bushido_man96

7/29/2024 Aikido Class: Weapons Class: 5:00 - 6:00 pm. Just me and the sensei today. We warmed up with jo, doing hi-4 sequence, then lo-4, then combining them, doing 4-hi on each side then 4-low on each side. Last was the hi-8 sequence, in which he gave me some pointers on getting the last few techniques to flow together, which was nice. Next was jo kata. Quick review of jo kata 1 on both sides. Then we went into jo kata 2, which I like, just need to memorize. There are some interesting strike/block/strike sections that flow really nicely. Jo kata 1 has lots of yoko strikes, where jo kata 2 has lots of shomen strikes. There is also a strange step-through uppercut technique that is difficult to get power into. We did work with it on a heavy bag, which helped a lot in using my hips properly. Last was bokken kata 2. The key to this kata is to keep in mind to constantly pressure forward, like one would in a sword fight. This helped in getting some of the techniques more meaning and intent. Doing the spin at the end is a challenge, as my head doesn't like all that spinning, especially done quickly. TKD Class: Black Belt Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Just me and a 2nd dan, so I led us through material. Prior to class, I stretched on The Rack, getting up to about 135 degrees with the chair back at 2. We went through all 6 Do-Gons, and the 2nd dan needed help on 5 and 6, so I got to do them and "teach" them, which helps me even more with retention. Do-Gons 5 and 6 have some spinning kicks in them, which I had to moderate to keep my head in a good place. Next, we did our forms. He did Gae Baek, and after doing it on his own, I had him go again and stopped him in spots to correct technique and to show him how to add power in spots. I did Choong Jang as well. We finished with all colored belt one-steps, and then did all 12 three-steps. I hung up on a few, but got through them. Lots of material covered, but a good workout.

Kind of how I see it as well. As much as I have enjoyed the series it feels like it is time to conclude. They have done a great job with the show, all it needs now is a strong ending. I agree. As much as I've enjoyed watching the series, I don't think I could make myself go back and watch it all over again. I think I'd be rolling my eyes too much.

Yeah, it was all kind of crazy. When that saw kicked on, I thought for sure someone was losing a limb or a finger or something. But, no...

That was quite the dissertation, Wado Heretic. Very informative!

7/23/2024 Strength Training Rowing: 4 minutes at resistance level 9, 875 meters. Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 90x5, 90x5, 90x5. Lat Pull-downs: 110x10, 110x10, 110x10. Triceps Push-downs: 50x15, 50x15, 50x15. 7/24/2024 TKD Class: T-shirt Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. More bag kicking, this time with round kicks: #1, 2, 3, 4a, 4b, 5 basic kicks. Back leg side-step kicks: FL, BL (touch-&-go), FL #3. Front leg side step (open step) kicks: switch kick, switch/then kick, stutter step kick. I then did the 1-5 basic kicks again, but added a step back prior to each kick, so messing with the range. I did 5 reps of each kick, on each side, so ended up with 210 total kicks. I did three-steps 1-12, then stretched in The Rack with the chair back set at 2. Got up around the 145 degree mark.

Where does that rank as far as total games played? How many games are in a hockey season, and how many do teams usually play in a week?

I think I'm 4 episodes in, and it's been enjoyable so far. It seems to me like they try too hard to manufacture conflict in spots, but otherwise, I'm ok with it.

7/21/2024 Going back to strength training to see what I can and can't do. Tired of sitting around, gaining wait and getting flabby, so it's time to do something about it. Press: 45x5x2, 65x5, 85x5, 85x5, 85x5. Lat Pull-downs: 100x10, 100x10, 100x10. Triceps Push-downs: 40x10, 40x10, 40x10. I'm not going to squat or deadlift right now, because I think the up-and-down motion coupled with the Valsalva maneuver causes issues with my head. I may look at trying to leg press soon, but I want to see how this all goes. It felt good to press again. 7/22/2024 Defensive Tactics: 5:00 - 11:00 pm. I taught three, 2-hour sessions of in-holster weapon retention, standing and on the ground. I tried my best to cover all the bases with standing and ground attacks. Through some of my review, some of what I had planned didn't make the cut, but I was able to get through everything I had planned for the session. Now, the goal is to get to where theses sessions aren't spent learning, but drilling. That way we can work out kinks, troubleshoot, etc.

