bushido_man96

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.

7/1/2024 Aikido Summer Camp: 8:30 - 11:30 am. A nice, long, and informative morning session. The camp actually started the day before, but I'm limited in the times I can show up due to my work and sleep schedule. From 8:30 - 9:30 we covered a lot of nikkyo with an ikkyo entry, starting with a static approach (letting the grab happen) on a same side lapel grab. We'd strike for distraction and step up as we did so, then step back and draw like hikite in what I'd liken to a V-step to draw them off balance. I did much better at getting the hand trapped on my chest and not leaving a gap. As we went along, we added some steps and spin to takedown and pin; this got a little confusing for me. I just need to get the footwork down. I worked with one hyperflexible kid who's arm just kind of flopped around; I ended up transition to a straight armbar several times just to take him down. Then sensei showed me a "connection" to bring the arm back where I needed it to be to finish with nikkyo; I just had to leave the bend and just hook his elbow back a bit. Water break, then from about 9:45 - 11:00 we covered more in the nikkyo family. We did more ikkyo entry into nikkyo, and then moving into gokyo. We also did "omote" and "ura" variations. "Omote" means "step in front" basically and "ura" means "step behind." The ura variations usually meant more footwork to step behind and really generate energy/momentum, and I seemed to have a little more trouble with it. I found myself liking the omote variations better. For the ura vartiation, when "cutting" the arm and stepping behind, I just needed to point my elbow down (the elbow of my arm that is doing the grabbing) to create more room for me to step around. This registered pretty well. Gokyo is a straight armbar, and I've done this technique in all kinds of variations with all the DT training and in Combat Hapkido, so this technique felt pretty good to me. We had a final water break and finished the last half hour of the session with yankyo. This one was tough, as it involves finding the radial nerve pressure point to help facilitate downward pressure into a takedown. Sensei said he wanted us to practice finding the nerve and applying yankyo that way prior to finishing, but emphasized that finding the nerve each time isn't as important as using the technique to get to the leverage point is. I found that if I just focused on getting to the leverage point I had good success with the technique. Knowing where and how to hit that nerve (sensei stated that it works on about 80% of the population) is just kind of a bonus "icing on the cake" for the technique. Fun session, and I felt I learned a lot about nikkyo and feel much more confident in performing the technique. I should be able to make an afternoon session tomorrow, and look forward to learning more.

Fast Ice by Clive Cussler.

Those sound simple enough. When you round kick, are you striking with the top of your foot or with the ball of the foot? Or do you switch it up, or do you start with the top of the foot and work up to ball of the foot?

6/28/2024 TKD Workout: rowing, 1:15/30 sec rest, resistance level 9, 300 m per sprint, 10 minutes. Floor stretch. 1st Dan material: Choong Moo, Kwang Gae hyungs. Do-Gons 1, 6, Choong Jang hyung. On Do-Gon 1, I tried to focus on looking before I change direction, and on Do-Gon 6 I kept losing my balance on the spinning kicks. Three-steps 1-6, floor stretch, then The Rack; chairback at 2, up to 150 degrees. 55 minute session.

6/26/2024 TKD Workout: rowing, 1:15/30 sec rest, resistance level 9, 300 m per sprint, 10 minutes. Floor stretch, gravity stretch. Brown belt material: Toi Gye, Hwa Rang, Choong Moo hyungs, blue/brown belt one-steps (I need to confirm the order on the last couple... ). Do-Gons 5 and 6, Choong Jang hyung, three-steps 1-6. Floor stretch, pushups 3x6, then stretched in The Rack; chairback at 2, 150 degrees. Session lasted an hour. The session felt easier, but I think I might not have been working as hard. I don't recall if I mentioned this already, but I've made the decision to test for my 5th dan in December. I passed the time requirement a long time ago, and now I think it's time to get it done.

