evergrey

Well, the thing to remember is that I was on the bench for about 8 months, and I'm recovering from surgery still. This is to get me started. The reps will lower and the weight will raise in not too long. I found myself reaching muscle exhaustion at the end of each set, especially near the end. So basically right now I'm wimpy. Especially upper body, heh! I certainly sweated a lot, and my muscles are sore, so that's a start, eh? We're still doing the trial and error thing here. And right now we're working on endurance, for sure, and the muscle will help support my back and my knees. I also have a LOT of weight I need to lose. We'll see how it goes. We might change it a lot more in the coming weeks.

Yeah, after how exhausted I was in class, we discussed, and he changed it to this: Warm up with light kihon, kata, and stretching (each workout) Monday - Legs & lower abdomen 3x24 Leg Press 3x24 Leg Curls 3x24 Leg Extensions 3x24 Hip Flexor machine (push outwards with legs) 3x24 thigh squeeze machine (pull inwards with legs) 3x10 slow Yoko geri 3x10 slow Mawashi geri 3x10 slow Mae geri Wednesday - Core 3x24 ab machine (seated bend forward) 3x24 reverse ab machine (seated lean back) 3x24 sideways crunches (2x40/side) 3x24 standard crunches 5x5-second Planks Friday - Upper body 3x24 Bench Press 3x24 Preacher Curls 3x24 Rows 3x24 dumbell Shrugs 3x24 butterfly machine (seated pectoral) 3x24 cable punches 3x24 dumbell flys 3x24 Dip machine 3x24 Chin up machine After workout routine (each workout) This is to allow for a cool down, and stretching 1 minute punches (light and easy - just throw them out there with no power) 1 minute of that days kicks (light and easy - just throw them out there with no power) Dynamic stretching Static stretching Note: Don't be afraid to add other exercises in. Much more sane I think.

Well, he wanted me to start on high reps, low weight, because I'm recovering from a couple injuries. I guess it's to improve stamina, and strengthen ligaments and joints. We're adjusting it though, as I've decided it is far too much, heh! What sucks is I ended up working out from 2:30am until 4am last night, then went to class that evening still exhausted. And then of course they decided to test me for my green belt. :/ But he wants to lower the amount of reps as I add weight. Meh. It's gonna get changed for sure.

Yes, but thankfully not very hard. I just coughed a bit and said "hoi! focus! Control! Aim!" White belts are so cute when they're mortified.

Nice. The final destination for most exercise machines. Drying or storing clothes. I wonder if makiwara were ever used for similar things on old Okinawa? LOL! I bet it sometimes was!

My weight routine, laid out by Sensei: Warm up with light kihon, kata, and stretching (each workout) Monday - Legs & lower abdomen 4x40 Bench Press 4x40 Preacher Curls 4x40 Rows 4x40 Leg Press 4x40 Leg Curls 4x40 Leg Extensions 4x40 Hip Flexor machine (push outwards with legs) 4x40 thigh squeeze machine (pull inwards with legs) 10x10 slow Yoko geri 4x40 Other exercise machine dealing with legs (just to add variety) Wednesday - Core 4x40 Bench Press 4X40 Preacher Curls 4x40 Rows 4x40 ab machine (seated bend forward) 4x40 reverse ab machine (seated lean back) 4x40 sideways crunches 4x40 standard crunches 10x10second Planks 4x40 Other abdominal exercise (for variety) 10x10 slow Mawashi geri Friday - Upper body 4x40 Bench Press 4x40 Preacher Curls 4x40 Rows 4x40 dumbell Shrugs 4x40 butterfly machine (seated pectoral) 30 push ups 4x40 cable punches 4x40 dumbell flys 4x40 dumbell bent over fly 4x40 dumbell tricep extensions 4x40 Dip machine 4x40 Other upper body exercise (for variety) 10x10 Slow Mae geri After workout routine (each workout) This is to allow for a cool down, and stretching 1 minute punches (light and easy - just throw them out there with no power) 1 minute of that days kicks (light and easy - just throw them out there with no power) Dynamic stretching Static stretching ... I'm gonna die, hahaha!

