Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Aikido for 06/29/2009
Monday, I didn't dress out but I did bring my bokken. I did a hundred of so cuts but focused on some of the lessons I learned over the weekend of great Aikido training. Nobody showed up and I left after 15 minutes. I believe Escalante Fitness Center will be closed on Wednesday, so no class July 1st.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Aikido practice for 06/28/2009 at Boulder Aikikai
On Sunday, Jim (I didn't get his last name) Sensei taught all three classes .
First class was bokken weapons class. Learned about shift balance of bokken to pivot just behind the right hand, I always have practice with bokken with the center above my right hand. The goal is the make the tip of bokken fast and flexible to create a cut and not a slash (if the weapon was a live blade). We also practiced the 1st and 2nd Kumotaschi.
For Jim's second class, we worked on fundemental techniques of kosadori iriminage, kosadori shionage, and kokyunages.
The final class that Jim taught was he started a while ago, a class that focused on randori for the entire hour. The class started with any first time students to be attacked by for 3 minutes by the rest of the class. Nage can only tenkan or irimi movement and all of the ukes can use any shomen, yokomeni, or tsuki strikes. I was the only first timer, and I quickly realized how out of shape I was after seven other people started attacking me once. At the minute mark, I had already been attacked multiple times with was quickly running out of steam from the consistent motion. At two minutes, there was a momement where I felt I would puke right on the mat but I plowed through and kept moving. After my three minutes (a long, long, three minutes) Sensei mentioned the movement should be move left, move right, or straight and irimi tenkan. I also need to breath.
Jim started the second randori with the class breaking up into 2 groups of four each. Each person could only do irimi and tenkan movements.
The third randori we mixed up the groups and then did full-contact randori at half-speed. After my randori, I was directed to throw uke towards the center of the mat. I didn't even realize I was throwing ukes towards the edge, funny that I was unconsciously trying to establish a center sphere around myself.
The forth randori we mixed up the groups again and increased the speed. Jim Sensei told me to not use my arms! All I could do was tenkan and irimi without any arms techniques. I usually extend my hands and arms as a way to control uke and forcing me to use my body to get out of the way helped me move my center more through the mat and the multiple attacks.
The fifth randori was were nage closes his or her eyes for the time period. I found this practice the easiest because I didn't anticipate the attacks and just responded to the various grabs. Some of the other students were caught on the ground and ended up wrestling for control, I was able to keep on me feet despite grabs from front and the back until the very end when I rolled backward to breakup a back grab and right shoulder grab as I was doing so, my randori time was up.
During the classes, Jim talked a lot about physiology and how doing randori shifts your body's energy production from quick, anaerobic to aerobic extercise. I really enjoyed all three of Jim Sensei's classes and I look forward to the challenge of passing his randori class (a 15 minute randori with at least 4 attackers, just thinking of the maximum 3 minutes of randori bursts during the class will force me to improve my conditioning on and off the mat)
One of the great joys of Aikido is meeting new people and finding connections you have through shared Aikido instructors or dojos. For all three classes, I practiced with a shodon from Austin named Tom. Tom is CS master's student at CU and he praticed Aikido with Jo Bridsong Sensei, one of the original students at my first dojo, Central Illinois Aikikai. I have taken a couple of classes with Jo and so Tom and I had similar USAF Midwest/East reference points.
First class was bokken weapons class. Learned about shift balance of bokken to pivot just behind the right hand, I always have practice with bokken with the center above my right hand. The goal is the make the tip of bokken fast and flexible to create a cut and not a slash (if the weapon was a live blade). We also practiced the 1st and 2nd Kumotaschi.
For Jim's second class, we worked on fundemental techniques of kosadori iriminage, kosadori shionage, and kokyunages.
