Jon Jones has had quite a year. He's an MMA fighter in the 205 pound division.
His career record coming into 2011 was 11 wins and one loss. His only loss came when he was disqualified for use of an illegal technique in a fight he was easily winning.
His first win last year came on February 5th, and put him into title contention.
He easily defeated the reigning champion, Mauricio Rua in the third round.
His third fight of the year was against former champion, Rampage Jackson. Jones choked him out in round four.
Finally, December. Jones faces another former champion in Lyoto Machida. Machida has a style almost perfectly designed to defeat Jon Jones. He is hard hitting yet is also highly elusive on his feet, and on the ground he's an expert in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
In the first round, Machida pulls ahead with a combination of his defence and his striking.
Round two; Jones chokes Machida into unconsciousness.
Not only has Jones defeated three champions in a row, he has effectively cleaned out the division.
Who is left?
Maybe Dan Henderson. He's a decent fighter with a 29-8 record and is currently rated as the top contender. Does this 40 year old stand much of a chance? I doubt it.
How about Rashad Evans? He is 16-1-1, but really brings nothing that Jon Jones hasn't already faced and crushed.
Phil Davis is an up-and-comer who is undefeated in 9 fights. However, on his resume there is only one big name, and that big name was well passed his prime when Davis beat him. I'd call Davis an extreme long shot.
The 205 pounders seem to have settled into the same situation as the next two lighter divisions. They also have incredibly dominant champions who have no serious challenges on the horizon. The only interesting event is in the 170 pound grouping.
The unbeatable champion, Georges St. Pierre has an injury that will have him out for at least six months. Other fighters will squabble over an interim title, and when St. Pierre comes back they'll face him. Barring unforeseens, he will obliterate the pretender.
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.
Sunday, 11 December 2011
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Honour your elders...
It happened again.
There were about 20 Black Belts in my section of the line. I tried to get to my correct position by rank, near the left of the line. Aimed for a few from the low end, but they started stepping aside for me again, and bowing, and indicating I should move to the right of them. OK. Can't make a scene or waste time so I accepted, several times, and ended up in the middle again. Higher belts than me were standing junior to me.
After class it was worse. I started myself even closer to the lower/left end of the line, and after all the bowing and stepping aside I was only a couple of spots from the extreme right. I think it could become an association thing if I don't watch it.
I give up. I'll start closer to where they make me end up.
It's awful sweet of them.
In Japan, seniority/rank is a very tricky thing. Not for the Japanese, but it is for westerners.
The Japanese line up correctly by rank, but individual relationships also matter, as does age. In a way, I am afraid of claiming more status than I am entitled to by rank, but the others are honouring my age, and length of time in Karate.
Or I could confound them all by wearing a coloured belt.
That would fix them.
There were about 20 Black Belts in my section of the line. I tried to get to my correct position by rank, near the left of the line. Aimed for a few from the low end, but they started stepping aside for me again, and bowing, and indicating I should move to the right of them. OK. Can't make a scene or waste time so I accepted, several times, and ended up in the middle again. Higher belts than me were standing junior to me.
After class it was worse. I started myself even closer to the lower/left end of the line, and after all the bowing and stepping aside I was only a couple of spots from the extreme right. I think it could become an association thing if I don't watch it.
I give up. I'll start closer to where they make me end up.
It's awful sweet of them.
In Japan, seniority/rank is a very tricky thing. Not for the Japanese, but it is for westerners.
The Japanese line up correctly by rank, but individual relationships also matter, as does age. In a way, I am afraid of claiming more status than I am entitled to by rank, but the others are honouring my age, and length of time in Karate.
Or I could confound them all by wearing a coloured belt.
That would fix them.
Friday, 9 December 2011
I can count to five
I am a disorganized guy. Often, I end up at work without an essential item. I don't mean school materials. Those I am able to take care of. It is me I can't get on top of.
There is now a five count checklist before I head out the door. I use the same list whenever I go out. Sometimes I leave an item behind, but doing so is always deliberate.
Item one is my keys. For work, this is my school key. For non-work it is usually a car key. If I don't need either, it's no key. Our house doors have combination locks.