Thanks, this is useful stuff! And I love training with LEOs, by the way... so much useful information you get to glean, and so many reality checks, too! Like no man, no, do not try to run up and kick the gun out of the guy's hand, what are you thinking?? Heh.

Yeah, logically I know mouthguards are a good idea. And normally we use them. And normally we don't strike the head or face without them and gloves. But not that day, heh!

Haha Dobbersky, that's awesome! "I... MEANT to do that..." *serious, dignified voice*

Haha yes, pretty much. As a side note, I ended up peeing a little blood after open sparring yesterday. OH NOES!

OSU! This post is not about punching and kicking. It is not about kata or kihon or kumite. But you know what? It's important. It's more important. I want you to read it. You, right there. This might not be something you're living with. It might not be something you have lived with. But there's someone you know who has. Maybe they are right now. Maybe you are right now. So I'm going to show this to you. Please read it. And do me a favor. Re-post it. Pass it along. Credit me if you want, but that's not even all that important. Just get it out there. I wrote it in 2003. I will add some thoughts to the bottom of it, from today. This is about emotional abuse. Emotional abuse can be every bit as damaging as physical abuse. It can be a lot easier for people to ignore as well. Here you go: "In the past, several times, I found myself in pretty bad situations that no one should have to be in. I feel it is time for me to share a bit of what I learned, in the hopes that maybe it will help someone, somewhere, who is in a similar situation right now. Emotional abuse can cause damage, just as physical abuse can. In some ways, it is worse. It is a wounding of the spirit. And it is much harder to prove, to friends, to family, to protective services, and to oneself. By it's very nature, it erodes one's confidence in one's own thoughts and feelings, planting seeds of doubt and self-loathing. Usually, the abuser believes that they are in the right, and are doing nothing wrong. In an emotionally abusive situation, it is in fact not uncommon for the abuser to believe that they are a victim. I know I doubted myself, and a lot of people didn't believe that I was being abused. There are many warning signs that indicate an emotionally unhealthy or abusive relationship. I am listing below everything I can think of. I am by no means an expert, but I have lived it, and come to know many of the signs well. Some of these symptoms can indicate an unhealthy relationship, or one that needs a lot of work. If a lot of these are true, I would suggest seeking help, from friends, family, religious leaders, crisis counselors, or case workers. They don't all have to be true for it to be an abusive relationship. *Does the person often pick apart your behavior after a social event or hanging out with other people, pointing out all your faults and every way in which you behaved "unacceptably," no matter how trivial or innocent your words or actions were? *When you have a boundary that you feel you need to set, does the person a) accuse you of always wanting everything your way, when in fact you rarely get anything you want or need, and they get whatever they want? b) Seem to come up with a demand or rule to "get even?" c) Belittle your needs and desires, patronize you or make you feel stupid? *Do you feel that you can no longer hang out with your friends or do things on your own because they wouldn't approve? *Do they demand to know where you are and what you are doing at all times? Are they constantly suspicious of your actions? Do you feel guilty for having gone out with friends, even though you didn't do anything wrong? Are you often made to feel guilty enough that you do not hang out with your own friends, or go to events on your own? Do they interrogate you (and/or your friends) about exactly what you did and said, and with whom, when you went out? Do you feel like you have to make excuses for yourself when you go out, or call in constantly to tell them what you are doing and where you are? *Do they not let you get enough sleep, purposefully? *If you live with them, do they control when you can leave the house, or access to the house? i.e. do they take your shoes or refuse to give you keys? *Do they accuse you of doing things that you haven't done, but they have? Do they accuse you of having problems that you do not, but they have? (like drinking, cheating on them, always having to have your way?) *Do you find that you censor yourself because they might not approve of what you say or do? Do you find yourself doing this even when they are not there? *Do you dread going home, or wherever they are? *Do they yell at you or call you names? *Are they constantly whittling down your words, criticizing what you have to say, telling you what you feel and believe is invalid or wrong, or say things to make you feel stupid? *Do they promise that things will get better, but they never do? *Do they buy you things or pay for things to make up for problems in the relationship, and then get angry with you when things are not automatically better? When you have a problem that you want to work out with them, do they say something along the lines of "I pay the bills/buy you this stuff/pay the rent, isn't that good enough for you?" *Do they go out whenever they want, hang out with whoever they want, and do whatever they want, but not give you the same freedoms? *Do they make you feel like a failure? When you have a problem, and are sure it is something they did, or a behavior of theirs when you are apart from them, do they often turn it around on you and make you feel like it is all your fault? *Are you unhappy more often than you are happy when you are with them? *Are you afraid of them? *Do you feel like there is no hope? Do you feel suicidal? Do you feel like you can never do anything right for them, or that you cannot get away from them? *Do many nights spent with them end up with you crying, or curled up in a fetal position? Do many nights spent with them make you feel like hurting yourself? *Do you "shut down" when they are around? *If you want to do something like go out, or anything he doesn't approve of, does he threaten to do something destructive or self destructive? *Are you always giving things "just one more chance?" *Do they act really repentant, and things seem like they'll be better from now on, and then they go back to the way they were before, or worse? *Are you sacrificing yourself, your needs, and your life to them most of the time? *Do they open your mail without your permission? Do they read your e-mail without your permission? Go through your private belongings? *Do they behave in one way in public, and another way in private? Do you feel the need to hide the way they treat you to friends and family? *Do they use physical resources to control you? i.e. threaten to kick you out onto the street, not let you get