The final class that Jim taught was he started a while ago, a class that focused on randori for the entire hour. The class started with any first time students to be attacked by for 3 minutes by the rest of the class. Nage can only tenkan or irimi movement and all of the ukes can use any shomen, yokomeni, or tsuki strikes. I was the only first timer, and I quickly realized how out of shape I was after seven other people started attacking me once. At the minute mark, I had already been attacked multiple times with was quickly running out of steam from the consistent motion. At two minutes, there was a momement where I felt I would puke right on the mat but I plowed through and kept moving. After my three minutes (a long, long, three minutes) Sensei mentioned the movement should be move left, move right, or straight and irimi tenkan. I also need to breath.
Jim started the second randori with the class breaking up into 2 groups of four each. Each person could only do irimi and tenkan movements.
The third randori we mixed up the groups and then did full-contact randori at half-speed. After my randori, I was directed to throw uke towards the center of the mat. I didn't even realize I was throwing ukes towards the edge, funny that I was unconsciously trying to establish a center sphere around myself.
The forth randori we mixed up the groups again and increased the speed. Jim Sensei told me to not use my arms! All I could do was tenkan and irimi without any arms techniques. I usually extend my hands and arms as a way to control uke and forcing me to use my body to get out of the way helped me move my center more through the mat and the multiple attacks.
The fifth randori was were nage closes his or her eyes for the time period. I found this practice the easiest because I didn't anticipate the attacks and just responded to the various grabs. Some of the other students were caught on the ground and ended up wrestling for control, I was able to keep on me feet despite grabs from front and the back until the very end when I rolled backward to breakup a back grab and right shoulder grab as I was doing so, my randori time was up.
During the classes, Jim talked a lot about physiology and how doing randori shifts your body's energy production from quick, anaerobic to aerobic extercise. I really enjoyed all three of Jim Sensei's classes and I look forward to the challenge of passing his randori class (a 15 minute randori with at least 4 attackers, just thinking of the maximum 3 minutes of randori bursts during the class will force me to improve my conditioning on and off the mat)
One of the great joys of Aikido is meeting new people and finding connections you have through shared Aikido instructors or dojos. For all three classes, I practiced with a shodon from Austin named Tom. Tom is CS master's student at CU and he praticed Aikido with Jo Bridsong Sensei, one of the original students at my first dojo, Central Illinois Aikikai. I have taken a couple of classes with Jo and so Tom and I had similar USAF Midwest/East reference points.
Aikido weapons practice for 06/27/2009 at Denver Aikikai
Saturday morning I drove to Denver Aikikai for the Bruce Heckathorn Sensei's 11:45 weapons class. The dojo is small, and the mat was crowded with a mix of advanced and beginner students. We worked with the bokken and practiced sword cuts, and various exerises for moving and striking with bokken cuts. We then worked on the 3 kumijo kata. I enjoyed the class and the dojo was friendly and I look forward to training with them in the future.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
The Cases
After Ikeda Sensei's Aikido class, I drove to my sister Jill's house in Broomfield.
Lance and my nieces were up and busy. Adelaide is getting closer to walking, Alexis was much more comfortable with me and I loved hearing an excited and clever neice talk about all sorts of things. She is five and will start kindergarten in the fall. Definite congratulations to Lance for sitting the Colorado state record in bench for his weight class. He benched an amazing 335 pounds, beating his opponents by at least 75 pounds.
Saturday morning, Lance had to work at 4:00, and four hours later, I went out got coffee and donuts for Jill and kids. I then went to Denver Aikikai for a weapons class (the subject of the next blog post) and then after I got back, Lance and I went to Best Buy to look at the latest HDTVs and other fun electronic toys. We then drove the Yamaha dealership and I looked at bikes similar to Jarretts. This was all leading up the both of us going to see the latest Transformers movie in Westminister. I enjoyed the film and Megan Fox was a treat to see on the big screen. The movie was sold out and Lance and I waited in line for 40 minutes to get great seats. Getting back to the house, Jill had pizza ready for us. I listened to Adelaide and Alexis and loved every second.
We all spent a lazy Sunday morning before I took off for Aikido class in Boulder and I look forward to visiting with my great family in Broomfield soon.
