Well, it's official. My bike is in the hospital.
Time to have all the wheel bearings repacked with grease. It's actually routine maintenance, but also well beyond my ability. While it's in I've asked the guy to do a general once over.
He seems nice, but admitted it will be the first time he's serviced an electric bike. He bought the shop a few months ago and our old guy retired. The new guy seems very competent, and I have no worries.
Anyhow, the bike is out of action. The earliest it will be home is several days away. No more riding this week.
It's too bad. The twice-a-day rides are nice.
So I'm a car guy for a while. I hope that doesn't stick.
Maybe it's time for my folding bike to try riding to school.
I am a 68 year old retired teacher living on the west coast of Canada. I spent over 30 years as a student of Karate until my knees stopped liking it. My current passionate activity is Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, which I've been at for about 13 years.
Wednesday 29 February 2012
Tuesday 28 February 2012
Tape
It's funny how significant silly little rewards become. In martial arts there are coloured belts that are indicators of one's process. Also, in Jiu-Jitsu one earns stripes on the belts to indicate smaller sub-steps in progress.
My goal is to get to the advanced class. I want access to the higher level training, and to getting twice as many classes per week at the same price.
To get there I need to earn a Blue Belt.
To get a Blue Belt there is a difficult exam.
To be allowed to test, one must do 69 combatives lessons, and 12 reflex classes.
To be allowed to attend reflex classes, one must have earned two stripes on the old White Belt.
To get two stripes one must have completed 40 combatives classes, and along the way, earned a first stripe.
I did 20 classes, got a first stripe, did 20 more, got a second stripe, and got access to the reflex lessons.
Now I'm working to finishing all the Blue Belt test requirements, and am about to get a third stripe.
So how do I describe all this in casual conversation? I say, "I'm working towards my Blue Belt."
Do I care about all the belts and stripes? Not really.
In my time I've seen hundreds of people pass belt exams. At Jiu-Jitsu, I've seen lots of stripes awarded. Funny thing; people always smile when the get a new belt, or even a mere stripe.
I wish I could say I'm totally immune to the allure of the new decoration. If I get my third stripe soon, I'll have the fanciest White Belt in the class. Three pieces of black, electrician tape.
Such an achievement.
My goal is to get to the advanced class. I want access to the higher level training, and to getting twice as many classes per week at the same price.
To get there I need to earn a Blue Belt.
To get a Blue Belt there is a difficult exam.
To be allowed to test, one must do 69 combatives lessons, and 12 reflex classes.
To be allowed to attend reflex classes, one must have earned two stripes on the old White Belt.
To get two stripes one must have completed 40 combatives classes, and along the way, earned a first stripe.
I did 20 classes, got a first stripe, did 20 more, got a second stripe, and got access to the reflex lessons.
Now I'm working to finishing all the Blue Belt test requirements, and am about to get a third stripe.
So how do I describe all this in casual conversation? I say, "I'm working towards my Blue Belt."
Do I care about all the belts and stripes? Not really.
In my time I've seen hundreds of people pass belt exams. At Jiu-Jitsu, I've seen lots of stripes awarded. Funny thing; people always smile when the get a new belt, or even a mere stripe.
I wish I could say I'm totally immune to the allure of the new decoration. If I get my third stripe soon, I'll have the fanciest White Belt in the class. Three pieces of black, electrician tape.
Such an achievement.
Monday 27 February 2012
30 Day Challenge
I love teaching Social Studies. For most grades, it is mostly up to the teacher to choose what to teach. Flexibility.
This year, I'm taking a few minutes of class time and getting my kids excited about trying a 30 Day Challenge. They choose something they want to add, or try, or avoid every day for 30 days. Draw for half an hour a day. Take a serious photo every day. Run every day. Almost anything is OK.
I've had a fabulous response. The range of things they are challenging themselves to do is very impressive. Nobody seems to be taking the easy road.
I have also started TWO 30 Day Challenges. One is easy, and helps them remember the Challenge is on. I am not shaving for a month. It is sort of a visual nag, both to them and also to my memory.
The other challenge is to spend at least 15 minutes a night memorizing the techniques on my upcoming Jiu-Jitsu exam. This kind of thing is very difficult for me, and I'll normally avoid working on it at any cost. Now I can't.
So far, I've spent at least half an hour a day on the Challenge. This is twice my goal. It has only been 3 days so far, but the memorization is going pretty darn well.
I like my Challenge in another way. When I explain it to my kids I get to stress how hard memorization is for me. I get to tell them truthfully how easy I found physics, and how tortuously hard biology was for me. My brain doesn't work well on remembering lists of things.
It is important to show school kids your academic weaknesses. Many have problems, and seeing how well a teacher can do in one area while admitting to weaknesses in another is perfect role-modelling.
In any case, my kids are working on their 30 Day Challenges. Some are doing things that are really hard. Few have picked school type things to do. Many are working in fields they never get marks for. Some are trying things that are totally out of left field. I have yet to see a student's plan that is not busting with merit. As they do their month-long activities, they keep some form of journal (written or video), and hand it in for credit.
Everybody wins. And if we're just lucky, it might stick in one or two.
What if some those kids who dare themselves to draw, or paint, or video, or work out, or run, or write music keep on doing it in some form for ever?
I love the freedom to do stuff like this.
This year, I'm taking a few minutes of class time and getting my kids excited about trying a 30 Day Challenge. They choose something they want to add, or try, or avoid every day for 30 days. Draw for half an hour a day. Take a serious photo every day. Run every day. Almost anything is OK.
I've had a fabulous response. The range of things they are challenging themselves to do is very impressive. Nobody seems to be taking the easy road.
I have also started TWO 30 Day Challenges. One is easy, and helps them remember the Challenge is on. I am not shaving for a month. It is sort of a visual nag, both to them and also to my memory.
The other challenge is to spend at least 15 minutes a night memorizing the techniques on my upcoming Jiu-Jitsu exam. This kind of thing is very difficult for me, and I'll normally avoid working on it at any cost. Now I can't.
So far, I've spent at least half an hour a day on the Challenge. This is twice my goal. It has only been 3 days so far, but the memorization is going pretty darn well.
I like my Challenge in another way. When I explain it to my kids I get to stress how hard memorization is for me. I get to tell them truthfully how easy I found physics, and how tortuously hard biology was for me. My brain doesn't work well on remembering lists of things.
It is important to show school kids your academic weaknesses. Many have problems, and seeing how well a teacher can do in one area while admitting to weaknesses in another is perfect role-modelling.
In any case, my kids are working on their 30 Day Challenges. Some are doing things that are really hard. Few have picked school type things to do. Many are working in fields they never get marks for. Some are trying things that are totally out of left field. I have yet to see a student's plan that is not busting with merit. As they do their month-long activities, they keep some form of journal (written or video), and hand it in for credit.
Everybody wins. And if we're just lucky, it might stick in one or two.
What if some those kids who dare themselves to draw, or paint, or video, or work out, or run, or write music keep on doing it in some form for ever?
I love the freedom to do stuff like this.
Sunday 26 February 2012
Shiny new club
Things might be happening on the "Weekend Flexible/Gentle Karate" front. A couple of friends who used to train have been after me to start something up. I finally asked one if he'd do the legwork towards finding a place. He's on it.
There are already two fine Karate groups on the coast, so I picked an area halfway in between. I don't want to be perceived as trying to take over anybody's turf. I know the Roberts Creek club will be fine with this, but I'm not so sure about the one in West Sechelt.
The chosen area has several possible spots; halls, churches, and a school. They might be too expensive, or unavailable. We'll see.
If things work, it will be good for me. The only training around here I can attend is held on Friday. It seems about 1/4 of the Fridays are lost to school scheduling. I also miss a lot more due to conflicts with other activities. A decision between going dancing with my wife or going punching with my friends is no choice at all.
I can't train Tuesdays, or Thursdays, or Saturday mornings either. Jiu-Jitsu holds those slots. What I would like for a new group would be one weekend session (Saturday afternoon or on Sunday), and one weeknight session (Monday or Wednesday). That would be enough so that students could progress through the belts.
Anybody teaching a physical activity without insurance is nuts, and the cheapest way to get that is to join one of the big associations. The two immediately open to me are the ISKF, and JKABC. They also provide ranking authorization. Both are fine groups, but the JKABC would permit me to do exams up to Brown Belt. This is a huge concession, as having to bring in examiners from outside is a huge expense. JKA also holds bi-monthly exams in the Vancouver area for anyone too high for me to test. By then they'd be Brown Belts and a little hassle would be good for their souls.
This also means I can accept any existing ranks.
So place, association, tests? What else?
A new group needs a reason to exist. I see two unaddressed needs. The first is training for people not able to do traditional intensity. The second is training for people who want a mentor, not an authority figure.
Both of these are pretty rare in the Karate world.
There are tons of people for whom normal training would be unwise. The usual, "just do it" and "push through the pain" philosophy won't be what we do. It will be slow, precise, and modified for each individual. Bad back? When we are doing X, you should try Y. Bad knee? Step slowly, and your front stance will be like this, not that.
I would do this for everybody in the class, healthy and not so healthy; young and not so young. It would be the paradigm. It would be the norm. If such seems exceptional within a class, people think they are standing out. If it's just how we do things, they'll do it. I will actively recruit people not actively recruited.
There is also a tendency in martial arts to try and tell people what to do outside of the dojo. Don't do this activity. Do that activity. An example is the Jiu-Jitsu class I'm in. There is a subtle pressure for us all to adopt the Gracie diet.
I've always preferred to be treated like an adult. If a student of mine wants to practise another martial art I'd think it's cool. If he wants to try out weapons training, I'll help. If they want to try a special diet, I'll listen and be supportive. If they want to spar, or compete, or not compete, or not test, or go vegan, or whatever, it isn't my job to tell them NO. They are not children and I'm not their parent. In life, we are equals sharing one activity.
All we need is a place.
And some students.
There are already two fine Karate groups on the coast, so I picked an area halfway in between. I don't want to be perceived as trying to take over anybody's turf. I know the Roberts Creek club will be fine with this, but I'm not so sure about the one in West Sechelt.
The chosen area has several possible spots; halls, churches, and a school. They might be too expensive, or unavailable. We'll see.
If things work, it will be good for me. The only training around here I can attend is held on Friday. It seems about 1/4 of the Fridays are lost to school scheduling. I also miss a lot more due to conflicts with other activities. A decision between going dancing with my wife or going punching with my friends is no choice at all.
I can't train Tuesdays, or Thursdays, or Saturday mornings either. Jiu-Jitsu holds those slots. What I would like for a new group would be one weekend session (Saturday afternoon or on Sunday), and one weeknight session (Monday or Wednesday). That would be enough so that students could progress through the belts.
Anybody teaching a physical activity without insurance is nuts, and the cheapest way to get that is to join one of the big associations. The two immediately open to me are the ISKF, and JKABC. They also provide ranking authorization. Both are fine groups, but the JKABC would permit me to do exams up to Brown Belt. This is a huge concession, as having to bring in examiners from outside is a huge expense. JKA also holds bi-monthly exams in the Vancouver area for anyone too high for me to test. By then they'd be Brown Belts and a little hassle would be good for their souls.
This also means I can accept any existing ranks.
So place, association, tests? What else?
A new group needs a reason to exist. I see two unaddressed needs. The first is training for people not able to do traditional intensity. The second is training for people who want a mentor, not an authority figure.
Both of these are pretty rare in the Karate world.
There are tons of people for whom normal training would be unwise. The usual, "just do it" and "push through the pain" philosophy won't be what we do. It will be slow, precise, and modified for each individual. Bad back? When we are doing X, you should try Y. Bad knee? Step slowly, and your front stance will be like this, not that.