medication you need, or otherwise make you depend on them so you have to do what they want? *Do they use pregnancy (by purposefully getting pregnant, or getting you pregnant,) to make you stay in the relationship? *Do you feel like they might physically hurt you, even if they haven't? *Do they control the way you look? Tell you what color or style your hair should be and what clothes you wear, even though you don't want to do it that way? Do you feel obligated to change yourself physically for them? *Do you often wish you could break up with them, but feel that you can't? *Do they blame you for not being exactly what they want? *Do you often find yourself believing that everything will get better if just one thing will happen, like moving in together, or the person getting a job, and then discover that it doesn't? *Do you feel obligated to remain in the relationship because they used to treat you well, even though they don't now? *Do you feel more often than not that you have to lay aside your own feelings and needs to support them, but that they never (or almost never) do such a thing for you? *Are they overly hypocritical in words and deeds? Are there a lot of double-standards in the relationship? *Do they often manipulate or force you into doing things that you are uncomfortable with, even when you tell them repeatedly that you don't want to do them? If the manage to make you do them, do you feel guilty or upset afterwards? *Do they often do careless things that put you in serious physical danger or injure you? *If there is something you do or are interested in, but they are not, do they do it and tell you how horrible it is that they have to do it, even though you told them they didn't have to, repeatedly? Do they use this to manipulate you and try to force you to do things you don't want to? I could probably go on at length, but these are a lot of signs of an abusive relationship. Like I said, it is doubtful they will ALL be true for any relationship, but if a good number of them are making you nod your head, please think about it, and seek wise counsel." The sad thing is that I fell into another abusive relationship after I wrote this. It's an easy pattern to fall into if it's a familiar one, and a hard pattern to break. Humans cling to the familiar, even if it is unhealthy, and fear the unknown. It is a part of our basic nature. Sometimes it can also be very demoralizing when someone who is being abused reaches out to friends and family and are rebuffed because their friends or family don't want to face the ugly truth. "I don't do DRAMA." Calling anything negative "drama" is a great way to invalidate someone's experiences and feelings, while absolving you of any duty to do anything for your friend or family member. Let me give you a hint. "OMG she wore the same DRESS as me, he wouldn't buy me that coach bag, she cut in FRONT of me in LINE" are all examples of drama. Drama is making a big deal out of something petty. Drama is trying to get attention by over-inflating something that is truly minor. "I'm scared I'm losing who I am. I'm afraid to speak. He tells me I'm worthless. I need help." This is NOT drama. This is a serious cry for help, and it should be TAKEN seriously. "You shouldn't talk about someone behind their back! That's dishonorable! I'm telling him what you've been saying!" This one happened to me. If a friend hadn't shown up when my abuser stormed into the house, I don't know what might have happened to me. I still ended up bleeding a lot. This is an atrocious betrayal of someone's confidence. If someone is reaching out for help because they are afraid for their life, don't run and tell their abuser! "Everyone has problems, stop being so negative!" Look, yes, negativity breeds negativity. But don't invalidate someone's honest, real problems. Everyone has problems, yes. And when people we care about reach out for help, we help each other. I'm not talking about enabling endless unhealthy cycles here... but if someone's trapped in an abuser's reality bubble, constantly doubting themself because their abuser is so convinced that everything is the victim's fault, and it's hard to stand up in the face of that kind of conviction... don't just chase them off because you can't be bothered. At least tell them, if you don't have it in you to help, where they can go to GET help instead of just dismissing what's wrong with them as being nothing. "Well you must have done something wrong to make him act like this!" Really? Blaming the victim much? Yes, there are two sides to every story. But if a relationship has degraded to this point, it's time for it to END. Okay listen. You. Yes you. The one who recognizes way too many of the items on that list up there. The one who is living this. I BELIEVE you. You're hurting. You feel like your world is getting smaller and smaller. You feel like the person you were is disappearing. You feel like there's no way out. There is. You are not along. You ARE strong enough to get out. You have to decide to, REALLY decide, because I cannot make that choice for you. No one can. But there's someone out there that can help. Look up battered women's shelters. Look up abuse advocates. find someone, even if it's only one person, one friend, one family member, one instructor, one police officer, even one person you don't know well but know is a good person. You are not alone. I've lived through this. So many other people have too. I chose to not be a victim. You can too. And you deserve it. You DO deserve to be loved. You DO deserve a healthy relationship. You DO deserve to be HAPPY. You Do deserve to feel SAFE. You DO deserve RESPECT. You DO deserve to live in a world that grows instead of shrinks. You SHOULD feel safe to speak your mind. You SHOULD feel safe to be yourself. You are NOT an idiot. It is NOT all your fault. You are a VALUABLE person. You are NOT asking for it. You CAN do something right. You can do a LOT of things right. You are beautiful. You are worthwhile. And you are so, so, SO very strong. Look at everything you've endured! You're strong enough to walk away. You're strong enough to find a way. You're strong enough to stick to your guns. You are. You really, really are. I have faith in you. Don't stay in this bad situation because the kids should have two parents. The kids can sense what's going on. Even if they aren't taking the abuse themselves. Even if you always put yourself between your tormenter and them. It is hurting them. It is. They know. It's stripping away their innocence. It's not your fault, but you CAN do something. You can find a way. That first step, admitting that it really is bad, that's EXTREMELY scary and I know it. Asking for help, that's really scary too. Following through, changing your life? SCARY! But you and I, we already know what it is to be afraid, don't we? And we're still here. You can face that fear but this time... you can have the power. You can be the one in control. Push, and endure. You can do it. I trust you. OSU