Lance and my nieces were up and busy. Adelaide is getting closer to walking, Alexis was much more comfortable with me and I loved hearing an excited and clever neice talk about all sorts of things. She is five and will start kindergarten in the fall. Definite congratulations to Lance for sitting the Colorado state record in bench for his weight class. He benched an amazing 335 pounds, beating his opponents by at least 75 pounds.
Saturday morning, Lance had to work at 4:00, and four hours later, I went out got coffee and donuts for Jill and kids. I then went to Denver Aikikai for a weapons class (the subject of the next blog post) and then after I got back, Lance and I went to Best Buy to look at the latest HDTVs and other fun electronic toys. We then drove the Yamaha dealership and I looked at bikes similar to Jarretts. This was all leading up the both of us going to see the latest Transformers movie in Westminister. I enjoyed the film and Megan Fox was a treat to see on the big screen. The movie was sold out and Lance and I waited in line for 40 minutes to get great seats. Getting back to the house, Jill had pizza ready for us. I listened to Adelaide and Alexis and loved every second.
We all spent a lazy Sunday morning before I took off for Aikido class in Boulder and I look forward to visiting with my great family in Broomfield soon.
Aikido practice for 06/26/2009 at Boulder Aikikai
Friday morning as I was leaving for work, I heard a noise in the air and then grabbed my camera and took this photo of an identified flying object:
Friday afternoon, I drove to Boulder for two classes at Boulder Aikikai.
The first class was taught by Don (maybe?) Sensei and we worked on katatedori kokyu-nages along with shiohnage and iriminage.
Ikeda Sensei taught the second class and after warming we practiced the following techniques:
After class, I talked with Ikeda Sensei for a bit and I can't wait until Summer Camp to spent more time with him.
Friday afternoon, I drove to Boulder for two classes at Boulder Aikikai.The first class was taught by Don (maybe?) Sensei and we worked on katatedori kokyu-nages along with shiohnage and iriminage.
Ikeda Sensei taught the second class and after warming we practiced the following techniques:
- katatedori kokyunage (2-3 variations)
- kosadori katatedori iriminage
- kosadori katatedori ikkyo. In teaching students, I feel getting ikkyo is especially important and Ikeda Sensei's demonstrated ikkyo in a smooth and direct motion.
- We worked on more techniques (Next time I need to write down the techniques after the class and not trying to recall from two days ago)
After class, I talked with Ikeda Sensei for a bit and I can't wait until Summer Camp to spent more time with him.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Michael Jackson
As the mass media is reporting, Michael Jackson died this afternoon from a cardiac arrest. My personal reaction first goes back to few memories from the early and mid 1980s. Growing up without a television and as a strict Jehovah Witness, my exposure to popular culture, in particular music, was limited. In 1982-1983, when sitting in a car outside a house while "out-in-service" (when a group of Jehovah Witnesses go door-to-door), I remember a group of Witnesses gossiping about a "Michael Jackson" who was a Jehovah Witnesses.
After Thriller exploded and Michael Jackson became the cultural force he was at that time, I learned enough about Michael to know about his early history in the Jackson Five. At a family reunion at my grandmother Broughton around 1985-1986, my cousins Jason and Robbie asked me who my favorite bands where, I panicked, not wanting to seem like a total social hick, blurted out the first band I could think of, The Jackson Five. My cousins weren't expecting that answer and it shifted the conversation away from my lack of knowledge about Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Ozzie Osborne, and other hard, and heavy-metal bands popular with everyone.
My feelings are mixed on hearing of his passing. Michael Jackson was a great musician and entertainer but he also had the ugly associations of child exploitation and other lifestyle oddness. I'll enjoy the musical tributes, indulge in the gossip and facts of his life as they consume popular and online media, and finally smile when I hear him sing Billie Jean.
After Thriller exploded and Michael Jackson became the cultural force he was at that time, I learned enough about Michael to know about his early history in the Jackson Five. At a family reunion at my grandmother Broughton around 1985-1986, my cousins Jason and Robbie asked me who my favorite bands where, I panicked, not wanting to seem like a total social hick, blurted out the first band I could think of, The Jackson Five. My cousins weren't expecting that answer and it shifted the conversation away from my lack of knowledge about Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Ozzie Osborne, and other hard, and heavy-metal bands popular with everyone.