I would do this for everybody in the class, healthy and not so healthy; young and not so young. It would be the paradigm. It would be the norm. If such seems exceptional within a class, people think they are standing out. If it's just how we do things, they'll do it. I will actively recruit people not actively recruited.
There is also a tendency in martial arts to try and tell people what to do outside of the dojo. Don't do this activity. Do that activity. An example is the Jiu-Jitsu class I'm in. There is a subtle pressure for us all to adopt the Gracie diet.
I've always preferred to be treated like an adult. If a student of mine wants to practise another martial art I'd think it's cool. If he wants to try out weapons training, I'll help. If they want to try a special diet, I'll listen and be supportive. If they want to spar, or compete, or not compete, or not test, or go vegan, or whatever, it isn't my job to tell them NO. They are not children and I'm not their parent. In life, we are equals sharing one activity.
All we need is a place.
And some students.
Saturday 25 February 2012
Passing
I really like the Jiu-Jitsu training program I'm on. It is very well planned and constructed.
This coming week is a minor milestone for me. I will be starting my final rotation through the basic lessons. I will also be halfway through the required Saturday classes. The former should be completed by about the middle of May, and the later at the end of April.
I've already been working on memorizing the testing techniques. There are 5 parts to the exam. Each is video recorded and sent to HQ. Each of the 5 parts has to be done in under five minutes. I'm told the whole procedure takes about a month to complete.
When I started, there were about 20 White Belts in the class already. I was the rookie.
Some only attend about half the time. I passed them long ago. Some train much more than that, but almost everybody has missed one or two. Missing means about 3 months to make up the holes created in one's record. The only cure to this is to take private lessons to fill the gaps, but this takes time, hassle, and costs money. As far as I know, I'm the only person to have done private lessons since I started the class. Private lessons also can be used to speed up completion of the required classes. I've had ten private sessions, which fixed two absences, and counted as four full weeks of training.
This way I've passed almost everybody else. There are about 5 or 6 of the most experienced White Belt people who should be attending the Saturday classes. You must complete 12 of these before you can test. I have done 5. On two of these Saturdays, I was the only White Belt present. On two more Michael was also there, and today there was one of the teenagers. The other 3 or 4 people haven't come at all.
I suspect I've caught and passed them as well.
It sounds as if I consider it a big race. Nothing could be farther from the truth. My only race is against myself and against the clock. I want to be ready for my test as soon as possible. If the others were still ahead of me that would be just fine. It wouldn't affect my goals.
I guess it isn't important to them in the same way it is to me.
If I get my test done when I want, and I pass, I'll relax. Helen and I travel a fair bit in the Summer months. This will make my attendance at Jiu-Jitsu very spotty. Perhaps a bunch of other folks will be able to keep training steadily and complete their own exams.
I really hope they do. There are currently only a few Blue Belts attending regularly. Even if I get to join them, it will be a pretty tiny advanced class. Things seem to run nicely with a few more than that. I hope that by September there are several more additions.
I want to reach the training in the advanced group, and I hope the class is big enough to have a strong energy.
And maybe I’ll start a tradition of going for coffee afterwards.
That can be important, too.
This coming week is a minor milestone for me. I will be starting my final rotation through the basic lessons. I will also be halfway through the required Saturday classes. The former should be completed by about the middle of May, and the later at the end of April.
I've already been working on memorizing the testing techniques. There are 5 parts to the exam. Each is video recorded and sent to HQ. Each of the 5 parts has to be done in under five minutes. I'm told the whole procedure takes about a month to complete.
When I started, there were about 20 White Belts in the class already. I was the rookie.
Some only attend about half the time. I passed them long ago. Some train much more than that, but almost everybody has missed one or two. Missing means about 3 months to make up the holes created in one's record. The only cure to this is to take private lessons to fill the gaps, but this takes time, hassle, and costs money. As far as I know, I'm the only person to have done private lessons since I started the class. Private lessons also can be used to speed up completion of the required classes. I've had ten private sessions, which fixed two absences, and counted as four full weeks of training.
This way I've passed almost everybody else. There are about 5 or 6 of the most experienced White Belt people who should be attending the Saturday classes. You must complete 12 of these before you can test. I have done 5. On two of these Saturdays, I was the only White Belt present. On two more Michael was also there, and today there was one of the teenagers. The other 3 or 4 people haven't come at all.
I suspect I've caught and passed them as well.
It sounds as if I consider it a big race. Nothing could be farther from the truth. My only race is against myself and against the clock. I want to be ready for my test as soon as possible. If the others were still ahead of me that would be just fine. It wouldn't affect my goals.
I guess it isn't important to them in the same way it is to me.
If I get my test done when I want, and I pass, I'll relax. Helen and I travel a fair bit in the Summer months. This will make my attendance at Jiu-Jitsu very spotty. Perhaps a bunch of other folks will be able to keep training steadily and complete their own exams.
I really hope they do. There are currently only a few Blue Belts attending regularly. Even if I get to join them, it will be a pretty tiny advanced class. Things seem to run nicely with a few more than that. I hope that by September there are several more additions.
I want to reach the training in the advanced group, and I hope the class is big enough to have a strong energy.
And maybe I’ll start a tradition of going for coffee afterwards.
That can be important, too.
Dem woids
Do you know what one of the hardest parts of martial arts is? Not the techniques, or the conditioning, or the pain. It's the terminology.
Take Karate, for example. There are 5 basic blocks introduced to beginners in the first few classes. The names are fairly descriptive, but do take a little learning. They are, rising block, lower block, outside forearm block, inside forearm block, and knifehand block. Not bad.
The student also has to learn the Japanese names; age uke, gedan berai, soto ude uke, uchi ude uke, and shuto uke. For a long time, these are meaningless syllables.
It is the same with the strikes, stances, and kicks, and these are just the basic techniques. I never found this easy.
Now I'm in Jiu-Jitsu and struggling to learn all the names for the various chokes, and locks, and throws, and escapes. The namers have tried to be as descriptive as possible, but it is still confusing.
For example; if somebody has their hooks in, you might have to use a fish hook, or a hook removal.
It's coming, but slowly. I review things at home in addition to the classes.
At least it's not in Japanese this time.
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu comes from Brazil, so I'm just happy it's not in Portuguese.
Take Karate, for example. There are 5 basic blocks introduced to beginners in the first few classes. The names are fairly descriptive, but do take a little learning. They are, rising block, lower block, outside forearm block, inside forearm block, and knifehand block. Not bad.
The student also has to learn the Japanese names; age uke, gedan berai, soto ude uke, uchi ude uke, and shuto uke. For a long time, these are meaningless syllables.
It is the same with the strikes, stances, and kicks, and these are just the basic techniques. I never found this easy.
Now I'm in Jiu-Jitsu and struggling to learn all the names for the various chokes, and locks, and throws, and escapes. The namers have tried to be as descriptive as possible, but it is still confusing.
For example; if somebody has their hooks in, you might have to use a fish hook, or a hook removal.
It's coming, but slowly. I review things at home in addition to the classes.
At least it's not in Japanese this time.
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu comes from Brazil, so I'm just happy it's not in Portuguese.
Friday 24 February 2012
Force
Last night we worked on headlock escapes while the opponent is lying on your chest.
It's a cool technique, and harmless enough for the person doing it. You push your arms against the opponent's face hard, then swing both legs up and around his face. You pull him backwards to the ground with your legs grindingly tight against his face.
There are a number of variations, but that's pretty much it.
Doing it a couple of times is no problem for either participant, but there is wear and tear on the opponent's face. The uniforms don't help either. They are very abrasive when pushed against the skin with any force.
Although there were many people there, I spent most of the night with the same guy. He's a nice fellow, and we are both amongst the larger people present. His one flaw is that he seems unable to do any technique without piling on a great deal of muscle. He tries not to, but just can't stop. As he uses muscle when being the opponent, I have no option but to use a bit of force back. Not as much as he's using, but more than is pleasant.
I noticed about halfway through the night that his face was turning blotchy, and maybe even a tad swollen and bumpy. I don't mind looking hurt, as long as I'm not really injured, and I assumed the same was happening to me.
Facial markings like these fade rapidly. By the time I got home I looked pretty normal except for a bit of redness here and there. By this morning even that had largely faded.
All of the three of four other partners I had briefly last night looked perfectly normal. Only Mister Resistance and I got reddened up. I'm sure I didn't cause any abrasion to any of my other partners.
I have noticed that Mister Resistance seems to have a little problem getting partners when it's pair-up time. He always gets one, but is usually one of the last paired.
I don't mind him at all. The muscle he uses is pretty static. There’s no chance he'd hurt me as there could be if he flailed about. To me he's just a different version of an opponent. I like them all.
Last night I paired with a stocky, two-stripe White Belt. I've done some things more than him, and he some more than I. We are good at giving each other feedback. I also had Michael. He's a slender guy in his twenties. He often has trouble with new things for a repetition or two, but then he always gets it and is good to go. Fast learner. I also had Madeline. She's the smallest person in the class, but might just be the one that moves the best.
I had them each after the instructor told us to, "get a new partner". Soon, however, gravity pulled me back to Mister Resistance. When he didn't have me, he ended up with others amongst the larger people.
I bet it would be really uncomfortable for the smaller folks.
It's a cool technique, and harmless enough for the person doing it. You push your arms against the opponent's face hard, then swing both legs up and around his face. You pull him backwards to the ground with your legs grindingly tight against his face.
There are a number of variations, but that's pretty much it.
Doing it a couple of times is no problem for either participant, but there is wear and tear on the opponent's face. The uniforms don't help either. They are very abrasive when pushed against the skin with any force.
Although there were many people there, I spent most of the night with the same guy. He's a nice fellow, and we are both amongst the larger people present. His one flaw is that he seems unable to do any technique without piling on a great deal of muscle. He tries not to, but just can't stop. As he uses muscle when being the opponent, I have no option but to use a bit of force back. Not as much as he's using, but more than is pleasant.
I noticed about halfway through the night that his face was turning blotchy, and maybe even a tad swollen and bumpy. I don't mind looking hurt, as long as I'm not really injured, and I assumed the same was happening to me.
Facial markings like these fade rapidly. By the time I got home I looked pretty normal except for a bit of redness here and there. By this morning even that had largely faded.
All of the three of four other partners I had briefly last night looked perfectly normal. Only Mister Resistance and I got reddened up. I'm sure I didn't cause any abrasion to any of my other partners.
I have noticed that Mister Resistance seems to have a little problem getting partners when it's pair-up time. He always gets one, but is usually one of the last paired.
I don't mind him at all. The muscle he uses is pretty static. There’s no chance he'd hurt me as there could be if he flailed about. To me he's just a different version of an opponent. I like them all.
Last night I paired with a stocky, two-stripe White Belt. I've done some things more than him, and he some more than I. We are good at giving each other feedback. I also had Michael. He's a slender guy in his twenties. He often has trouble with new things for a repetition or two, but then he always gets it and is good to go. Fast learner. I also had Madeline. She's the smallest person in the class, but might just be the one that moves the best.
I had them each after the instructor told us to, "get a new partner". Soon, however, gravity pulled me back to Mister Resistance. When he didn't have me, he ended up with others amongst the larger people.
I bet it would be really uncomfortable for the smaller folks.
Wednesday 22 February 2012
Cheap
I wonder if martial arts will be a bargain for me in the future. I'll be retired fairly soon, so let's compare it to a typical old-dude activity.
Martial arts versus golf.
Set of clubs versus gi. Golf clubs $500; add in a couple of hundred more for shoes, balls, and classy duds. Let's call it $700. Martial arts uniforms average about $125. Equipment advantage, martial arts.
