Centos and Aikido

This morning I spent most of my time getting a Centos Linux server up and running at work. My Linux server skills are rusty but are coming back. I am excited because I'll be able to explore DSpace on this box and I plan on installing Turbogears as well and try to migrate my Serials usage, Federal Government Documents, and Colorado Government Documents applications to this server. Much to do.

Last night at Aikido, Jake and I practiced by ourselves (no surprise as the beginner on Monday did not come back)

Here are the techniques we practiced:

• Tsuski Shihonage omote and ura. The first variation was the basic style I was taught, with a step-back at the beginning for nage. The second variation was an irmi step-in and then a hip pivot for omote and ura.
• Tsuski Ikkyo omote and ura. Stayed with the step-back opening at the same time cutting down with outside hand for both omote and ura.
• Yokomenuchi Shihonage omote and ura.
• Ushiro Tekubitori Kotegaeshi (2 variations), we practiced this technique from a static start. The first variation was the lean/step forward kotegaeshi, the second variation was the "airplane" technique of stepping foward and then cutting back with the outside arm. I haven't practiced this style since I practiced in Urbana. I don't think I remembered the technique correctly. I'll have to look around on the internet to see if there are any examples out there.
  
• Suwari waza Ikkyo omote and ura
  

Aikido 2/26/2008

Last night at Aikido, a new female student showed up for class. Jake and I moved the wrestling mat out from the storage room and the class lasted for the entire hour. Most of the class was spent going over various warm-up exercises, basic stepping and sliding tenkan exercises. The new student has a black-belt in Taekwondo, so she does have a good martial arts background. I tried to explain some basic ideas about Aikido to her and Jake was extremely helpful in explanation of various exercises and terminology. Next, we spent time learning how to do forward and backward rolls from a sitting position. Finally, we practiced a simple Katatetori kokyu nage. The new student wasn't sure if she would be back, I told her to do a Google search on Aikido for more information and I hope to see her back in class.

Common Raven...

This morning before coming into work, I stopped by the local Wal-Mart (when I lived in larger areas, I always felt uneasy shopping at Wal-Mart as a typical good liberal that I am, now shopping at Wal-Mart is a necessity in the this small community) to get batteries for my camera. As I was leaving, I saw three ravens scavenging in the parking lot and took a couple of photos.

When I was married, my ex-wife wanted me to have a "hobby" so I started to birding in a mild way. I might still have the birding guide that Jennifer's mother gave me for Christmas one year. I also received a nice pair of Leopold binoculars that was another casualty of my life in Salt Lake. Anyway, as I take photographs of birds and other wildlife in Gunnison, I'll post them here in the blog, I don't plan to to seek any particular type of flora or fauna (except when I'm fishing or hunting). I talked to my brother Jarrett a couple of nights ago and he just finished taking his hunter's education course. I took the same course in the mid-1980s but lost my hunter's safety card a long time ago. I'm planning on calling the Colorado Division of Wildlife today and seeing if I can get a replacement. I want to buy a small-game/fishing combination license this year and Jarrett and I might go rabbit hunting the next time I'm in Grand Junction.

Aikido class 02/20/2008

Last night Jake and I practiced for an hour at Escalante Fitness Center. Here is rundown of the techniques we practiced (as much as I can remember from last night)

• Katatetori kokyu nage (2 variations)
• Yokomenuchi Nikkyo omote and ura
• Ushiro Tekubitori Kotegaeshi (2 variations)
• Tsuki kokyu nage (2 variations)
• Shomenuchi Iriminage (2 variations)
• Shomenuchi Kokyuho omote

I created a flyer on Monday and then gave a few to Nikole. There are a number of the flyers up in Escalante. There is some interest being generated and we might have another couple of people show up for Monday's class. I also downloaded and began to fill out an application to the Boulder Aikikai's Aikido Summer Camp in the Rockies. The price is reasonable but I need to get a witness to sign the application before I can send it in with a deposit. The camp is Glenwood Springs and runs from July 27 to August 3rd. More information can be found at http://www.boulderaikikai.org/sc.

Snowman

Here are a couple of photographs I took over the past couple of days. The first photo shows the cleaning crew removing snow from the Library's roof. The second photo is of at least a 15-foot tall snowman someone built in front of the campus's main administration building.

Aikido class 2/13

Last night's Aikido class went well, I didn't feel like I was going to die after the class. We practice on the floor without any mats. The floor has some give as it is a gym floor and as the class progressed, the floor didn't feel as hard. When more beginners show up, we will have to use the mat.

Here are the techniques we practiced last night:

• Tsuki Kotegaeshi (2 styles)
• Morotetori Kokyuho, omote and ura
• Tsuki Kaitennage uchi style, omote and ura

Talking with Jake, we will practice for an hour as 1/2 hour class is too short. There won't be a class next Monday due to President's Day.

Aikido last night...

I finally practiced Aikido last night! Jake, a student here at the college, has practiced Aikido in the past so we were able to work on some basic techniques. Also, when I got home from work last night, my new hakama and gi had arrived so I was able to at least look like an Aikido instructor.

Here is a quick list of the techniques we practiced last night:

• Katatetori Ikkyo omote and ura
  
• Katatetori Shihonage omote and ura
  
• Katatetori Iriminage (3 styles)

The class is schedule for an half of an hour and I realized just how out of shape I really am by the end of the class. Boy, did it feel great to finally get on the mat and start practicing again. My back is sore and my right elbow was acting up last night but both of these are minor and just reflect how little I have been on the mat. I really look forward to Wednesday night class.

Library's Roof Collapse...

Here are a couple of photos I just took after coming into into work (I was running late after walking over to Signal Peak to pick up my Rodeo, I had the oil changed and the dash-lights fixed). Over the night a combination of the snow and wind collapsed the false roof. I'm leaving at noon, but I am on call in case the roof starts leaking.

Leaking roof and Aikido

For the past few days it has snowed. This morning I had a few inches of snow on my Rodeo. Here is picture from yesterday with more snow out my doorway on the way to work. This weekend I had to deal with a leaking roof in the corner of my cabin. Water was leaking from the many layers of ice and snow on the roof. (See photo on the left) I am continuing to catch the water in multiple bowls and buckets under the left window (facing the cabin's front). I also spent the weekend reaching up and knocking chucks of ice with my ax, the flow of water has slowed down, but is still continuing.

Last night I went over to Escalante Fitness Center at dressed out with my really horrible condition Gi. Nobody showed up, but I did look around at the facility. In common area where I will teach, there won't be a lot of privacy with the exercise bikes and other equipment. I recently purchased a new Gi and Hakama, so I should be receiving them soon. While I waited, I went into the dressing room and did two forward rolls (forward ukemi) on the carpet. It hurt but most of was lack of practicing. I'll continue to show up at 7:30. On Wednesday, I'll bring out the mats and try doing some rolls and do an Aikido warm-up.