My feelings are mixed on hearing of his passing. Michael Jackson was a great musician and entertainer but he also had the ugly associations of child exploitation and other lifestyle oddness. I'll enjoy the musical tributes, indulge in the gossip and facts of his life as they consume popular and online media, and finally smile when I hear him sing Billie Jean.
No Aikido on 06/24/2009, prep for this weekend.
Yesterday afternoon I developed a migraine so I decided to skip Aikido class to go home and rest.
I am leaving for Boulder tomorrow at noon. Classes at Boulder Aikikai start at 6:00 and run until 8:30. On Saturday I am going to Denver Aikikai for a weapons class and then on Sunday I am planning on attending three classes that start at 10 and run until 2:00, after which I am driving back to Gunnison. I am staying with my sister and her family and since I have more time, I'll be able to visit more with her, my nieces, and brother-in-law.
I am leaving for Boulder tomorrow at noon. Classes at Boulder Aikikai start at 6:00 and run until 8:30. On Saturday I am going to Denver Aikikai for a weapons class and then on Sunday I am planning on attending three classes that start at 10 and run until 2:00, after which I am driving back to Gunnison. I am staying with my sister and her family and since I have more time, I'll be able to visit more with her, my nieces, and brother-in-law.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
No Aikido on 6/22/2009
I talked to Jim this weekend and he has a job that prevents him from coming to class. I went to class and waited for 15 minutes before returning home. I will dress out and practice for at least 30 minutes on Wednesday as preparation for this weekend.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Run and Work
This morning I did laundry and then went for a run. When I started, I felt worse than normal as I my breathing was much more labored compared to most of my other runs. Due to the rain from the night before, the air had higher humidity and although I took deep breaths, I initially could not get enough O2 into my lungs. I don't know how much was real, and how much was in my head, but I theorize that the denser air from the extra water, was displacing the extra oxygen. After running/walking when I felt winded, I finished my 30 minute run. After about 10 minutes, I was able to run as normal but I don't know if my theory is correct or not.
I am working at the library until 5:00 p.m. At the end of this week I am leaving for Boulder for a 3-day Aikido trip as preparation for July's summer camp.
I am working at the library until 5:00 p.m. At the end of this week I am leaving for Boulder for a 3-day Aikido trip as preparation for July's summer camp.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Aikido for 06/17/2009
I decided to set-up the mats and practice for at least 1/2 hour even if nobody showed up for class. Well, I was alone again and after warming up, I did 20 forward and 20 backward ukemi, followed by the a couple of the exercises in my new Aikido book. I also brought my weapons with me and so I practiced the 13-jo kata. I also practiced 1-3 bokken katas as well.
Next week I am going to Boulder and Denver for a long weekend of Aikido practice. I will practice at Boulder Aikikai on Friday and Sunday, and I'm going to try to make the weapons class at Denver Aikikai. Hopefully I can absorb enough Aikido as I prepare for Summer camp next month. I am getting more excited about camp and look forward to a strong week of Aikido.
Next week I am going to Boulder and Denver for a long weekend of Aikido practice. I will practice at Boulder Aikikai on Friday and Sunday, and I'm going to try to make the weapons class at Denver Aikikai. Hopefully I can absorb enough Aikido as I prepare for Summer camp next month. I am getting more excited about camp and look forward to a strong week of Aikido.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Aikido for 06/15/2009
Yesterday afternoon, I went to class at 4:45 and waited around until 5. I haven't heard anything from Jim, I hope everything is okay. On Wednesday, I plan on bringing my latest Aikido book to class and go through the various warm-ups and I also plan on bring my weapons to practice as well.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Jarrett's visit
Jarrett came up from Grand Junction on Friday night. We later went out and enjoyed ourselves at the Last Chance. Saturday morning we drove up to Taylor Reservoir and I took this photo from our first location:
Jarrett and I then drove up a road from the lake to go Squirral hunting. We walked down the side of the mountain. As we walked through the pine forest, and came through a clearing, I took the second photo of the valley and the first photo is of Jarrett looking towards the same valley and he is holding his camouflaged shotgun.