That was probably the TKD coming out in me. I was frustrated with a particular uke, and wanted to just punch him instead of trying to throw or lock. Otherwise, Aikido is going quite well. The dojo was closed last week for summer break, and I missed this Monday because I taught DT sessions at work, so I need my Aikido fix bad! 7/17/2024 TKD Class: T-shirt Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. I worked on basic kicking on the bag. My plan is to plan out some in-depth kicking on the basic kicks. I did most with front kicks, but got some round kicks in, too. Here's what I did on the bag: Basic kicks: #1 front kick (FL) #2 front kick (BL) #3 front kick (FL) #4 front kick (BL) #5 front kick (FL) These kicks are the old ATA numbering system that has stuck with me throughout my training. From your stance, a #1 kick is done with the front leg with no movement or stepping in the stance; just pick it up and kick. #2 is a plain old back leg kick. #3 is stepping back leg to front, then kicking with the front leg. #4 is a back leg kick again, and is defined by the movement of the front leg prior to kicking with the back leg. There could be an a) and a b) to it; a) being the front leg steps forward and then kick, b) being the front leg steps back and then kick. #5 is a crossover step with the back leg, then kick with the front leg. Odds are FL, evens are BL. Side-step kicks: Side-step #1 FL front kick Side-step #2 BL front kick (this is touch-and-go, when the BL steps, fire it right off; tough to do but can be done) Side-step, #4 BL front kick (after the side-step, the front foot steps to the back foot) From my fighting stance, I step the back leg to the side and cut an angle in order to cover distance and avoid attacks. Depending on the situation, I'll cut in tight on a 45 degree angle, or more to the side at a 90 degree angle. From there, I can kick with either leg. These are all a BL side step, but I could probably do a FL side step as well... Switch-foot kicks: "Switch kick": done with the BL while in the process of switching feet Switch feet, then BL kick with what was the FL; I don't always switch the hips all the way back; it's a quick footwork move "Stutter-step": it's a switch where the FL moves back first and then the BL moves forward, done in a manner that allows you to advance forward from a 1/2 stance to a stance length; the kicking leg was the initial FL That was 11 different ways of doing a front kick in that session. I did 10 each leg and did them all from a right and left stance. 220 total kicks in the session. These all worked well with front kicks, but some of the dynamics will change with some of the other kicks, especially the side kick. The switch side kick can be done as a spin side kick switching the feet, but doing a BL switch side kick is going to be tricky. But I'll play with it and see.

Excellent news, Bob!

Do you use chalk for deadlifting, DP?

Not to derail this topic too much, but I can sympathize with you here. My current TKD organization has taken to adding curriculum for the black belts. Some of it is in the form of the "black belt basics" that the GM has come up with (they are kind of like forms, but I always viewed them more as organized floor drills). The other is in the form of three-step sparring. Personally, I don't like them, I don't think they make much sense, and it just seems like he wants the black belts to have something else to learn and test on. Adding curriculum for the sake of adding curriculum, in my mind, just ends up with some questionable curriculum.

Often those ideals we apply to our Martial Arts training are those that come from life as well. After all, most of us are studying the MAs in order to better ourselves. In the end, we better ourselves and our MA practice, and hopefully have some effect on those around us. Being mostly a Korean style practitioner, I'd not seen that saying before. To me, it means seeing, studying, and understanding not only what was done in the past and how it was done, but why it was done. I can dig some of this out of my Aikido experiences. Many of the wrist grabbing techniques stem from defenses in having the sword-hand or hands seized. We spend time studying the how's and why's of defending such an attack, but in our current time, not many people are carrying swords around. So, we begin looking at how to apply the same concepts and principles with what we are likely to face today. The Sensei at times will make mention that a specific technique is very "aiki," and at times will make mention of a "tactical" application. I can see On-Ko-Chi-Shin at times like this.

7/15/2024 TKD Class: Black Belt Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Went over the remainder of my DT class plan on weapon retention in the holster. I still struggle with making the kimura work. My short arms don't help, and I've found with the vest on it restricts my ability to lock that in even more. I've scrapped some things from the original lesson plan, trimmed it down and think it's looking better now. Having these brainstorming sessions is quite helpful.

Congrats Reece! Well deserved!

A few years ago, our CI added a new requirement for test eligibility -- students had to re-test over all their kyu-level material and show a dan-level proficiency with them. Once they have done so to his satisfaction, he awards them an "advanced brown belt", or brown belt with black stripe running down the middle. This is one of the ways he has trimmed the black belt test down to a 2 hour (or so) test. When our students test as a recommended (or provisional) black belt for the full 1st dan, they have to demonstrate all forms and all one-steps. This makes for a bit longer of a testing, but it's a good thing. We don't want 1st dans that have to ask the low ranks how to do their forms. This gives them more incentive to up their practice on their own time. And I agree, they need to be able to demonstrate the material at a black belt level. The idea behind 1st dan and up getting random forms tossed out to them at testings is to make sure they've kept up on all the material, as well.

Sounds like an interesting crossover.

We don't set a time limit or constraint on testing; it takes as long as it takes, depending on the number of people testing. Those testing for 1st dan tend to take the longest, as they are required to do all the colored belt forms, all the one-steps, then their own form, testing sparring, and board breaks. At the next level, testing will usually consist of a pre-test, where black belt basics are done, then low rank forms of the instructor or tester's choice, all low-rank one-steps. I think the HQ school does this on the morning before testing, and then we go right into testing. Actual testing itself will consist of likely a couple of selected low rank forms, a lower black belt form, your current form, three-steps, sparring, and board breaks. When I go back this December to finally test again I'll be back with a better report.