Fees. No golf club membership would save money. Play two rounds of golf per week. Over $100 easy. That's $5200 a year. I do a lot of martial arts, and am paying monthly fees at two. Put that together for a year and it's about $1500, and I get to go 4 times a week. Double the fun for a third of the price. I could even throw in a private lesson once a week and is still way less money than golf.
I wonder how much I'd eat at the golf club. That would cost. The most I've spent on the way home from martial arts lately has been the price of a cup of Tim Horton's coco.
I understand the appeal of golf, but it bores me to tears.
Martial arts versus golf.
Set of clubs versus gi. Golf clubs $500; add in a couple of hundred more for shoes, balls, and classy duds. Let's call it $700. Martial arts uniforms average about $125. Equipment advantage, martial arts.
Fees. No golf club membership would save money. Play two rounds of golf per week. Over $100 easy. That's $5200 a year. I do a lot of martial arts, and am paying monthly fees at two. Put that together for a year and it's about $1500, and I get to go 4 times a week. Double the fun for a third of the price. I could even throw in a private lesson once a week and is still way less money than golf.
I wonder how much I'd eat at the golf club. That would cost. The most I've spent on the way home from martial arts lately has been the price of a cup of Tim Horton's coco.
I understand the appeal of golf, but it bores me to tears.
Tuesday 21 February 2012
No germs allowed...
The goal is to test for my Blue Belt before the end of June.
This is a very short time table to complete all the mandatory requirements AND get good enough at everything to pass.
It should all fit within the next few months, but there isn't a lot of wiggle room.
My wife, Helen, is home sick today with a nasty virus. I don't like getting sick and missing work. Sickness can also interfere with other activities as well.
Usually this is no big deal really. In my training this year, it is. Miss a class and it could screw up the entire plan. You may think, so what? Miss a class and test one class later.
Miss one of the Saturday classes, and it takes an extra week to make it up.
Miss an evening class, and it punches a hole in one's training record that won't normally get filled for almost three months.
I really want to stay healthy for the next four months. I can't afford an injury, either.
It is possible to fix training gaps with private lessons, but they aren't cheap, are only available once a week, and there must be somebody willing to teach. Right now the usual private lesson guy is in Australia.
So, how likely am I to get sick? Well, I'm a school teacher. That means I work in a packed environment full of germ carriers. My wife is also, so I get chance to catch any plagues that somehow miss my school but tear through hers. Teachers are the people most likely to be made sick by their work outside of hospital workers.
So, how likely am I to get injured?
I'm an old man, in terms of combative sports. Not really old enough to snap easily, but certainly slow healing. Since training in Jiu-Jitsu I've suffered sore necks, stiff backs, pulled groins, and numerous banged, sprained, and broken toes. None of these injuries has cost me any training, but some got close.
If I make my end-of-June testing goal I can relax. I can relax even if I don't reach my goal. In the summer and fall the occasional missed class due to illness, injury, or social engagement will be fine.
A missed class will just be a missed class.
This is a very short time table to complete all the mandatory requirements AND get good enough at everything to pass.
It should all fit within the next few months, but there isn't a lot of wiggle room.
My wife, Helen, is home sick today with a nasty virus. I don't like getting sick and missing work. Sickness can also interfere with other activities as well.
Usually this is no big deal really. In my training this year, it is. Miss a class and it could screw up the entire plan. You may think, so what? Miss a class and test one class later.
Miss one of the Saturday classes, and it takes an extra week to make it up.
Miss an evening class, and it punches a hole in one's training record that won't normally get filled for almost three months.
I really want to stay healthy for the next four months. I can't afford an injury, either.
It is possible to fix training gaps with private lessons, but they aren't cheap, are only available once a week, and there must be somebody willing to teach. Right now the usual private lesson guy is in Australia.
So, how likely am I to get sick? Well, I'm a school teacher. That means I work in a packed environment full of germ carriers. My wife is also, so I get chance to catch any plagues that somehow miss my school but tear through hers. Teachers are the people most likely to be made sick by their work outside of hospital workers.
So, how likely am I to get injured?
I'm an old man, in terms of combative sports. Not really old enough to snap easily, but certainly slow healing. Since training in Jiu-Jitsu I've suffered sore necks, stiff backs, pulled groins, and numerous banged, sprained, and broken toes. None of these injuries has cost me any training, but some got close.
If I make my end-of-June testing goal I can relax. I can relax even if I don't reach my goal. In the summer and fall the occasional missed class due to illness, injury, or social engagement will be fine.
A missed class will just be a missed class.
Monday 20 February 2012
Bum ads
I hate the way ads have crept into every aspect of daily life.
I've just been watching a few mma bouts on TV. It's just ridiculous. Of course there are regular commercials, but they are almost relaxing.
The competition is held on a mat which has massive advertising labels plastered all over it. The above-the-action camera is nicely situated to feature these ads.
Out come the fighters, wearing ugly t-shirts, and stupid hats which are also covered with adverts, and I do mean covered. Front, back and sides. Each fighter has at least half a dozen companions walking with him, all wearing a similar number of adverts. That's the only reason those guys are there. Part of their job is to unroll a massive ad banner behind their boy while the introductions are made.
The fighters shorts? Covered with ads. Dozens of them. I'm sure if anybody tried to ban this practise, the fighters would sell skin for advertising tattoos.
I don't see how any of this works. The ads are meaningless. Some guy fighting right now has about ten logos visible on the back of his pants. Right across his butt is the word "Legends". How does that sell anything? Some ads I do recognize, and they are for specialty items like martial arts wear. How much can a martial arts clothing company pay for an ad on somebody's bum? How much will it increase their sales?
A million ads for nickel-and-dime compensation and with minimal effectiveness. Worthless and useless, but we still have to look at it all.
I would love to see one fighter buck the trend. Just one.
He could walk to the ring unencumbered with extraneous shirts and hats. Not needed if it weren't for advertising. He could be accompanied by only a couple of people who were actually going to work his corner. No banner men. He could wear shorts free of ads, perhaps with his name or nickname proudly displayed.
That would be classy.
Ali and Foremen didn't wear ads.
I've just been watching a few mma bouts on TV. It's just ridiculous. Of course there are regular commercials, but they are almost relaxing.
The competition is held on a mat which has massive advertising labels plastered all over it. The above-the-action camera is nicely situated to feature these ads.
Out come the fighters, wearing ugly t-shirts, and stupid hats which are also covered with adverts, and I do mean covered. Front, back and sides. Each fighter has at least half a dozen companions walking with him, all wearing a similar number of adverts. That's the only reason those guys are there. Part of their job is to unroll a massive ad banner behind their boy while the introductions are made.
The fighters shorts? Covered with ads. Dozens of them. I'm sure if anybody tried to ban this practise, the fighters would sell skin for advertising tattoos.
I don't see how any of this works. The ads are meaningless. Some guy fighting right now has about ten logos visible on the back of his pants. Right across his butt is the word "Legends". How does that sell anything? Some ads I do recognize, and they are for specialty items like martial arts wear. How much can a martial arts clothing company pay for an ad on somebody's bum? How much will it increase their sales?
A million ads for nickel-and-dime compensation and with minimal effectiveness. Worthless and useless, but we still have to look at it all.
I would love to see one fighter buck the trend. Just one.
He could walk to the ring unencumbered with extraneous shirts and hats. Not needed if it weren't for advertising. He could be accompanied by only a couple of people who were actually going to work his corner. No banner men. He could wear shorts free of ads, perhaps with his name or nickname proudly displayed.
That would be classy.
Ali and Foremen didn't wear ads.
Sunday 19 February 2012
Game rating
My verdict is in on the new fighting game called UFC Undisputed 3.
Let's ignore how stupid the name itself is. The graphics are good, and the controls seem to work quite well. The career game is well thought out. In the ring, there are tons and tons of moves.
So how is it? I'll be playing it a lot, but even so it isn't perfect. When I compare the game play and graphics to the only other decent competing title it doesn't come off so well.
Electronic Arts game called MMA was released two years ago. The 3d modelling was about the same, but the fighters moved in a much more natural and realistic way. In the game play, the fighting was more logical and realistic, and the controls fit the scheme perfectly.
There is one reason that the UFC game is still around and MMA isn't. The UFC is dominant in their ability to use real world big-name fighters. That seems to make all the difference. It's why I'm playing the new game instead of hauling out the old one.
I like the UFC game's career mode very much. It is possible to create just about anybody you want as a fighter. Pity it doesn't allow the importation of real facial photos like MMA did. I used to look exactly like me when I fought. Now I look like some kinda movie star. It is really nice that it is now possible to make fighters with big fat bellies, or even skinny bones dudes.
I haven't really done all that much in career mode yet. I've built a guy, trained him up, dressed him in his Barbie outfit, and won a single bout with him.
One thing that I really hate is that tons of the games content is locked. There were 4 fighters, hundreds of clothing items, and many other features that you can't use. As you fight, you earn brownie points that you can use to unlock this content. I hate that.
There is online play. I won't do that, as I never get good enough to challenge the button-mashing junkies. I don't want to get good enough. It's a sign that one has wasted far too much time.
The game, however, doesn't help a martial artist's training in any way. To get out of an opponent's guard, you flick the right button up and around, or down and around.
That doesn't translate well.
Let's ignore how stupid the name itself is. The graphics are good, and the controls seem to work quite well. The career game is well thought out. In the ring, there are tons and tons of moves.
So how is it? I'll be playing it a lot, but even so it isn't perfect. When I compare the game play and graphics to the only other decent competing title it doesn't come off so well.
Electronic Arts game called MMA was released two years ago. The 3d modelling was about the same, but the fighters moved in a much more natural and realistic way. In the game play, the fighting was more logical and realistic, and the controls fit the scheme perfectly.
There is one reason that the UFC game is still around and MMA isn't. The UFC is dominant in their ability to use real world big-name fighters. That seems to make all the difference. It's why I'm playing the new game instead of hauling out the old one.
I like the UFC game's career mode very much. It is possible to create just about anybody you want as a fighter. Pity it doesn't allow the importation of real facial photos like MMA did. I used to look exactly like me when I fought. Now I look like some kinda movie star. It is really nice that it is now possible to make fighters with big fat bellies, or even skinny bones dudes.
I haven't really done all that much in career mode yet. I've built a guy, trained him up, dressed him in his Barbie outfit, and won a single bout with him.
One thing that I really hate is that tons of the games content is locked. There were 4 fighters, hundreds of clothing items, and many other features that you can't use. As you fight, you earn brownie points that you can use to unlock this content. I hate that.
There is online play. I won't do that, as I never get good enough to challenge the button-mashing junkies. I don't want to get good enough. It's a sign that one has wasted far too much time.
The game, however, doesn't help a martial artist's training in any way. To get out of an opponent's guard, you flick the right button up and around, or down and around.
That doesn't translate well.
In the cards
So where will I be in a week, a month, six months or a year?
Well, I'd have to say I'll be living in Sechelt in all of those time frames, and I'll still be teaching.
As a runner, in a week and a month I'll have cranked off an unimpressive number of kilometres. In six months, in August, things will be different. I'll run a lot of early morning miles and really enjoy it. In fact, in six months I'll be on a cruise ship, running when in port, and on deck, and on treadmills in the fitness center. And eating a lot of wonderful things.
In a year, I'll be doing a few plodding miles when I can. It will probably be raining.
Bikewise, in a week I'll have done another 50km to work. Likely within a month the bike will have gone into the shop for service, or it will be about to. Six months from now my bike will be all smiles. He likes doing summer rides, and it will be the middle of August.
In six months, I'll be on a cruise ship in Alaskan waters. Helen and I will both have our folding bikes along and going for rides in each port.
As a biker a year from now I will have completed the dark, nasty part of winter in my last year before retirement. Every morning will be lighter, and brighter, and warmer. That will be nice.