I didn't shoot anything and then we went back to a different location and Jarrett caught this fish while I didn't catch anything
I always have a great time when Jarrett comes up to visit. On Sunday, we went shooting outside of Powderhorn and then drove over a dirt road to the Blue Mesa cut-off.
Jarrett and I then drove up a road from the lake to go Squirral hunting. We walked down the side of the mountain. As we walked through the pine forest, and came through a clearing, I took the second photo of the valley and the first photo is of Jarrett looking towards the same valley and he is holding his camouflaged shotgun.
I didn't shoot anything and then we went back to a different location and Jarrett caught this fish while I didn't catch anything
I always have a great time when Jarrett comes up to visit. On Sunday, we went shooting outside of Powderhorn and then drove over a dirt road to the Blue Mesa cut-off.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Aikido for 06/10/2009 and run
Last night I went to Aikido and while no one showed up, I did go through the usual warm-up and practiced my forward and backward ukemi as well.
After I got home, I went for 25 minute run as I really didn't exercise much in Aikido class.
After I got home, I went for 25 minute run as I really didn't exercise much in Aikido class.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Aikido for 06/08/2009
I made it back from SLC in time to teach the 4:45 class. I received a phone message from Jim saying he would not be able to make it to class, but I wanted to go anyway as there was a possibility that a new beginner would show up. I set-up the mats and when no one showed up, I did some warm-ups, did twenty forward rolls and twenty backward rolls, before ending with practicing 13-jo kata a number of times with a broom-stick (I didn't bring my weapons to class so I improvised).
I will continue to show up for class and hope for a better turn-out on Wednesday. I am planning to visit Boulder Aikikai June 26-28. There are 3 classes on Friday night, 1 class on Saturday, and 3 classes on Sunday. To prepare for my Shodon test, I need to get in as much practice as I can and just teaching two classes a week is not enough. Jim and I talked about having a Saturday class at the Gunnison Recreation Center, I would like to, but I need to work out the logistics for a Saturday class again.
I will continue to show up for class and hope for a better turn-out on Wednesday. I am planning to visit Boulder Aikikai June 26-28. There are 3 classes on Friday night, 1 class on Saturday, and 3 classes on Sunday. To prepare for my Shodon test, I need to get in as much practice as I can and just teaching two classes a week is not enough. Jim and I talked about having a Saturday class at the Gunnison Recreation Center, I would like to, but I need to work out the logistics for a Saturday class again.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Back from SLC
This past Friday I drove to my friend Floyd's in Salt Lake. After dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant, we went and saw a good film, The Brothers Bloom.
After coffee on Saturday, we went to Sam Weller's bookstore where I purchased Robert Frost's complete collection in paperback for $3.00 and an Aikido Exercises for Teaching and Training by C. M. Shifflett. Later that afternoon, Floyd and I worked in his backyard to prepare for a small gathering of the "Dark side", a number of my former male colleagues at the Marriott Library. Micheal showed up first, followed by Leonard, Ray, and later Mike. Robert was ill and unable to come, so we missed him. As the good red wine flowed and we ate salad, grilled chicken, and hamburgers, various war stories about the dysfunctional, ethically dubious, and near-or-at criminality of the Marriott library's administration and some senior librarians has not changed much since my tenure-track time at that library. Just a note, if you restructure an organization, laying off over 15 staff positions, but fail to eliminate one middle-management position, the reasons for the reorganization is likely more political and not as much for economical or efficiency reasons.
On Sunday I attended the meeting at the Murray Quaker Meetinghouse. I saw a few people I knew but there wasn't that many people in attendance. Floyd and I then ate lunch at a Chinese restaurant in the Suger-house neighborhood before spending a great afternoon of live music and chess with our mutual friend Ron. We had a left-overs with a sparkling wine from France and then watched Hitchcock's Vertigo, as Ray had given Floyd an original Vertigo movie poster. I have never seen Vertigo from start to finish and I am now a Kim Novack fan.