7/10/2024 TKD Class: T-shirt Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. I spent the first half hour of class working kicks on the standing bags, and focused on starting outside of kicking range and working on covering distance to land the kicks. Being short, I'm usually outside of kicking range when I start. Most of it is done with footwork and trying to disguise that footwork, but some of the kicks I did with a slide as I kicked to cover distance. Even did this with some spinning kicks. Last half of the time I went through my black belt curriculum: Do-Gon 6, Choong Jang hyung, and three-steps 1-6. I finished up stretching in The Rack, ran it up to 140 degrees pretty comfortably. Chair back at 2.

7/8/2024 TDK Class: Black Belt Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. I got to use the class to go over my lesson plan for DT this month. I got about halfway through the plan, but we didn't spend a lot of time drilling. The focus will be weapon retention in-holster. Some of the old GRACIE applications I was trying need a bit of refining, especially some of the techniques that end up taking the attacker to the ground.

Awesome stuff Ken! Glad to hear it!

My kid's did the same, but grandpa bought the fireworks. Had a good time and the whole block put on a show.

7/3/2024 TKD Class: T-shirt Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. I went through all the forms today, Chon Ji up to Choong Jang, 16 hyungs in total. Had brain farts on Gae Baek and Yoo Sin, but got those sorted out.

Most insurance companies are likely to require basic first aid skills in order to cover the school, as well.

7/2/2024 Aikido Summer Camp: 4:30 - 8:00 pm. There was a lot of kotegashi covered in this session, with some other stuff thrown in. The camp basically follows the class schedule, and today kids classes were scheduled, so there was some basic stuff thrown in with some activities for them. I got to help a little bit doing this, which really helped me in breaking down technique for myself. 4:30 - 5:00 had a lot of kids in it, but we did hit on a few techniques. We did sankyo and then went to shionage (can't remember for the life of me what the attack was). Sankyo was done with an ura variation, which had lots of footwork. It also had a lot of combat applications, with a punch/hikite to facilitate whipping the attacker around, and an elbow strike while stepping through and under the raised arm to the ribs. Shionage went much better, as I focused on staying close and keeping the attacker's elbow connected to my head as I turned and followed through. 5:00 - 6:00 was another kids class. We did some randori based drills/games. One of them was called "matador," where we stand on a line and wait for "bulls" to attack (on a straight line). The kid holds a towel as the "cape," and when the "bull" approaches (using fingers as horns), the matador will side side step, or forward angle step, or backward angle step. The goal is to wait until the bull reaches the cape and to time the steps properly for good tai sabaki. Next was the "bullpen," where boundaries were set for an outside ring and an inside ring. Everyone walked in a circle along the outside ring and the matador was in the inside ring with the cape. Sensei would call out a name, and that person would attack in a straight line from where they were and move all the way across to the other side and rejoin walking line. Goal for the matador was the same, but they had to be aware of where the attack was coming from (side, front, behind, etc). 6:00 - 8:00 we began with some randori drills that evolved from the "matador" game. We didn't use a towel, but we did start on a line and the attackers came at us on the same line with a double lapel grab. The goal was to side step, forward angle step, or backward angle step and defend/pass the hands as they came towards us. Again, timing was the key. If we did not defend the hands, the attacker was expected to adjust their reach to try to grab us. Next was a lot of kotegashi, lots of variations. Most of the attacks early on came from a double lapel grabs, but we also did two hands grabbing one wrist. We did lots of variations, and I struggled with several of them. I spent a lot of time paying attention to the footwork. I was having trouble getting the kotegashi to stick at times, and I'd get it set late. An instructor told me he thought I was T-rexing my arms too much, and getting a little more extension, think like holding a sword, would help. It sure as heck did. I was able to get the lock set more quickly and resulted in better throws. There is a kid in the group that is like Gumby. I'd start to turn him, and his joints were just gone. I'm not talking double jointed, he was like no jointed. I told Sensei I'd just punch and kick him a lot. He was very frustrating to work with. This was another productive session, even if I spent some of it in frustration with my understanding (more like lack thereof) of some of the techniques. But I did find a few that I could make work, and focused on them. There are several more sessions throughout the week, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to make anymore. If not, these few sessions were a lot of fun. Some things I'm seeing is that if something goes wrong with a technique, I'm seeing options that I could switch to. I'm also starting to understand the transitional application of stance work, especially moving from one stance to another in performing a technique. I just need to add it to the footwork and be more cognizant of it. I pay attention to footwork, but need to pay attention to the hips and legs as well. When trying to get the technique right, I'm often focusing on what my hands are doing.