was just lying there crying. (Later we found out she slammed her elbow / funny bone on the floor) I was scared she'd hit her head even with the padded helmet. That fall was hard and very fast.
I felt like crap, but it really wasn't my fault or hers, she slipped on the under-strap of her foot guard. All I could do was apologize, but even she said it wasn't my fault. I was just glad she was ok in the end. She's a good sport. We were both leery of sparring each other last night, but thankfully no more mis-haps.
Last night during sparring, I had to spar Sensei - I actually scored a couple of points, a first for me. I also sparred just about everyone in class, including two young yellow-green belts a third my size/weight and one rank higher than me. Those kids did a great job, at that size they are lightning-quick. I saw one of them walking out with his Mom at the end of the evening, and I told her she should be proud of her son, because he almost kicked my butt in class. LOL - in Karate that can be very literal...
We are now going on a three-week break due to construction projects and floor-refinishing at the YMCA.
I'll have to practice on my own at home. I'll let you know how it goes.
Sayonara,
Dan
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Still Thrusting For That Kick...
...and it's been a bit elusive. I've got the general pattern of Takeo Ko Kai Shi down, but am perfecting execution as yet. Sensei & our new Brown Belt evaluated myself and one other Yellow Belt in class Tuesday, and the consensus is that we are not yet ready to move on to the next kata, neither of us. I agree.
The prior Thursday, we had sparring, and I learned the value of shin guards, which I do not have yet. Myself and another gentleman my age were sparring and jamming each others' kicks, and both of us were bruised up around the shins.
I'm up to about 55 on squat thrusts, which is an improvement.
My weight has plateaued or dropped by a pound, so not too bad. I'm holding at either 320 or 314, depending on if I use our home scale or the medical scale at the YMCA, respectively. That beats gaining in my book.
I have to also say that the extra leg strength is helping ease the arthritis pain in my knees. At 46, I've got a bit of that going on, and Dad tells me it runs in the family. I'm hoping I can take more weight off and reduce both low-level, whole-body inflammatory response, and also weight strain on the joints.
I need to figure out how to get a bit more aerobic exercise in on non-class days. Either that or calesthetics, or a mix of both. I'll work on that and report back later.
A side note, my wife and I watched Step Up 2 The Streets this past weekend. I love that Stepper dancing, but it is way beyond anything I did even back in the Disco / Soul era. I used to love dancing, but I'm not sure I could handle anything like that even if I were in perfect shape at this age. Wow.
Still, even getting back to a little Disco in the basement wouldn't be bad.
Sayonara,
Dan
The prior Thursday, we had sparring, and I learned the value of shin guards, which I do not have yet. Myself and another gentleman my age were sparring and jamming each others' kicks, and both of us were bruised up around the shins.
I'm up to about 55 on squat thrusts, which is an improvement.
My weight has plateaued or dropped by a pound, so not too bad. I'm holding at either 320 or 314, depending on if I use our home scale or the medical scale at the YMCA, respectively. That beats gaining in my book.
I have to also say that the extra leg strength is helping ease the arthritis pain in my knees. At 46, I've got a bit of that going on, and Dad tells me it runs in the family. I'm hoping I can take more weight off and reduce both low-level, whole-body inflammatory response, and also weight strain on the joints.
I need to figure out how to get a bit more aerobic exercise in on non-class days. Either that or calesthetics, or a mix of both. I'll work on that and report back later.
A side note, my wife and I watched Step Up 2 The Streets this past weekend. I love that Stepper dancing, but it is way beyond anything I did even back in the Disco / Soul era. I used to love dancing, but I'm not sure I could handle anything like that even if I were in perfect shape at this age. Wow.
Still, even getting back to a little Disco in the basement wouldn't be bad.
Sayonara,
Dan
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Rain-out...
Class was canceled Thursday night after rough weather moved into the area. We were all there & in uniform, but things got ugly up above, and there was a tornado that took out the high school back in 1990. Several teachers & students were killed. I think Sensei must have been in town back then. He sent us all home.
Safety first -
Sayonara,
Dan
Safety first -
Sayonara,
Dan
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
I've Been Chasing That Takeo Ko Kai...
Squat thrusts and practice, this one is a tough one to master.
Last week Tuesday, we did kata for the first two thirds of class and sparring the last third. I wasn't at my best in sparring, but so be it.
Thursday, I was out of class for another commitment.