One week from now in Karate, I'll have attended a single class. In a month, maybe 4. That won't change anything much. Six months from now, I'll be training semi-regularly with the UVic club. That's fun to do. I'll also have trained again with my instructor from Japan, Sakurai Sensei. I'll also have trained with one of the legends, Oishi Sensei. Not much will change between that time and a year from now.
In Jiu-Jitsu I am a baby/rookie. A lot more should happen. In a week, I'll enter my final rotation of basic technique training. I'll also have reached halfway through the required Saturday reflex classes. In a month, even farther along. In six months I'll rarely be able to attend my home club, but I should be wearing a Blue Belt instead of White. In Victoria I will be training with the Judo Club. That will greatly help my Jiu-Jitsu.
In a year I'll have been back at regular training for 6 months and I should be getting vaguely close to taking the first exam for adding a spiffy stripe onto my Blue Belt.
It looks like all the big stuff will be noticeable at the six month mark, rather than at the week, month or year milestones. I'll be on a cruise ship, running, biking, training regularly in Karate, and Judo; will have earned a Blue Belt in Jiu-Jitsu; and will have trained with both Sakurai Sensei and Oishi Sensei.
So that's my short term future in all my regular activities. I'll also be farther along in my Xbox play, TV watching, Facebooking and Blogging, but those are all kind of embarrassing to mention.
Well, I'd have to say I'll be living in Sechelt in all of those time frames, and I'll still be teaching.
As a runner, in a week and a month I'll have cranked off an unimpressive number of kilometres. In six months, in August, things will be different. I'll run a lot of early morning miles and really enjoy it. In fact, in six months I'll be on a cruise ship, running when in port, and on deck, and on treadmills in the fitness center. And eating a lot of wonderful things.
In a year, I'll be doing a few plodding miles when I can. It will probably be raining.
Bikewise, in a week I'll have done another 50km to work. Likely within a month the bike will have gone into the shop for service, or it will be about to. Six months from now my bike will be all smiles. He likes doing summer rides, and it will be the middle of August.
In six months, I'll be on a cruise ship in Alaskan waters. Helen and I will both have our folding bikes along and going for rides in each port.
As a biker a year from now I will have completed the dark, nasty part of winter in my last year before retirement. Every morning will be lighter, and brighter, and warmer. That will be nice.
One week from now in Karate, I'll have attended a single class. In a month, maybe 4. That won't change anything much. Six months from now, I'll be training semi-regularly with the UVic club. That's fun to do. I'll also have trained again with my instructor from Japan, Sakurai Sensei. I'll also have trained with one of the legends, Oishi Sensei. Not much will change between that time and a year from now.
In Jiu-Jitsu I am a baby/rookie. A lot more should happen. In a week, I'll enter my final rotation of basic technique training. I'll also have reached halfway through the required Saturday reflex classes. In a month, even farther along. In six months I'll rarely be able to attend my home club, but I should be wearing a Blue Belt instead of White. In Victoria I will be training with the Judo Club. That will greatly help my Jiu-Jitsu.
In a year I'll have been back at regular training for 6 months and I should be getting vaguely close to taking the first exam for adding a spiffy stripe onto my Blue Belt.
It looks like all the big stuff will be noticeable at the six month mark, rather than at the week, month or year milestones. I'll be on a cruise ship, running, biking, training regularly in Karate, and Judo; will have earned a Blue Belt in Jiu-Jitsu; and will have trained with both Sakurai Sensei and Oishi Sensei.
So that's my short term future in all my regular activities. I'll also be farther along in my Xbox play, TV watching, Facebooking and Blogging, but those are all kind of embarrassing to mention.
Saturday 18 February 2012
Martial arts laundry
When the TV is on, and my chair is nice and cozy I often create fantasy trips to ponder over. I collect hotel locations, and costs, and transportation....all added up.
I've done one in relation to training at Gracie HQ in Torrance, California. Torrance is really part of Los Angeles.
Found a couple of hotels about a mile from the Dojo. If we went, I could walk there and Helen could have use of the car to poke around while I train. Off season, the rates are pretty fair. I've also looked into Disney pass prices. I imagine we'd go there a lot.
Sometimes my brain notices things many wouldn't. How would I keep myself attired in fresh uniforms?
I like to wash them after each wearing. At home I train three times a week, and rotate three uniforms. I only have to wash them once a week.
In Torrance, I'd be attending 11 classes a week, more if I did any private lessons. Let's call it 11 uniforms a week. They don't do well with heavy dryer use. Would I be washing half a dozen gis twice a week, and then hanging them all over the hotel room?
Many think these white suits are built like pyjamas, but nothing could be farther from the truth. They are big, and thick, and incredibly bulky. An in-room laundry nightmare.
I also hate Laundromats. I always have. The idea of doing that twice a week gives me the shudders. Think of the time wasted.
If I wash them every day, the most at one time would be two. Throw the two in the tub, and pretend to be an old-school Italian wine maker. March about on them for a few minutes, try and squeeze out the juice, and then hang the buggers up. Soon there would be two sodden uniforms hanging up, and two hanging still damp from the day before. Would they dry in two days? Would it take three?
Luckily, the Gracie family is looking out for me. At the classes on Tuesday and Thursday the participants wear shorts and a shirt instead of a gi. Normal laundry is no problem. There are no classes at all on Sundays.
There still would be lots of laundry stomping to do, but wouldn't be so many suits blocking up the room.
Usually when we travel I do the laundry with the aforementioned soap and stomp tub method. I might have to become unpopular and insist Helen do some of her own in the sink, or the tub if she prefers.
Unpopular, indeed.
I've done one in relation to training at Gracie HQ in Torrance, California. Torrance is really part of Los Angeles.
Found a couple of hotels about a mile from the Dojo. If we went, I could walk there and Helen could have use of the car to poke around while I train. Off season, the rates are pretty fair. I've also looked into Disney pass prices. I imagine we'd go there a lot.
Sometimes my brain notices things many wouldn't. How would I keep myself attired in fresh uniforms?
I like to wash them after each wearing. At home I train three times a week, and rotate three uniforms. I only have to wash them once a week.
In Torrance, I'd be attending 11 classes a week, more if I did any private lessons. Let's call it 11 uniforms a week. They don't do well with heavy dryer use. Would I be washing half a dozen gis twice a week, and then hanging them all over the hotel room?
Many think these white suits are built like pyjamas, but nothing could be farther from the truth. They are big, and thick, and incredibly bulky. An in-room laundry nightmare.
I also hate Laundromats. I always have. The idea of doing that twice a week gives me the shudders. Think of the time wasted.
If I wash them every day, the most at one time would be two. Throw the two in the tub, and pretend to be an old-school Italian wine maker. March about on them for a few minutes, try and squeeze out the juice, and then hang the buggers up. Soon there would be two sodden uniforms hanging up, and two hanging still damp from the day before. Would they dry in two days? Would it take three?
Luckily, the Gracie family is looking out for me. At the classes on Tuesday and Thursday the participants wear shorts and a shirt instead of a gi. Normal laundry is no problem. There are no classes at all on Sundays.
There still would be lots of laundry stomping to do, but wouldn't be so many suits blocking up the room.
Usually when we travel I do the laundry with the aforementioned soap and stomp tub method. I might have to become unpopular and insist Helen do some of her own in the sink, or the tub if she prefers.
Unpopular, indeed.
Set
There were five of us there at the Saturday class. Two were Blue Belts who were doing the instructing and demonstrating. The other three were White Belts. This is more White Belts than I've seen at a weekend class.
One was a guy who can't come on the weeknights, and he was there getting a private lesson from a Blue Belt buddy.
That left two of us with one Blue instructor. It worked quite well.
We went through the all the standing and takedown techniques. There are about a dozen that we need to prepare for our exams. It was the set I've been hoping to do. Koko did a good job of correcting any mistakes Michael or I made. We did the sequence over and over.
It seemed like mere moments and the hour was over. We even went a little bit into overtime.
I am pretty confident on that part now. I need to do it more, but it makes sense.
Pity the other three technique sections are harder for me. Next week it will be mount techniques. It is the longest and most complicated of the four sequences.
Lot of brain work to go with the sweating and rolling around.
One was a guy who can't come on the weeknights, and he was there getting a private lesson from a Blue Belt buddy.
That left two of us with one Blue instructor. It worked quite well.
We went through the all the standing and takedown techniques. There are about a dozen that we need to prepare for our exams. It was the set I've been hoping to do. Koko did a good job of correcting any mistakes Michael or I made. We did the sequence over and over.
It seemed like mere moments and the hour was over. We even went a little bit into overtime.
I am pretty confident on that part now. I need to do it more, but it makes sense.
Pity the other three technique sections are harder for me. Next week it will be mount techniques. It is the longest and most complicated of the four sequences.
Lot of brain work to go with the sweating and rolling around.
Friday 17 February 2012
Pink
There used to be many more male martial artists than female. In the 1980s and 1990s the ratio of male to female was easily 3-1 or more. My northern club produced 6 Black Belts, only one of which was a woman.
In Karate, this seems to have changed. There are still more male Black Belts than female, but the overall ratio of the membership is more like 50-50. Well, maybe 60-40. I find this a positive change.
In Jiu-jitsu, this isn't true. On a busy night we'll have about 25 people on the mat. Of these, exactly three are female. That's only just over 10-15%.
There are many reasons why this might be true. A club could keep women away with a nasty atmosphere. We have none of that. The lessons could emphasize strength-based techniques. None of that either. Maybe it's a lack of role models. Nope, two of our three females are Blue Belts, and very good.
If fact, if there were something wrong with the club or the instruction, one would expect more females to come and try, but leave soon after. Since I've been there, there have been no new female students at all. There have been about half a dozen new guys.
I can only assume it's the nature of the art itself. Let's see; grabbing, falling, throwing, rolling around, pinning people down, choking, close contact, sweat.....
Maybe that's it. Maybe those activities do not appeal to females in our culture. Or perhaps they do, but not in a mixed-gender class. I can't answer that.
The Gracies have come up with a special course for women's self defense. It is female only, and nowhere near as comprehensive as the main Blue Belt system. I commend them for trying to address a need. Sadly, they manage to do it in weirdly sexist way. Upon completion of the course, the graduates are awarded a Pink Belt. That's right, Pink.
It holds no standing in the White, Blue, Purple, Brown, Black rank structure at all, although I'm sure a woman who earned one and then joined the mainstream classes would be allowed to wear her Pink instead of White. I wonder if she would do it.
It almost makes me want to take the course, just so I can officially get one. Sadly, I'm the "wrong gender", and am forbidden.
In Karate, this seems to have changed. There are still more male Black Belts than female, but the overall ratio of the membership is more like 50-50. Well, maybe 60-40. I find this a positive change.
In Jiu-jitsu, this isn't true. On a busy night we'll have about 25 people on the mat. Of these, exactly three are female. That's only just over 10-15%.
There are many reasons why this might be true. A club could keep women away with a nasty atmosphere. We have none of that. The lessons could emphasize strength-based techniques. None of that either. Maybe it's a lack of role models. Nope, two of our three females are Blue Belts, and very good.
If fact, if there were something wrong with the club or the instruction, one would expect more females to come and try, but leave soon after. Since I've been there, there have been no new female students at all. There have been about half a dozen new guys.
I can only assume it's the nature of the art itself. Let's see; grabbing, falling, throwing, rolling around, pinning people down, choking, close contact, sweat.....
Maybe that's it. Maybe those activities do not appeal to females in our culture. Or perhaps they do, but not in a mixed-gender class. I can't answer that.
The Gracies have come up with a special course for women's self defense. It is female only, and nowhere near as comprehensive as the main Blue Belt system. I commend them for trying to address a need. Sadly, they manage to do it in weirdly sexist way. Upon completion of the course, the graduates are awarded a Pink Belt. That's right, Pink.