Monday, Floyd and I went for coffee and spend the day driving back from Salt Lake. The total trip back to Gunnison is over 410 miles making for a longer day of driving. I had a great time in Salt Lake and I look forward to seeing Floyd again.
After coffee on Saturday, we went to Sam Weller's bookstore where I purchased Robert Frost's complete collection in paperback for $3.00 and an Aikido Exercises for Teaching and Training by C. M. Shifflett. Later that afternoon, Floyd and I worked in his backyard to prepare for a small gathering of the "Dark side", a number of my former male colleagues at the Marriott Library. Micheal showed up first, followed by Leonard, Ray, and later Mike. Robert was ill and unable to come, so we missed him. As the good red wine flowed and we ate salad, grilled chicken, and hamburgers, various war stories about the dysfunctional, ethically dubious, and near-or-at criminality of the Marriott library's administration and some senior librarians has not changed much since my tenure-track time at that library. Just a note, if you restructure an organization, laying off over 15 staff positions, but fail to eliminate one middle-management position, the reasons for the reorganization is likely more political and not as much for economical or efficiency reasons.
On Sunday I attended the meeting at the Murray Quaker Meetinghouse. I saw a few people I knew but there wasn't that many people in attendance. Floyd and I then ate lunch at a Chinese restaurant in the Suger-house neighborhood before spending a great afternoon of live music and chess with our mutual friend Ron. We had a left-overs with a sparkling wine from France and then watched Hitchcock's Vertigo, as Ray had given Floyd an original Vertigo movie poster. I have never seen Vertigo from start to finish and I am now a Kim Novack fan.
Monday, Floyd and I went for coffee and spend the day driving back from Salt Lake. The total trip back to Gunnison is over 410 miles making for a longer day of driving. I had a great time in Salt Lake and I look forward to seeing Floyd again.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
No Aikido and run between rain
Yesterday afternoon Jim called and said he was unable to make class. I waited around and then left for home. I didn't go running right away as it was raining when I got home. I waited for about an hour and by then it had cleared enough for a twenty minute run which I cut short as the weather started threatening again with rain.
I am leaving for Salt Lake City tomorrow for a four day visit with my friend Floyd. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the "gang" from Marriott Library. I am also planning on going to the SLC Friends Quaker meeting on Sunday as well (if I am not too hungover from the night before). On Monday my plan is to leave SLC early enough so I can make it back to Gunnison for Monday's 4:45 Aikido class.
I am leaving for Salt Lake City tomorrow for a four day visit with my friend Floyd. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the "gang" from Marriott Library. I am also planning on going to the SLC Friends Quaker meeting on Sunday as well (if I am not too hungover from the night before). On Monday my plan is to leave SLC early enough so I can make it back to Gunnison for Monday's 4:45 Aikido class.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Aikido for 06/01/2009
For this afternoon's class, I introduced Jim to Katatetori nikkyo omote. Because it was just the two of us, it was a challenge to show Jim the formal, seated pin as uke's arm is being torqued in a couple of directions, forcing uke to ground and to tap out. We worked on nikkyo for a while.
We then worked on katatetori iriminage and I then introduced hamni-handachi katatetori iriminage to Jim.
I was happy to be back on the mat after a week off. Through Facebook, I recently found out that a women I went to high school with has just started Aikido in Denver at a Ki society dojo. I have to pull back my enthusiasm because of all of the benefits I have received from Aikido over my years of practicing.
(No run after class as the weather has turned to cold and rain)
We then worked on katatetori iriminage and I then introduced hamni-handachi katatetori iriminage to Jim.
I was happy to be back on the mat after a week off. Through Facebook, I recently found out that a women I went to high school with has just started Aikido in Denver at a Ki society dojo. I have to pull back my enthusiasm because of all of the benefits I have received from Aikido over my years of practicing.
(No run after class as the weather has turned to cold and rain)
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