This is your best bet right here, especially when dealing with folks outside your style/system. I would show up in your dojo expecting to get blasted off my feet by small children while training there Evergrey. I know that if I show up at most shotokan dojos I can't hit the inside of the thigh with a toe kick, or put a knee into the body at the end of a combination. As for blood in your urine, I got asked about taking any hard blows to the back during a physical for high school when I wrestled. I asked why, the doc said there was blood in my urine, I told him I wrestled and he checked me off as good to go. When you're in a contact sport, it happens. Hate to say it, but that Ni Dan needs to learn to suck it up and realize that some styles encourage a lot more contact and that when you go into someone's home, you play by their rules. You don't get to cry foul because they don't do things your way. Thank you, very solid post and advice, I appreciate it! I was pretty shocked by her behavior and inability to protect herself, to be honest, and how she acted to try to cover her embarrassment. Earlier this week I ended up having to spar a female nidan from my own style for 30 minutes. I came out of THAT with a big fat lip (lucky us, our Kyokushin dojo DOES have face punches, lol, and we were using NO protection whatsoever that day) a bunch of bruises, and a big huge helping of humble pie in my belly. She wiped the mats with me, as well she should, since I am still a beginner and she is a nidan. And when I punched her in the face a bunch of times, she didn't complain. Just threw me halfway across the mat, lol! Oh man that was so fun.