It holds no standing in the White, Blue, Purple, Brown, Black rank structure at all, although I'm sure a woman who earned one and then joined the mainstream classes would be allowed to wear her Pink instead of White. I wonder if she would do it.
It almost makes me want to take the course, just so I can officially get one. Sadly, I'm the "wrong gender", and am forbidden.
In this corner....
In my opinion, the weekend starts the moment work ends on Friday, and runs until bedtime on Sunday.
This week mine will seem a little empty, as Friday Karate is cancelled, leaving nothing scheduled except for an hour of Jiu-Jitsu Saturday morning.
This coincides nicely with the arrival of my new Xbox game.
It is called UFC Undisputed 3, and is the brand new mma game. It will take a bit of practise to get good with the controls, and to download the extra content, and to create a worthwhile fighter.
The perfect thing to do this weekend, especially as it is super rainy and there are big wind warnings out.
A fine way to keep warm and dry; beating up virtual opponents in a virtual octagon.
This week mine will seem a little empty, as Friday Karate is cancelled, leaving nothing scheduled except for an hour of Jiu-Jitsu Saturday morning.
This coincides nicely with the arrival of my new Xbox game.
It is called UFC Undisputed 3, and is the brand new mma game. It will take a bit of practise to get good with the controls, and to download the extra content, and to create a worthwhile fighter.
The perfect thing to do this weekend, especially as it is super rainy and there are big wind warnings out.
A fine way to keep warm and dry; beating up virtual opponents in a virtual octagon.
Wednesday 15 February 2012
No jammies
Two teens and four adults. That's the number of White Belts qualified to attend the Saturday morning class. One of the adults is me.
I've attended three of the Saturday classes so far. At two of those sessions I was the only White Belt there, and it turned into a private class. The other Saturday I had to share the instruction with one other White Belt.
Haven't seen either of the teens there yet. The two of the adults haven't shown up either. OK, one of the adults has a rib injury and has been away for a while.
Last night, another teenager reached the point where he was invited to start coming Saturdays. Will he come? Will he stay home in his jammies watching cartoons? He seems keen.
I like group classes more than private ones, but nothing beats the solo sessions for speed of progress.
I hope none of them show up until after I've completed my Blue Belt exam. I want the best preparation possible.
After that, I hope they all start coming. I'll even start nagging them at the evening classes to start attending on the weekend. One of the rules is that students need a dozen Saturday classes as part of their qualification to test. Never come, never test, never move on to the advanced class.
At the weeknight classes, we usually work on one standing and one ground technique, and a number of variations.
On Saturdays we do all the techniques that are related. It might be all side mount stuff, or all guard, or side mount, or standing. We rapidly go through all the tricks in rapid succession. It is about ten times harder, and three times faster. The four groupings also correspond exactly to what we have to do when testing, with a fifth part being freestyle fighting (which is really just an unscripted run though of any and all of the techniques for 5 minutes).
If I were both a bajillionare and already retired, I'd like to go spend a few months in Los Angeles training at the main Gracie Academy. They have 11 White Belt and 11 Advanced classes per week. I'd attend as many as my old hide could take, and also do a bunch of private classes.
I don't see how the jammies and cartoon thing is more attractive than training.
I've attended three of the Saturday classes so far. At two of those sessions I was the only White Belt there, and it turned into a private class. The other Saturday I had to share the instruction with one other White Belt.
Haven't seen either of the teens there yet. The two of the adults haven't shown up either. OK, one of the adults has a rib injury and has been away for a while.
Last night, another teenager reached the point where he was invited to start coming Saturdays. Will he come? Will he stay home in his jammies watching cartoons? He seems keen.
I like group classes more than private ones, but nothing beats the solo sessions for speed of progress.
I hope none of them show up until after I've completed my Blue Belt exam. I want the best preparation possible.
After that, I hope they all start coming. I'll even start nagging them at the evening classes to start attending on the weekend. One of the rules is that students need a dozen Saturday classes as part of their qualification to test. Never come, never test, never move on to the advanced class.
At the weeknight classes, we usually work on one standing and one ground technique, and a number of variations.
On Saturdays we do all the techniques that are related. It might be all side mount stuff, or all guard, or side mount, or standing. We rapidly go through all the tricks in rapid succession. It is about ten times harder, and three times faster. The four groupings also correspond exactly to what we have to do when testing, with a fifth part being freestyle fighting (which is really just an unscripted run though of any and all of the techniques for 5 minutes).
If I were both a bajillionare and already retired, I'd like to go spend a few months in Los Angeles training at the main Gracie Academy. They have 11 White Belt and 11 Advanced classes per week. I'd attend as many as my old hide could take, and also do a bunch of private classes.
I don't see how the jammies and cartoon thing is more attractive than training.
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Accidental?
Recently, my Jiu-Jitsu instructor asked if I ever felt the urge to take down my opponent when I spar in Karate.
I found this strange. I find the two activities to be so different that they inspire no accidental slop over.
It's like asking a tennis player who also plays soccer if he even felt like kicking the tennis ball.
I used to be involved in helping coach my school's wrestling team. I learned a lot, and often trained with the kids. I never felt like punching or kicking them, or trying to pin somebody at Karate.
The activities are just so different that I compartmentalize them.
In a self defence situation, I would use both. I'd like to be more of a Karate guy. Being on the ground without lovely padded mats would be painful in the extreme. Rolling around is also a very bad idea if the bad guy isn't alone. I'd hit him.
If that were not appropriate to the situation, or if he grabbed me, then it's Jiu-Jitsu time. Down we go and I switch to all the yummy arm bars and chokes.
I have both, and can use both.
But don't slide from one to the other accidentally.
I found this strange. I find the two activities to be so different that they inspire no accidental slop over.
It's like asking a tennis player who also plays soccer if he even felt like kicking the tennis ball.
I used to be involved in helping coach my school's wrestling team. I learned a lot, and often trained with the kids. I never felt like punching or kicking them, or trying to pin somebody at Karate.
The activities are just so different that I compartmentalize them.
In a self defence situation, I would use both. I'd like to be more of a Karate guy. Being on the ground without lovely padded mats would be painful in the extreme. Rolling around is also a very bad idea if the bad guy isn't alone. I'd hit him.
If that were not appropriate to the situation, or if he grabbed me, then it's Jiu-Jitsu time. Down we go and I switch to all the yummy arm bars and chokes.
I have both, and can use both.
But don't slide from one to the other accidentally.
Monday 13 February 2012
Time
Does it take a long time to get a Black Belt?
I love that question, but many hate it. It seems to be a matter of pride to practise an art that has a long road to Black Belt.
A lot of Taekwondo people answer the question with 2-3 years. Ask them if that means it can be done in 2, and they'll seem embarrassed and say, "Yes, but..."
I'd call that a minimum of 2 years for Taekwondo, although that would be unusual.
In my kind of Karate it is impossible to get a Black Belt in 2 years. Not difficult. Impossible. If one trains without a break, never misses a testing opportunity, and never fails, the fastest a Black Belt can be earned is 3 years. I've only ever met one guy who did it in 3 years. 5 years is more typical.
I think Judo is more like 4 years minimum, and I don't know what is more normal.
If a student trains 3 times a week, 52 weeks a year, and never misses a class a Gracie Black Belt takes a bit over 10 years.
The whole belt thing was invented in Japan. In that country a first degree Black Belt is not considered any sort of expert. To the Japanese it means they are a student that is allowed to train in the same room with the experts. Get that? He isn't an expert, but he is allowed to train near experts.
In North America it has been twisted to mean a master of martial arts. This is ridiculous. I have been at this for 30 years and am nothing like an expert or a master. Somebody with 2 or 3 years training who thinks they know everything is quite entertaining.
I find the Japanese attitude the more appropriate out of the two.
I don't really know what the rank is supposed to mean in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
I do know that the chance of me earning one is very slim.
For Pete's sake....ten years...
I love that question, but many hate it. It seems to be a matter of pride to practise an art that has a long road to Black Belt.
A lot of Taekwondo people answer the question with 2-3 years. Ask them if that means it can be done in 2, and they'll seem embarrassed and say, "Yes, but..."
I'd call that a minimum of 2 years for Taekwondo, although that would be unusual.
In my kind of Karate it is impossible to get a Black Belt in 2 years. Not difficult. Impossible. If one trains without a break, never misses a testing opportunity, and never fails, the fastest a Black Belt can be earned is 3 years. I've only ever met one guy who did it in 3 years. 5 years is more typical.
I think Judo is more like 4 years minimum, and I don't know what is more normal.
If a student trains 3 times a week, 52 weeks a year, and never misses a class a Gracie Black Belt takes a bit over 10 years.
The whole belt thing was invented in Japan. In that country a first degree Black Belt is not considered any sort of expert. To the Japanese it means they are a student that is allowed to train in the same room with the experts. Get that? He isn't an expert, but he is allowed to train near experts.
In North America it has been twisted to mean a master of martial arts. This is ridiculous. I have been at this for 30 years and am nothing like an expert or a master. Somebody with 2 or 3 years training who thinks they know everything is quite entertaining.
I find the Japanese attitude the more appropriate out of the two.
I don't really know what the rank is supposed to mean in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
I do know that the chance of me earning one is very slim.
For Pete's sake....ten years...
Sunday 12 February 2012
Water
Our stupid deck has been leaking for years. Not big leaks, mind you, but drips. The water going through to the carport is not a problem, as the cars can handle the odd drip, as can the concrete slab beneath.
However, sometimes it backs up against the house and gets in.
That is a big deal.
The leaking deck covering needs to be ripped off, and the old plywood pulled up. The railings are god awful, and should go, too. All that will remain will be the beams of the structure.
It needs a deck guy to design something classy, and waterproof.
Most of our basement floor is covered with the ugliest vinyl flooring ever produced. It took a hit with our recent leak, and I had to tear some chunks up.
It looks like I'll have to learn how to lay tile. I like tile as much as I dislike that crappy vinyl.
If I successfully pull that off, there is cheap-looking vinyl in all our bathrooms, and also in the kitchen.
Surely that calls for new countertops, and sinks, and....more.
One stupid little leak from that deck and I have half a house to fix and upgrade.
Mustn’t forget new gutters, too.
However, sometimes it backs up against the house and gets in.
That is a big deal.
The leaking deck covering needs to be ripped off, and the old plywood pulled up. The railings are god awful, and should go, too. All that will remain will be the beams of the structure.
It needs a deck guy to design something classy, and waterproof.
Most of our basement floor is covered with the ugliest vinyl flooring ever produced. It took a hit with our recent leak, and I had to tear some chunks up.
It looks like I'll have to learn how to lay tile. I like tile as much as I dislike that crappy vinyl.
If I successfully pull that off, there is cheap-looking vinyl in all our bathrooms, and also in the kitchen.
Surely that calls for new countertops, and sinks, and....more.
One stupid little leak from that deck and I have half a house to fix and upgrade.
Mustn’t forget new gutters, too.
Saturday 11 February 2012
Grime
Most colours of martial arts belts stand up pretty well. The belts themselves are very tough, and can last for many years. Some of the lighter colours, however, look really dirty long before that.
When I started in Jiu-Jitsu, I needed a white belt. I found one my size mixed in with all my old Karate stuff. It was one that had been worn by somebody else until they earned their Yellow, and then donated back to the club. The uniforms don't come with belts, so a second-hand one can save somebody eight bucks. Anyhow, I had one left from long ago.
It was in acceptable shape, but already looking a little dingy. I've been making it worse since then with a mix of sweat and mat grime.
In most martial arts it wouldn't have mattered, as I would have changed colour by now already. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, however, doesn't have belt changes so quickly.