Last night was about 15 minutes of kata followed by sparring the rest of the class. It was one great heavy-duty workout. For the first half of sparring, we were one-on-one, but the rest of the time we were two-on-one. I did really well because of my reach.
Definitely washagi.
Sayonara,
Dan
Last week Tuesday, we did kata for the first two thirds of class and sparring the last third. I wasn't at my best in sparring, but so be it.
Thursday, I was out of class for another commitment.
Last night was about 15 minutes of kata followed by sparring the rest of the class. It was one great heavy-duty workout. For the first half of sparring, we were one-on-one, but the rest of the time we were two-on-one. I did really well because of my reach.
Definitely washagi.
Sayonara,
Dan
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Perfecting The Form...
Practice, practice, practice. We did kata until we couldn't do kata anymore last night. Takeoko Kai Shii again and again. After which we practiced kicks. Roundhouse, front, side, and lunge punches.
It was physically challenging, but I feel like I'm getting a little better at it.
Sayonara,
Dan
It was physically challenging, but I feel like I'm getting a little better at it.
Sayonara,
Dan
Friday, June 20, 2008
Lunge Punches & The "Push" Kata
Thursday night class was good, a strong work out. We warmed up with Takeo Ko Kai Shii, which is all about thrust kicks. This kata really strengthens the legs and core muscles, but it is very difficult at first. I'm starting to get a little better at it, but have quite a way to go.
I also led the class in Empi Kata, which is all elbow strikes. I'm getting better at that, too, but it still unnerves me a bit to lead the class. Ahh, practice. I'll get over that eventually.
We also practiced lunge punches, which is stepping into a long zenkutsu dachi and using body torque to push through a "reaching" punch.
Following that, we practiced roundhouse and front kicks both on the bar and across the room.
We finished out the class practicing side and front kicks on the large wavemaster.
Definitely a sweat class, or "washagi."
Sayonara,
Dan
I also led the class in Empi Kata, which is all elbow strikes. I'm getting better at that, too, but it still unnerves me a bit to lead the class. Ahh, practice. I'll get over that eventually.
We also practiced lunge punches, which is stepping into a long zenkutsu dachi and using body torque to push through a "reaching" punch.
Following that, we practiced roundhouse and front kicks both on the bar and across the room.
We finished out the class practicing side and front kicks on the large wavemaster.
Definitely a sweat class, or "washagi."
Sayonara,
Dan
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The Fifth Kata, Or, Rubber Legs...
Takeo Ko Kai Shii - this kata is quite different than the first three Takeo Ko Kai's. The stances and hand movements are quite different, and kicks are included for the first time.
The front kick and augmented block aren't too bad in this, but the forward thrust kick is a whole 'nother animule. It requires you to lean way back and slowly thrust forward with the ball of your foot, as if you were pushing a person away.
This is the reason that I am assigned squat thrusts for homework. Even Sensei says this is one of the two most difficult katas to master.
I am reminding myself that these katas are also designed to strengthen your body to be able to perform the techniques, not just teach the techniques. This principle is stated in the Complete Idiot's Guide To Karate linked below, and Sensei also said the same thing in class today.
Practice, practice, practice.
Sayonara,
Dan
The front kick and augmented block aren't too bad in this, but the forward thrust kick is a whole 'nother animule. It requires you to lean way back and slowly thrust forward with the ball of your foot, as if you were pushing a person away.
This is the reason that I am assigned squat thrusts for homework. Even Sensei says this is one of the two most difficult katas to master.
I am reminding myself that these katas are also designed to strengthen your body to be able to perform the techniques, not just teach the techniques. This principle is stated in the Complete Idiot's Guide To Karate linked below, and Sensei also said the same thing in class today.
Practice, practice, practice.
Sayonara,
Dan
Monday, June 16, 2008
The Complete Idiot's Guide To Karate
I'm finding this book to be a great beginners' resource for class. It explains A LOT.
Authors: Randall G. Hassell & Edmund Otis
ISBN 0-02-863832-8
Sayonara,
Dan
Authors: Randall G. Hassell & Edmund Otis
ISBN 0-02-863832-8
|
Sayonara,
Dan
The Philosophy That Goes with Karate...
I keep hearing about philosophic concepts that go with Karate, that it isn't just about fighting and the body. I'm interested in resources that speak on this aspect of the art.
Anyone that might have a good link or two, please comment.
Thank you, and sayonara.
Dan
Anyone that might have a good link or two, please comment.
Thank you, and sayonara.
Dan
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