I don't really know, to be honest. She mostly castigated me for having no control. Heh! She said she would be fine, and I've seen plenty of photos of her at parties on facebook since then, so I guess she's survived. Heh! I didn't invite her back to open sparring. I don't think it's quite working out with her...

I've certainly encountered people from other schools on the mat who were quite good! And I've encountered some where I have thought, "good gods... how is this person that rank????" Then I fight someone of the same rank in my style and school and they pack my lunch, lol! OSU

I should add that students may NEVER ask to test, at least not for a Kyu rank. They only test when the instructor says so. I have seen some unmotivated students who don't show up regularly or who don't try to improve stay at the same rank for well over a year, easily.

1. Haven't tested for it yet. 2. No, but I am always convinced that I have! 3. Not sure, I never asked. My instructors only test students when they believe that they are absolutely ready. They are tested and watched in each and every class. It is still possible to fail- there is always a panel of judges, and they deduct or add points for certain things. I am not privy to the entire decision making process of ranking- I think that there is a fair amount of discussion that goes on behind closed doors, both before and after.

Today: My Shihan called "Yame" when I was sparring a nidan. I stupidly dropped my guard immediately... and ate her right hook, straight to my mouth, lol! Tonight we were wearing NO protection... no gloves... no mouthguards. And though we're a Kyokushin dojo, sometimes we punch to the head and face. And she's a headhunter for sure, hah. My lip is fat and all KINDS of interesting colors! Didn't lose any teeth though. Next round, I cheerfully punched her in the head a few times. If I'm going to get struck in the face, I'm not going to just keep tapping my opponent in the belly, heh. Man I had so much fun! Every time I look in the mirror I laugh so hard though.

OSU, And the worst thing is that "first offenders" often get what is basically a slap on the wrist. They're back out again like 5 times faster than someone who was, say, caught with a bunch of pot plants and no medical license for them...

Honestly I don't think that pedophiles can be rehabilitated. From what I have heard from my law enforcement friends, people who do it once, even if convicted, are quite likely to do it again. I think someone who would commit such a heinous crime against innocents has lost their "right to being a part of humanity" card. Maybe just the personal experience talking there, but for me... no sympathy for a child molester. No second chances. None. OSU

OSU, I do kind of wonder how many children are emotionally mature enough to have a black belt? Perhaps it is different in other dojos, but here, there are responsibilities that come with a black belt, as well as a certain amount of authority. I am not sure at what age they will test for black belts here... perhaps 16 or 17? I am not sure if I will give them before 18. We'll see. I'm not sure if I'll be teaching kids at all, heh! There are certainly things in Kyokushin that kids should not do, because their bones and joints are not developed enough yet... but the development of the mind and the spirit are equally important. I have heard about "black belt burnout" and the shodan drop-out rate. For some, the black belt is their ultimate goal, and following that, they feel adrift, lost, even depressed, or feel that they are done. To combat this, straight off the Bat my Sensei told me that getting your black belt is like graduating from high school- you're ready to start seriously learning. You're ready for college. He also advised me to develop some short term goals AND some long term goals. My long term goals may well stretch out for the rest of my life... I think that helps. I hope it will help me avoid the burnout. I don't see myself NOT doing this though, as long as I am at all physically able... OSU!