The soonest I might leave this old white belt behind is still four months away. If I don't get it all completed on schedule, I won't get to change belts until in the fall. Let's say I'm back at full time training in September to freshen up after the summer break, and then do the test itself throughout October.
I just might be wearing this grungy old belt for nine more months. By then it will be pretty disgusting. It already makes a bad showing against the fresh whiteness of my frequently-washed uniforms.
Today, the old warrior went into the wash. I have seen belts washed that then fell apart. Sometimes they turn all fuzzy. I used the gentlest cycle on the dial. Can't use the dryer on these things, so instead used an iron to get things started, and then laid it out to dry.
It looks much better, and should last nicely even if it has to do so until November.
If I do wear it until then, I'll be expected to wear 7 black stripes on my belt. Usually people change to Blue after gaining 4.
A 7 stripe White Belt would be a little embarrassing.
Even if it is a clean one.
When I started in Jiu-Jitsu, I needed a white belt. I found one my size mixed in with all my old Karate stuff. It was one that had been worn by somebody else until they earned their Yellow, and then donated back to the club. The uniforms don't come with belts, so a second-hand one can save somebody eight bucks. Anyhow, I had one left from long ago.
It was in acceptable shape, but already looking a little dingy. I've been making it worse since then with a mix of sweat and mat grime.
In most martial arts it wouldn't have mattered, as I would have changed colour by now already. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, however, doesn't have belt changes so quickly.
The soonest I might leave this old white belt behind is still four months away. If I don't get it all completed on schedule, I won't get to change belts until in the fall. Let's say I'm back at full time training in September to freshen up after the summer break, and then do the test itself throughout October.
I just might be wearing this grungy old belt for nine more months. By then it will be pretty disgusting. It already makes a bad showing against the fresh whiteness of my frequently-washed uniforms.
Today, the old warrior went into the wash. I have seen belts washed that then fell apart. Sometimes they turn all fuzzy. I used the gentlest cycle on the dial. Can't use the dryer on these things, so instead used an iron to get things started, and then laid it out to dry.
It looks much better, and should last nicely even if it has to do so until November.
If I do wear it until then, I'll be expected to wear 7 black stripes on my belt. Usually people change to Blue after gaining 4.
A 7 stripe White Belt would be a little embarrassing.
Even if it is a clean one.
No Snap
I have a theory about aging. I believe that if someone has already been doing an activity before they are old, they will very likely be able to continue it. Starting a new activity when one is already old is quite a different matter.
The type of activity I am referring to are the highly physical kind. They are the kind that present a significant risk to participants.
I mean ones like the ones I do; running, biking, Karate, and Jiu-Jitsu.
It was my honour to attend classes with Nakayama Sensei several times. He was the head of the Japan Karate Association. He trained and taught up until his death at age 74. One of the founders of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Helio Gracie, was still training into his 90s.
I am hoping to continue my activities for as many years as possible. As the years roll by, I'll have to lessen the intensity and eventually let them go one-by-one.
Until then, I consider them a celebration of what I am able to do.
How many 55 year olds run? How many still ride bikes? Do many do Karate, or Jiu-Jitsu? I don't do it to brag to others, but I do it to speak to myself. Every class I attend or mile I log is something I am proud of.
I'm very glad I've gotten it all going now. If I hadn't, it might soon become too late to safely start. Helio Gracie was probably pretty safe on the mat into his 90s, but it would be crazy for a 90 year old to roll around for the first time. A beginner that age would snap into pieces.
I like doing these things, but I definitely don't want to ever snap.
The type of activity I am referring to are the highly physical kind. They are the kind that present a significant risk to participants.
I mean ones like the ones I do; running, biking, Karate, and Jiu-Jitsu.
It was my honour to attend classes with Nakayama Sensei several times. He was the head of the Japan Karate Association. He trained and taught up until his death at age 74. One of the founders of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Helio Gracie, was still training into his 90s.
I am hoping to continue my activities for as many years as possible. As the years roll by, I'll have to lessen the intensity and eventually let them go one-by-one.
Until then, I consider them a celebration of what I am able to do.
How many 55 year olds run? How many still ride bikes? Do many do Karate, or Jiu-Jitsu? I don't do it to brag to others, but I do it to speak to myself. Every class I attend or mile I log is something I am proud of.
I'm very glad I've gotten it all going now. If I hadn't, it might soon become too late to safely start. Helio Gracie was probably pretty safe on the mat into his 90s, but it would be crazy for a 90 year old to roll around for the first time. A beginner that age would snap into pieces.
I like doing these things, but I definitely don't want to ever snap.
Friday 10 February 2012
Hard Test
In a couple of months I'll be testing for my Blue Belt. This will be my first Jiu-Jitsu exam.
I've tested many times in Karate.
Failed only once, and passed that one on my second try.
They can be difficult to pass, but they are not really hard to do. The list of testing techniques is always clearly laid out. Students can memorize the sequence and practise the requirements well in advance.
Examiners are permitted to add anything they want to the test, but they only rarely do. Usually it is a single simple modification.
The tests are structured to be safe, and to tire but not exhaust the student.
Only once did I ever have a test that was difficult.
It was for my final level of Brown Belt. I was the club's instructor at that time. All of my students had completed their exams. As the only person my rank I went last and went alone. I completed all of my testing sections.
The examiner then called up all the other present Brown Belts. The examiner was a highly decorated tournament fighter, and wanted to see me spar.
I had to take on each of them in turn. When asked to fight on an exam, one cannot afford to make a bad showing, or to back down one inch. The sparring partners also cannot make a weak showing. It is a matter of honour.
It went well as I went through one guy after the other. After two or three, I was exhausted but could not slow even slightly. I kept going. I scored, and they scored, but I think I looked OK. When I faced the last guy, I pushed him, and scored on him, and then he blasted me in the face.
Sparring is supposed to be non-contact, which really means to hit hard enough to hurt without causing damage or bruising. I was knocked for a loop. I bled. I staggered. The fighting was immediately stopped.
I was more exhausted than in any tournament. I had fought half a dozen guys one after the other with no break. I was hit in the face hard enough to make my face feel distinctly off kilter. I was also sure I failed, as I hadn't completed the modified exam.
However, I had passed. It was my only difficult test.
I've tested many times in Karate.
Failed only once, and passed that one on my second try.
They can be difficult to pass, but they are not really hard to do. The list of testing techniques is always clearly laid out. Students can memorize the sequence and practise the requirements well in advance.
Examiners are permitted to add anything they want to the test, but they only rarely do. Usually it is a single simple modification.
The tests are structured to be safe, and to tire but not exhaust the student.
Only once did I ever have a test that was difficult.
It was for my final level of Brown Belt. I was the club's instructor at that time. All of my students had completed their exams. As the only person my rank I went last and went alone. I completed all of my testing sections.
The examiner then called up all the other present Brown Belts. The examiner was a highly decorated tournament fighter, and wanted to see me spar.
I had to take on each of them in turn. When asked to fight on an exam, one cannot afford to make a bad showing, or to back down one inch. The sparring partners also cannot make a weak showing. It is a matter of honour.
It went well as I went through one guy after the other. After two or three, I was exhausted but could not slow even slightly. I kept going. I scored, and they scored, but I think I looked OK. When I faced the last guy, I pushed him, and scored on him, and then he blasted me in the face.
Sparring is supposed to be non-contact, which really means to hit hard enough to hurt without causing damage or bruising. I was knocked for a loop. I bled. I staggered. The fighting was immediately stopped.
I was more exhausted than in any tournament. I had fought half a dozen guys one after the other with no break. I was hit in the face hard enough to make my face feel distinctly off kilter. I was also sure I failed, as I hadn't completed the modified exam.
However, I had passed. It was my only difficult test.
Wednesday 8 February 2012
New Blue
Each coloured belt awarded in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a pretty big deal.
Since I attended my first class at the end of September, not even one has been given out. This just changed.
There is this tiny, little teenaged girl who is almost always at class. She has been the most advanced of our White Belts, and recently completed the lengthy testing process. Last night the results were in, and the instructor tied the new belt around her waist.
She is proud of being one of the first female Blue Belts in Canada (the 3rd), and to have earned it with only 13 months of training.
Some people think this is cute, but silly. How could this tiny little person handle a large adult male?
They don't realize how sexist they are being. There are quite a few teenaged boys in the class under 130 pounds in size. Although they are bigger than her, she handles them easily.
If I had to fight any of them, I would have no difficulty. I know what they know, and I'm bigger. Funny how nobody suggests that they are wasting their time.
In a real fight, I would rather have her on my side than any of them, and they actually fight pretty well.
Against somebody massively bigger and stronger, would she lose? I'd say so.
We recently had a visitor from another club. He was here for a couple of months, and he was 100 pounds larger than anybody else in the club. He wasn't fat, just huge. I was the second largest, and often ended up as his partner. I don't think any of the smaller people could really handle this guy, even with better technique. Sometimes I would have him well secured on the ground, and he would just stand up with me clinging to his chest or arms. It was if I wasn't there, and I weigh 180 pounds.
Well, if the small guys can't beat a giant, and if the large people have trouble as well, why suggest that if a tiny girl can't beat him she's wasting her time?
Increasingly, women are being attacked by other women. Our Blue Belt need never fear something like that. Males who attack women are not always giants. Need she fear an attack by any guy of average size? Nope.
Giants? I'm scared of giants.
Since I attended my first class at the end of September, not even one has been given out. This just changed.
There is this tiny, little teenaged girl who is almost always at class. She has been the most advanced of our White Belts, and recently completed the lengthy testing process. Last night the results were in, and the instructor tied the new belt around her waist.
She is proud of being one of the first female Blue Belts in Canada (the 3rd), and to have earned it with only 13 months of training.
Some people think this is cute, but silly. How could this tiny little person handle a large adult male?
They don't realize how sexist they are being. There are quite a few teenaged boys in the class under 130 pounds in size. Although they are bigger than her, she handles them easily.
If I had to fight any of them, I would have no difficulty. I know what they know, and I'm bigger. Funny how nobody suggests that they are wasting their time.
In a real fight, I would rather have her on my side than any of them, and they actually fight pretty well.
Against somebody massively bigger and stronger, would she lose? I'd say so.
We recently had a visitor from another club. He was here for a couple of months, and he was 100 pounds larger than anybody else in the club. He wasn't fat, just huge. I was the second largest, and often ended up as his partner. I don't think any of the smaller people could really handle this guy, even with better technique. Sometimes I would have him well secured on the ground, and he would just stand up with me clinging to his chest or arms. It was if I wasn't there, and I weigh 180 pounds.
Well, if the small guys can't beat a giant, and if the large people have trouble as well, why suggest that if a tiny girl can't beat him she's wasting her time?
Increasingly, women are being attacked by other women. Our Blue Belt need never fear something like that. Males who attack women are not always giants. Need she fear an attack by any guy of average size? Nope.
Giants? I'm scared of giants.
New Rank
The Karate Club just had its most recent round of belt examinations.
Everybody passed. The highest student in the class just earned his Purple Belt.
Each Belt has a rank number that works as a countdown to Black Belt. Yellow Belt is 8th Kyu. Orange Belt is 7th. That sort of thing.
A Purple Belt is 4th Kyu. Three more ranks to go, but only one more colour.
The highest three Kyu ranks all wear a Brown Belt. There is no way to determine which of the ranks a person is by looking at the belt. Normally, the same belt is worn though each of these ranks.
It feels very good to enter the Brown Belt ranks.
When associations put on advanced training, it is often restricted to Black and Brown Belts. The Browns get included. Often they look pretty lost at what we are doing, but they get to attend and train.
This is both intimidating and very exciting for the Brown student.