6/24/2024 Aikido Class: Morning Basic Class: 8:30 - 9:30 pm. From a same side lapel grab we did ikkyo, and then transitioned it to nikkyo, and takedown to a pin. This was done from a static start. Once grabbed, we respond with a strike to the head (backfist) with hikite to draw the attacker off balance. Then we'd slide both feet back a little. This worked to draw them in and off balance. I needed to focus on keeping the attacker's hand connected to my front chest with no gap to retain the lock. Once taken down, we did the "three palm" pin. We spent a bulk of the time on this technique, but also did shionage from a same side wrist grab, also static. I have trouble with shionage. Aikido Class: Weapons Class: 5:00 - 6:00 pm. Lots of kids in this class, as the Aikido dojo has offered up a few weeks worth of classes to the local recreation department. We practiced lots of basic strikes with the jo and bokken. It was also good practice helping out the kids. TKD Class: Black Belt Class: 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Warmed up with Do-Gons 1 and 2, then went into Ho Sin Sul work. We did lots of grip work, practicing getting a good hold on an attacking hand. We partnered up, and the attacker would do a same side lapel grab, collar grab, shoulder grab, or choke, and the defender would just reach over and grab the attacking hand and focus on getting a good grab at the right spot to facilitate joint manipulation. Then we'd twist the attacking limb off and stop at the point of basically having an armbar, going from inside to outside. We did the same with same side wrist grabs, first coming over the top and trapping the hand, and then turning the hand of the grabbed wrist palm up and trapping from underneath. We did around 20 reps per side on each. We finished with attacker doing a choke from the front, and defender would drop step and trap that side and palm the chin/face/ridgehand the neck with the other hand. We also did this with a choke from the front with a push (more aggressive, and probably the way it would happen). The momentum from this can facilitate a throw/takedown very easily. This was a really fun day of training. Three classes in one day! My work schedule was switched up this week, giving me Monday off. I love having this kind of time to train.

I've heard about those stories with toes getting wedged between mats and almost ripped off. Crazy stuff. What a nightmare!

I'd take you up on that. Most of the schools I've been a part of have not indulged in this kind of training. I've dabbled a bit in the past, years ago, but without really knowing anything about what I was doing. I've seen a partner forearm blocking drill that I think would work really well, but never any of the leg kicking stuff. I do think this kind of training would be beneficial, so long as it's done right. I'd be afraid of getting that "no pain, no gain!" style instructor that would batter someone up to the point that movement was difficult and actually causing injury.

The NHL must be one of the only organizations that will still award an MVP to a player on the loosing team. Interesting, and I think there are times in other sports where that would be warranted as well.

6/19/2024 TKD Workout: Rowing: 1:15/30 sec, resistance level 9, 300 m per sprint, 10 minutes. Blue belt material: Yul Gok, Choong Jung hyungs, blue belt one-steps. Black belt material: Do-Gons 4, 6, Choong Jang, three-steps 1-6. Floor stretch, then The Rack, chair back at 2, PNF stretch up to 150 degrees. 6/20/204 Range Training: We got new patrol rifles, so we spent time setting them up, getting familiar with them, sighting in the iron sights, putting some rounds down range on steel, and then qualifying.

6/17/2024 TKD Workout: 4-cycle okinaga breathing in the car on the way, approximately 4 sec cycles. I tried to extend it to 5 sec, but I'd end up coughing for some reason. Rowing: 1:15/30 sec, resistance level 9, 300 m per sprint, 10 minutes. This was definitely a step up in the difficulty. Floor stretch. Green belt material: Do San, Won Hyu hyungs, green belt one-steps. Do-Gons 3 and 6, Choong Jang hyung. Three-steps 1-6. Floor stretch, then used The Rack with the chair back at setting 2. Did some PNF stretching up to 140 degrees. 50 minutes total for the workout.

6/11/2024 Aikido Class: Morning Class. This was a pretty light class. We worked kote-gashi from a cross-hand grab, and from a lunge punch. I tried to focus on the grabbing positioning, leaving no gap with the hand. I also needed to focus on "pulling" to get the tension in the manipulation.