OSU, My Sensei always encourages me to learn, to understand, and to form my own opinions. I believe that as I progress on my Kyokushin journey, my ideas will evolve and change over time. Sosai clearly espoused the concept of "use what works for you," and he was, throughout his life, evolving, changing, testing, and adapting. Adapt, innovate, overcome. Since Sosai's passing, it seems that most people believe that they (and sometimes ONLY they and their branch) practice "TRUE" Kyokushin. Some want to freeze the style, like a fly in amber. Some feel that Kyokushin died with Sosai. Many believe that they are following Sosai's vision, but every single person, I believe, adds their own colors, their own ideas, their own quirks to the style. The trick, I think, is to recognize this. And perhaps it would be appropriate to continue to evolve and adapt. When will evolution of the style take it too far, and make it no longer be Kyokushin? That depends, I think. Is Kyokushin a brand, and only true if money is paid to the "right" people? Is Kyokushin an exact set of moves, specific, unchangeable kata and kihon and fighting style? Specific tournament rules? Is it a certain overall feel? Is it a certain spirit? Is it how one conducts one's life, overall? This precious interview tells me so very much. Here, Sosai speaks of what he believes is the most important thing in Kyokushin. Cameron Quinn is translating here, and he does a beautiful job conveying Sosai's words. So, for me, I try to hold fast to the spirit. I understand that I am a beginner and my thoughts will continue to evolve and change, and my style will continue to evolve and change. I hope to hold this seed of spirit in my heart at all times, and continue my journey with my eyes open. I know that my own lineage has it's own very specific style, and I study how it is the same as others, and how it is different. I strive to understand these things, the common and the different aspects, and come to my own conclusions. Will the Kyokushin that I hope to eventually teach be the same as I am being taught today? No, it will have my own flavor, as each instructor has added their own flavor before me. I will try to remain true to the spirit of Kyokushin, as well as the belief in learning, testing, and adapting, to make it the strongest karate that I can. Today's world of martial arts is not the same as it was 100 years ago, or 20 years ago. Now, MMA is very popular. The UFC is very popular. Grappling is very popular. While I will teach a striking art, I will likely add in at least throws and grabs, which Sosai originally taught a lot more of, from what I've been able to see. These days, I think that it is important to learn again, and I think that, joints and back willing, I will eventually cross train in a grappling art, such as BJJ, and will likely encourage my (if I am fortunate enough to teach) students to cross train as well, once they have a solid foundation in Kyokushin. I feel that my instructors are good, solid martial artists and teachers. I trust them. I am also happy that I am encouraged to think for myself and draw my own conclusions. I hope that I can make everyone proud... including myself. I hope that I will never, myself, stop learning! That, I think, is how I can best serve future students... I will always remain, at heart, a student myself! OSU!

OSU, for me, I have long term goals of teaching. I want to fight before I am a sensei... but I have been deeply honored by having been called upon to teach already! Teaching kata to white belts only, of course, given my low rank... but it remains a great honor. I have only ever seen brown belts and above teaching anything at my dojo. I think that my Shihan believes in me and my goals, which means so very much. I hope to become a good teacher... and a good fighter! OSU!

Heh well certainly it's not the only thing! Of course they would need to be a good teacher, and a good person.

Thank you Bob! Scary stuff! Heh, very scary. Thankfully we tend to have at least a sempai as a backup instructor if the two who normally teach are indisposed... but that wasn't always the case I'm sure. Sensei says that way back in the day, his Sensei would show up and teach sick. A couple times he didn't shop up and Sensei would run it.

I have charged at our head instructor and heard him say "Haaave some AIKIDO!!!!" and suddenly found myself sailing through the air, then rolling until I hit the far wall. I popped up, shouted "THAT WAS FUN!" ran at him again... went flying again... haha.