To make the step into Brown challenging, the Kata learned is not from the family of Katas used for all the belts below that.
The one they learn is called Tekki Shodan. It is not fancy, but is very hard to get right. It is designed to all but force the student to make errors. If they do make the errors, they fail the test. It is a very unnatural beast until, at some point, it finally clicks. This is usually a year or two after one has to use it to test. An interesting problem.
I liked being a Brown Belt.
It's almost as cool as Black.
And our new Purple is one step away.
Everybody passed. The highest student in the class just earned his Purple Belt.
Each Belt has a rank number that works as a countdown to Black Belt. Yellow Belt is 8th Kyu. Orange Belt is 7th. That sort of thing.
A Purple Belt is 4th Kyu. Three more ranks to go, but only one more colour.
The highest three Kyu ranks all wear a Brown Belt. There is no way to determine which of the ranks a person is by looking at the belt. Normally, the same belt is worn though each of these ranks.
It feels very good to enter the Brown Belt ranks.
When associations put on advanced training, it is often restricted to Black and Brown Belts. The Browns get included. Often they look pretty lost at what we are doing, but they get to attend and train.
This is both intimidating and very exciting for the Brown student.
To make the step into Brown challenging, the Kata learned is not from the family of Katas used for all the belts below that.
The one they learn is called Tekki Shodan. It is not fancy, but is very hard to get right. It is designed to all but force the student to make errors. If they do make the errors, they fail the test. It is a very unnatural beast until, at some point, it finally clicks. This is usually a year or two after one has to use it to test. An interesting problem.
I liked being a Brown Belt.
It's almost as cool as Black.
And our new Purple is one step away.
Monday 6 February 2012
BigFight
I am a fan of mixed martial arts fighting.
The biggest fights are usually those put on by the UFC. Sadly, there is nothing in their line-up that I find intriguing before the end of April.
There is one fight outside of the UFC that I am really interested in.
March 3rd Rousey is attempting to take the Strikeforce 135 pound title.
So, a couple of little guys are fighting? Nope. The full names are Ronda Rousey and Misha Tate. They are female fighters.
Lots of drama going on. They seem to really hate each other, and Rousey usually fights at 145 and will have to cut 10 pounds. 10 pounds is a lot from people that size who don't carry any fat.
Usually, I must admit, female fighters do not get my interest. Misha Tate might be the champ with a 14-1 record, but there are just not that many female fighters. She is the best of a very shallow pool. The guys that size have to face a field dense with talent. The UFC men's 135 pounder champ is Dominick Cruz. He is 19-1 in a field full of talent. To claim that Tate has faced the same opposition as Cruz would be to claim that Laila Ali had risen through the same depth of field as a boxer as had her father, Muhammad Ali.
So why do I suddenly care about this women's bout. It isn't Tate, who might or might not be a good fighter. It is Ronda Rousey. She is the most decorated US woman in international Judo ever. Her accomplishments include a Silver at the 2007 world championship and a Bronze in the 2008 Olympics. Since 1962 when the Olympics accepted Judo, no American woman has ever gotten a medal of any kind.
OK, best US Judoka ever. That doesn't mean she can fight mma. She fought 3 amateur mma bouts. She won the first in 23 seconds with an armbar, the second in 57 seconds with an armbar, and the third in 24 seconds with an armbar. She then turned pro.
As a pro, she fought in March of 2011. It went all of 25 seconds and ended with an armbar.
Her second pro fight was in June. Another armbar win in 49 seconds. Do you see a pattern?
She won her third bout with an armbar of all things, in 25 seconds. This was in August.
Her final pro win left Rousey 4-0. It was in November of 2011. 39 seconds and it was over. Her opponent didn't tap quickly enough when Ronda applied the armbar, and the arm snapped.
She has fought mma 7 times altogether. None of the matches lasted as much as one minute, and all were ended with the same technique. I don't mind telling you that an armbar is darn hard to apply. It's almost impossible to use when your opponent expects it. I'm pretty sure the last few of her opponents trained specifically for an armbar and were as ready as they could make themselves. Didn't matter.
I've watched her fights on Youtube. She is frighteningly good.
I don't think Tate has any chance at all. I do not expect the fight to be competitive. I'd call it a moral victory for Tate if she lasts a single round. Hell, she will do well to last even half a round. Will she avoid the armbar, and force Rousey to destroy her some other way?
Tate's best chance to win is if Rousey can't make the weight.
The biggest fights are usually those put on by the UFC. Sadly, there is nothing in their line-up that I find intriguing before the end of April.
There is one fight outside of the UFC that I am really interested in.
March 3rd Rousey is attempting to take the Strikeforce 135 pound title.
So, a couple of little guys are fighting? Nope. The full names are Ronda Rousey and Misha Tate. They are female fighters.
Lots of drama going on. They seem to really hate each other, and Rousey usually fights at 145 and will have to cut 10 pounds. 10 pounds is a lot from people that size who don't carry any fat.
Usually, I must admit, female fighters do not get my interest. Misha Tate might be the champ with a 14-1 record, but there are just not that many female fighters. She is the best of a very shallow pool. The guys that size have to face a field dense with talent. The UFC men's 135 pounder champ is Dominick Cruz. He is 19-1 in a field full of talent. To claim that Tate has faced the same opposition as Cruz would be to claim that Laila Ali had risen through the same depth of field as a boxer as had her father, Muhammad Ali.
So why do I suddenly care about this women's bout. It isn't Tate, who might or might not be a good fighter. It is Ronda Rousey. She is the most decorated US woman in international Judo ever. Her accomplishments include a Silver at the 2007 world championship and a Bronze in the 2008 Olympics. Since 1962 when the Olympics accepted Judo, no American woman has ever gotten a medal of any kind.
OK, best US Judoka ever. That doesn't mean she can fight mma. She fought 3 amateur mma bouts. She won the first in 23 seconds with an armbar, the second in 57 seconds with an armbar, and the third in 24 seconds with an armbar. She then turned pro.
As a pro, she fought in March of 2011. It went all of 25 seconds and ended with an armbar.
Her second pro fight was in June. Another armbar win in 49 seconds. Do you see a pattern?
She won her third bout with an armbar of all things, in 25 seconds. This was in August.
Her final pro win left Rousey 4-0. It was in November of 2011. 39 seconds and it was over. Her opponent didn't tap quickly enough when Ronda applied the armbar, and the arm snapped.
She has fought mma 7 times altogether. None of the matches lasted as much as one minute, and all were ended with the same technique. I don't mind telling you that an armbar is darn hard to apply. It's almost impossible to use when your opponent expects it. I'm pretty sure the last few of her opponents trained specifically for an armbar and were as ready as they could make themselves. Didn't matter.
I've watched her fights on Youtube. She is frighteningly good.
I don't think Tate has any chance at all. I do not expect the fight to be competitive. I'd call it a moral victory for Tate if she lasts a single round. Hell, she will do well to last even half a round. Will she avoid the armbar, and force Rousey to destroy her some other way?
Tate's best chance to win is if Rousey can't make the weight.
Sunday 5 February 2012
A flat graph, thank goodness...
I have been wondering how my running and biking is doing in comparison to last year. Pulled out the old spreadsheet to have a little look.
Last year at this point I had biked 86km. The bike had been in the shop for part of January. This year she has been on the road much more, and I've clocked 192. Yay, me.
Last year I'd run 48km, which is the same as I've done this year. I'm actually a few hundred meters ahead. I also will be running today, which will put me well ahead of last year.
I find this very weird. I've been feeling all guilty about using the new car a few times instead of the bike, and it feels like I haven't run in ages. I have been assuming that I will be far behind my glowing 2011 combined total of over 4000km.
Looking at the actual numbers, maybe I will still make a decent showing. My highest mileage months are always the ones with warm and sunny weather. No reason to expect this to change.
So I'm racing myself. It won't be really fair as last year both Saturdays and Sundays were consistent run days for me. This year I won't be normally running on Saturdays at all, at least until I earn my Blue Belt in June. I have a training session to attend on those mornings, and running in addition might not be wise.
I find this all very inspiring. It had been seeming that running/biking was gonna drop off big time. It strangely hasn't.
And no need to let it go more than necessary.
Last year at this point I had biked 86km. The bike had been in the shop for part of January. This year she has been on the road much more, and I've clocked 192. Yay, me.
Last year I'd run 48km, which is the same as I've done this year. I'm actually a few hundred meters ahead. I also will be running today, which will put me well ahead of last year.
I find this very weird. I've been feeling all guilty about using the new car a few times instead of the bike, and it feels like I haven't run in ages. I have been assuming that I will be far behind my glowing 2011 combined total of over 4000km.
Looking at the actual numbers, maybe I will still make a decent showing. My highest mileage months are always the ones with warm and sunny weather. No reason to expect this to change.
So I'm racing myself. It won't be really fair as last year both Saturdays and Sundays were consistent run days for me. This year I won't be normally running on Saturdays at all, at least until I earn my Blue Belt in June. I have a training session to attend on those mornings, and running in addition might not be wise.
I find this all very inspiring. It had been seeming that running/biking was gonna drop off big time. It strangely hasn't.
And no need to let it go more than necessary.
Saturday 4 February 2012
All about me
I've been working pretty hard to advance in Jiu-Jitsu quickly.
Why the rush?
Well, White Belt ranking is measured in stripes added with little pieces of tape. I have two stripes. Stop laughing. The stripes aren't the point.
After earning the second stripe you are permitted to attend the Saturday morning Reflex Development class. It is a little more advanced and done in a different style. It really firms up the learning already done.
If I hadn't tried for perfect attendance, and also done ten extra private lessons, I wouldn't be there yet. In fact, I'd have over a month to go.
So I've qualified for an extra class once a week, but even that isn't the entire story.
If I'd taken my time I would have gotten to the Saturday class about the same time as about ten other people.
Currently, there is only a tiny roster of White Belts permitted to attend. Think about it. Young people.... early Saturday morning class....
I was the only White Belt there today, with two Blue Belts and the chief instructor. It was all aimed directly at me. Almost a private lesson with the top instructor, and with two advanced sparring partners. It was wonderful.
The last time, I had to share it all with one other White Belt. Maybe next time I'll have to share again, but maybe not.
It will be fine when the big herd of White Belts arrive, but by then I'll have benefited from the current situation for quite a while.
Clearly, it's all about me. For a while.
Why the rush?
Well, White Belt ranking is measured in stripes added with little pieces of tape. I have two stripes. Stop laughing. The stripes aren't the point.
After earning the second stripe you are permitted to attend the Saturday morning Reflex Development class. It is a little more advanced and done in a different style. It really firms up the learning already done.
If I hadn't tried for perfect attendance, and also done ten extra private lessons, I wouldn't be there yet. In fact, I'd have over a month to go.
So I've qualified for an extra class once a week, but even that isn't the entire story.
If I'd taken my time I would have gotten to the Saturday class about the same time as about ten other people.
Currently, there is only a tiny roster of White Belts permitted to attend. Think about it. Young people.... early Saturday morning class....
I was the only White Belt there today, with two Blue Belts and the chief instructor. It was all aimed directly at me. Almost a private lesson with the top instructor, and with two advanced sparring partners. It was wonderful.
The last time, I had to share it all with one other White Belt. Maybe next time I'll have to share again, but maybe not.
It will be fine when the big herd of White Belts arrive, but by then I'll have benefited from the current situation for quite a while.
Clearly, it's all about me. For a while.
One
Ikken hissatsu is often referred to in Karate. It translates as one strike finish.
It means to target vital areas, and to hit with sufficient force to debilitate an opponent.
I just read a long-winded argument on the internet about how great/stupid it is. Neither side seemed to understand what it means.
Karate people seem to have an "attack". Watch them fight, and they really don't move all that much. Not a lot of jabbing, or picking at the opponent. They stand, they move slowly, and then without warning they explode.