Congrats!

6/10/2024 DT Training Day: I did four, 2-hour session of DT training for the department today. It's always a good time, and most of my co-workers are excited to do the training. We have some new people in, so I did another SPEAR intro session, and the second hour of training was working things off block/pass/pin. For the SPEAR session, we worked up to the flow drill, and I added in CWCT principles, which is using the Closest Weapon to attack the Closest Target available. It made them think, and helps with that transition from the "reactive brain" in responding to a surprise attack and getting into the "cognitive brain" of working towards the goal of taking control and finishing. In the block/pass/pin session, I introduced each segment one at a time, and after getting through that, we moved to "inserts" after each segment, looking for opening to counter and possibly work to a takedown and control. We worked in some attempts at armbar takedowns, the "palm to the chin" takedown, and bodylocks.

Boy, my first test was a long time ago. It was in TKD, and I'm pretty sure all I did were the form and the one-step requirements. I don't recall that I did any free sparring at that time, although the club I was into sparred a lot. I've always been a nervous tester, especially when I was younger. Heck, as a black belt that would get asked to run the floor at testings I would still get nervous (even though I wasn't testing!). However, I got over that one day by just saying to myself that I didn't have to be nervous, I wasn't the one testing. Now I enjoy it and have fun with it. I still get a little nervous when I test, but not as bad as I used to. I have high expectations of myself, so that contributes to some anxiety, but not nearly as much as it did in the past.

Perhaps they agreed on it being an exhibition; that could account for the performance.

Crazy, 40 years. I remember watching it as a kid and always enjoying it. The new series has been a nostalgic trip. Don't really have any stories to go along with it. My dad was actually my first influence in the Martial Arts, and he would always give interesting tidbits about this art or that art. That's why I'm still doing it to this day.

Well, I think it is. I gets my legs warmed up for the kicking, which is nice. I think it's getting to the point where I need to up the amount of time I spend on the rowing machine in total, maybe to 15 minutes. 6/7/2024 TKD Workout: Rowing, 1 min/30 sec, resistance level 8, 240 m per sprint, 10 minutes. Floor stretch. Do-Gons 1, 2, 6. Chon Ji, Dan Gun, Bo Chung hyungs. Three-steps 1-6. Push-ups, 3x5. Floor stretch, then sat in The Rack. Chair back at 2, did some PNF stretching and took it just past 150 degrees. 6/8/2024 Dryfire Training: 4-6 rounds per draw. Working on that trigger control.

6/3/2024 Aikido Class: Morning Class: 8:30 - 9:30 am. After stretching and basics, we did shomenuchi irimi-nage. With a taller person, I have to keep them closer and tight; with a shorter person who tends to stay upright, I have to produce a horizontal spiral at the shoulder. After that, sensei advanced it by having uke counter by facing me, like they were going to square up for a bear hug or a waste tackle. I keep stepping to move to the other side and keep the momentum while stepping. It worked pretty slick and just end up applying the same technique on the other side. 6/5/2024 TKD Workout: Rowing, 1m/30s, resistance level 8, 230 m per sprint, 10 minutes total. Floor stretch and gravity stretch. Did Do-Gon 6, all segments in a row. Se Jong, Yoo Sin, and Choong Jang hyungs. Three-steps 1-6. Finished with a floor stretch, followed by The Rack. I ran The Rack up to 150+ degrees with the chair back set at #2 position. It really hurt, so I backed down to 150.

Something I've done that's helped out is to keep a food journal along with your training journal. Helps with accountability on the diet side of things.

I understand your plight, Bob. I can do the same thing when I watch cop movies. You just have to discipline yourself to focus on the entertainment factor, and not the bull crap factor.

I don't think there is anything wrong with a loud kiai; I think it should be loud. Just not long and drawn out, and it shouldn't come from the throat.

That's crazy! From a real high to a real low real fast! I'm glad everything is getting sorted for you. Please keep us posted on how things go!