disgracian

when i saw greco-roman wrestling at the olympics, i couldn't fathom what was going on. then i found out that randy coture had a background in greco-roman (who was beating everybody in the ufc at the time, and for all i know still is) so i figured it couldn't be all that bad.

easy as. did it on my second attempt. i won't post spoilers though.

it's important during winter not to mention to my sensei (or even within earshot of him) how cold it is, or even give the impression that it's cold by shivering or hugging yourself, otherwise he feels obligated to ensure we're warmed up with seemingly endless cycles of 10 starjumps, 10 pushups, 10 stomach crunches, 10 leg lifts, etc. until most of us are dripping with sweat. then the class begins.

seriously though, i think soaking in cold water is the way to go with blood. the sooner the better, too.

haha!

totally, dijita. everyone has their own needs. i prefer the semi/light contact because after having brawled throughout most of my school years and a few post-school years, i'm tired of getting hit. i don't see how i'd learn any faster under heavier contact sparring: having somebody 'score a point' against me is just as effective for alerting me to a gap in my defense as having somebody crack one of my ribs or chip a tooth. indeed, the latter approach would probably impede my training at some point. that's my take on the issue.

i certainly wouldn't worry if you haven't picked up kata after just 7 lessons. i got off to a particularly slow start myself. even basic combos like going from one end of the dojo to the other doing something like a step-up and feint, then step through and reverse punch got my arms and legs in tangles going at fast pace. usually half way down my "reverse" punch would start reflexively shooting out over my front leg, and other such calamities. however, i found it all to be on quite a sneaky learning curve. literally without realising when or how, it all clicked into place and i found myself performing kata with my eyes closed and ending up on or very near to my starting position. practising at home makes a big difference as well. i've found that if i run through some of the drills we did when i get home, particularly just before i go to bed i stand a greater chance of remembering what they were by the next morning.

paragraphs, hayashi. have you heard of them?

interesting how he says he isn't out to knock a particular style, then goes on to do precisely that. go figure...

i train with g.k.r as well and it's an inevitable consequence of a style that's so accessable to people that you're going to have to take it fairly easy on others (kids, old people, women, etc.) a fair bit in kumite. although it has its fair share of people who go flat out as well, and i've found it mixes both atmospheres pretty well. and yes, contact does get progressively more intensive the higher you go.

adam sandler vs bob barker in "happy gilmore" hugh grant vs colin firth in "bridget jones's diary"

i liked "gorgeous". nobody was evil, there was no "good vs evil". they wore padding so they wouldn't hurt each other too much, and they were very sporting and gracious in defeat/victory. nice change of pace.