Speed goes from zero to sixty. Several techniques are thrown as the fighter propels himself forward. Each attack is thrown with full power and speed and with very bad intentions.
Several of the attacks hit. The kick to the chest strikes like a cannonball. The opponent's head is snapped back by the force of a blow. The punch to the ribs buckles the target's legs.
Almost before it has begun, the Karateka is out of range again.
So how is this a one-attack finish? Simple. Each of the separate parts of the attack were thrown with enough speed and power to do meaningful damage. If a jab-like attack is used, it is delivered like what a boxer would call a "heavy" jab; meant to snap the head back sharply and cause disorientation. Major attacks are meant to do a hell of a lot more damage than that.
It is also a one-attack finish in that the attack was a single entity consisting of multiple parts. It was all one attack, and meant to finish the fight. Each of the parts was an attack in its own right and had the potential to incapacitate the target by itself.
Tournament Karate does not always follow this model, but often does. It is a game. Karate self-defense is very focused on the concept of ikken hissatsu
Does Ikken hissatsu mean we only throw one attack? Don't be silly. I have been in Karate for 30 years, and my first Sensei already taught the concept the way I've described.
It means to attack suddenly, strike very hard, hit precise targets, use several attacks, and get the hell out of the way again.
Cuz you never know.
It means to target vital areas, and to hit with sufficient force to debilitate an opponent.
I just read a long-winded argument on the internet about how great/stupid it is. Neither side seemed to understand what it means.
Karate people seem to have an "attack". Watch them fight, and they really don't move all that much. Not a lot of jabbing, or picking at the opponent. They stand, they move slowly, and then without warning they explode.
Speed goes from zero to sixty. Several techniques are thrown as the fighter propels himself forward. Each attack is thrown with full power and speed and with very bad intentions.
Several of the attacks hit. The kick to the chest strikes like a cannonball. The opponent's head is snapped back by the force of a blow. The punch to the ribs buckles the target's legs.
Almost before it has begun, the Karateka is out of range again.
So how is this a one-attack finish? Simple. Each of the separate parts of the attack were thrown with enough speed and power to do meaningful damage. If a jab-like attack is used, it is delivered like what a boxer would call a "heavy" jab; meant to snap the head back sharply and cause disorientation. Major attacks are meant to do a hell of a lot more damage than that.
It is also a one-attack finish in that the attack was a single entity consisting of multiple parts. It was all one attack, and meant to finish the fight. Each of the parts was an attack in its own right and had the potential to incapacitate the target by itself.
Tournament Karate does not always follow this model, but often does. It is a game. Karate self-defense is very focused on the concept of ikken hissatsu
Does Ikken hissatsu mean we only throw one attack? Don't be silly. I have been in Karate for 30 years, and my first Sensei already taught the concept the way I've described.
It means to attack suddenly, strike very hard, hit precise targets, use several attacks, and get the hell out of the way again.
Cuz you never know.
Friday 3 February 2012
Joe
Joe Rogan sure draws a lot of emotion from UFC fans.
Maybe you know of him. He's a comedian, and is the host on the TV show Fear Factor. He is also a commentator for most of the UFC's bouts.
I don't like him much as a comedian, or on Fear Factor. However, he does a very good job with UFC commentary. He provides a blow-by-blow of what the fighters should be doing next, or what they're doing wrong. Very technical stuff, and he gets it out there fast. He is very precise and is usually accurate.
For some reason his work in this field draws huge amounts of ire and hatred from a segment of the fan base. They seem angry that he is such a know it all but never fought in the UFC.
I don't get it. He's usually right, and does have a hell of a martial arts resume. He has a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, and was a highly successful competitor in that art. He moved on to boxing and kickboxing. He trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Carlson Gracie and Jean Jacques Machado and earned a Brown Belt. He later earned another from a different instructor. Some sources say he has a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. Even if he hasn't, a Brazilian Brown Belt is at least the equivalent of a Black Belt in other arts.
None of this is really the point. For whatever reason he gets it right when commentating. I wouldn't care if he were just a knowledgeable fan. I have yet to see any other person do as good a job. Sometimes world champs sit at the mike beside him. None has ever been able to articulate what he can.
Why hate him for this? I actually like it when he's on the job. He will point out things I miss...
...and he'll be right.
Maybe you know of him. He's a comedian, and is the host on the TV show Fear Factor. He is also a commentator for most of the UFC's bouts.
I don't like him much as a comedian, or on Fear Factor. However, he does a very good job with UFC commentary. He provides a blow-by-blow of what the fighters should be doing next, or what they're doing wrong. Very technical stuff, and he gets it out there fast. He is very precise and is usually accurate.
For some reason his work in this field draws huge amounts of ire and hatred from a segment of the fan base. They seem angry that he is such a know it all but never fought in the UFC.
I don't get it. He's usually right, and does have a hell of a martial arts resume. He has a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, and was a highly successful competitor in that art. He moved on to boxing and kickboxing. He trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Carlson Gracie and Jean Jacques Machado and earned a Brown Belt. He later earned another from a different instructor. Some sources say he has a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. Even if he hasn't, a Brazilian Brown Belt is at least the equivalent of a Black Belt in other arts.
None of this is really the point. For whatever reason he gets it right when commentating. I wouldn't care if he were just a knowledgeable fan. I have yet to see any other person do as good a job. Sometimes world champs sit at the mike beside him. None has ever been able to articulate what he can.
Why hate him for this? I actually like it when he's on the job. He will point out things I miss...
...and he'll be right.
Sweat
I hate martial arts warm ups. Correction. I hate the way a lot of martial arts people do warm ups.
The purpose, of course, is to prepare the body for the class. Stretch the muscles, loosen things up, and get the blood moving.
Too many times things are not done in this fashion. Often the warm up is by far the hardest part of the class. I consider this very counter productive. Why start the learning part of the evening already tired? It has been proven a million times that learning is reduced when the student is tired.
I am not against pushing hard. If an instructor wants to push me during training, I'm up for it. I go to Karate to do Karate. I like Karate fast, and Karate slow. I like Karate relaxed, and Karate with power. I don't like push ups. I can do push ups. I can do as many as anybody in the class. I consider them a waste of training time.
If a workout is desired to increase strength or some such, this should be done at the end of the class. Ten minutes of crunches? Do those after the training please. I'll do them gladly, and hold nothing back. I'll get more out of them at the end when they are not hurting the actual training.
People often claim that warm up activities are done to reduce the chance of injury. They then proceed to lead their students through a bunch of activities which are hideously bad for necks, or backs, or with a high chance of muscle tears. I have never hurt myself doing normal training. Well, maybe sometimes with kicks. I have hurt myself many times trying to do some stupid exercise.
My favourite warm up exercises are not exercises at all. I like a little stretching, maybe some hip circles to loosen things up, and then slow technique. Stepping slowly in stance, delivering slow techniques. This warms exactly the tissues that will be working fast later. After a few slow sets of arm movements, maybe some slow and low kicking. Again, warming exactly the parts that will soon be working hard. An added bonus is that one can work on form and precision of technique while warming up.
But what do I know? I've only been doing this for thirty years.
The purpose, of course, is to prepare the body for the class. Stretch the muscles, loosen things up, and get the blood moving.
Too many times things are not done in this fashion. Often the warm up is by far the hardest part of the class. I consider this very counter productive. Why start the learning part of the evening already tired? It has been proven a million times that learning is reduced when the student is tired.
I am not against pushing hard. If an instructor wants to push me during training, I'm up for it. I go to Karate to do Karate. I like Karate fast, and Karate slow. I like Karate relaxed, and Karate with power. I don't like push ups. I can do push ups. I can do as many as anybody in the class. I consider them a waste of training time.
If a workout is desired to increase strength or some such, this should be done at the end of the class. Ten minutes of crunches? Do those after the training please. I'll do them gladly, and hold nothing back. I'll get more out of them at the end when they are not hurting the actual training.
People often claim that warm up activities are done to reduce the chance of injury. They then proceed to lead their students through a bunch of activities which are hideously bad for necks, or backs, or with a high chance of muscle tears. I have never hurt myself doing normal training. Well, maybe sometimes with kicks. I have hurt myself many times trying to do some stupid exercise.
My favourite warm up exercises are not exercises at all. I like a little stretching, maybe some hip circles to loosen things up, and then slow technique. Stepping slowly in stance, delivering slow techniques. This warms exactly the tissues that will be working fast later. After a few slow sets of arm movements, maybe some slow and low kicking. Again, warming exactly the parts that will soon be working hard. An added bonus is that one can work on form and precision of technique while warming up.
But what do I know? I've only been doing this for thirty years.
Thursday 2 February 2012
Haul
I am definitely in a long-haul period.
Work keeps chugging along. I am going to train as always but no milestones are popping up.
Jiu-Jitsu is always fun, but I've done all the beginner classes at least once. No first discovery. It is drill and improvement. Necessary, but not as thrilling. Karate on Fridays continues, but there is nothing new there either.
The long haul. Some people call it a plateau.
It can be a dangerous time in any activity. It can discourage people.
Where to set my sights? A big goal of mine is to finish all the pre-test requirements for my Jiu-Jitsu Belt test. This should be on May 17th, or shortly thereafter. Not far off, but something closer would be nice.
Maybe it isn't a matter of goals, or milestones.
Sometimes the journey is the destination. I like going to Jiu-Jitsu. I like Karate. I like my job. Maybe going to these things is the goal.
Be the ball.
It's all very Zen.
Work keeps chugging along. I am going to train as always but no milestones are popping up.
Jiu-Jitsu is always fun, but I've done all the beginner classes at least once. No first discovery. It is drill and improvement. Necessary, but not as thrilling. Karate on Fridays continues, but there is nothing new there either.
The long haul. Some people call it a plateau.
It can be a dangerous time in any activity. It can discourage people.
Where to set my sights? A big goal of mine is to finish all the pre-test requirements for my Jiu-Jitsu Belt test. This should be on May 17th, or shortly thereafter. Not far off, but something closer would be nice.
Maybe it isn't a matter of goals, or milestones.
Sometimes the journey is the destination. I like going to Jiu-Jitsu. I like Karate. I like my job. Maybe going to these things is the goal.
Be the ball.
It's all very Zen.
Wednesday 1 February 2012
Sprains
It just isn't fair.
Last night at Jiu-Jitsu everything went just fine. No bumps. No bruises. Nothing bad at all.
Sat in my big chair the rest of the evening, then off to bed. I wake up with two injuries.
They must have happened at training, but I swear they didn't. One wrist and one ankle are sprained. Not badly, mind you, but the ankle is bad enough I taped it up for work today.
How stupid is that? Injured when I wasn't injured. Maybe they are sleep sprains.
I fear it's one of the joys of age.
The good news is that I do not train tonight, and therefore have a day to heal up. I'll tape up for training even if everything feels dandy. It will help protect the joints, remind me to be careful, and make people wary of hurting me.
Maybe I should wear a pre-emptive neck brace while I'm at it.
Last night at Jiu-Jitsu everything went just fine. No bumps. No bruises. Nothing bad at all.
Sat in my big chair the rest of the evening, then off to bed. I wake up with two injuries.
They must have happened at training, but I swear they didn't. One wrist and one ankle are sprained. Not badly, mind you, but the ankle is bad enough I taped it up for work today.
How stupid is that? Injured when I wasn't injured. Maybe they are sleep sprains.
I fear it's one of the joys of age.
The good news is that I do not train tonight, and therefore have a day to heal up. I'll tape up for training even if everything feels dandy. It will help protect the joints, remind me to be careful, and make people wary of hurting me.
Maybe I should wear a pre-emptive neck brace while I'm at it.
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