Item two is glasses. No glasses equals can't read nothing. I have a pair of cheap reading specs at school, but my real ones are much better. Anywhere I go I want my good glasses.
Item three is hearing aids. Age sucks, but one mustn't deny its effects. If I won't be needing them, they can stay home, but not for work or social activities, except martial arts. Wouldn't want them getting smashed in deep by an accidental whack.
Number four is money. I like to carry enough money to do whatever I might decide to. Eat out, have a soda, buy some pants. I make sure I have enough to follow a whim. With no cash one feels very limited.
Lastly on the list is my iPod. When I have it I am not only carrying all my music, but also my audio books, podcasts, several movies, a couple of games, a memo pad, and my Kindle books. It's also a camera. Lately, my iPod has become item 5.1, while 5.2 is my phone. Must keep contact with my lovely wife.
That's it. That's me in organized mode. Think of the horrifying alternative. He arrives at work, unable to read or hear polite student's voices. He can't get into his classroom, or afford to buy a cup of coffee on the way to work. On top of all that he doesn't have his personal electronics.
I hate it when that happens.
There is now a five count checklist before I head out the door. I use the same list whenever I go out. Sometimes I leave an item behind, but doing so is always deliberate.
Item one is my keys. For work, this is my school key. For non-work it is usually a car key. If I don't need either, it's no key. Our house doors have combination locks.
Item two is glasses. No glasses equals can't read nothing. I have a pair of cheap reading specs at school, but my real ones are much better. Anywhere I go I want my good glasses.
Item three is hearing aids. Age sucks, but one mustn't deny its effects. If I won't be needing them, they can stay home, but not for work or social activities, except martial arts. Wouldn't want them getting smashed in deep by an accidental whack.
Number four is money. I like to carry enough money to do whatever I might decide to. Eat out, have a soda, buy some pants. I make sure I have enough to follow a whim. With no cash one feels very limited.
Lastly on the list is my iPod. When I have it I am not only carrying all my music, but also my audio books, podcasts, several movies, a couple of games, a memo pad, and my Kindle books. It's also a camera. Lately, my iPod has become item 5.1, while 5.2 is my phone. Must keep contact with my lovely wife.
That's it. That's me in organized mode. Think of the horrifying alternative. He arrives at work, unable to read or hear polite student's voices. He can't get into his classroom, or afford to buy a cup of coffee on the way to work. On top of all that he doesn't have his personal electronics.
I hate it when that happens.
Ice and Dark
Not a bad day for car people, but icy for two-wheeled folks.
This morning it was a handful of degrees below freezing. Frost all over, and wet looking pavement that couldn't possibly be wet. All sorts of ice.
Didn't do any slippin' and slidin', but worried about it.
On the after-school ride home, there were still patches of frost that had survived from the morning. That is cold.
Pretty dark in the morning, too. I have one more week of increasing dark ahead. After that, I don't ride until we are as far from the winter solstice as we are now, except passed and not before. That means when I ride in 2012, I'll be back to as much light as we had today. I'm glad it won't be darker. Only next week will be.
Every day after that, I gain some morning glow back.
The cold won't turn around quite that soon. Maybe a month later I can see the degrees sneaking upwards.
Maybe we won't get any serious cold. Sometimes we don't. The West Coast of Canada gets jokingly referred to as the Banana Belt for just this reason. Last year we had no snow at all. I didn't lose a single ride day to weather. Managing that again would be swell.
This morning it was a handful of degrees below freezing. Frost all over, and wet looking pavement that couldn't possibly be wet. All sorts of ice.
Didn't do any slippin' and slidin', but worried about it.
On the after-school ride home, there were still patches of frost that had survived from the morning. That is cold.
Pretty dark in the morning, too. I have one more week of increasing dark ahead. After that, I don't ride until we are as far from the winter solstice as we are now, except passed and not before. That means when I ride in 2012, I'll be back to as much light as we had today. I'm glad it won't be darker. Only next week will be.
Every day after that, I gain some morning glow back.
The cold won't turn around quite that soon. Maybe a month later I can see the degrees sneaking upwards.
Maybe we won't get any serious cold. Sometimes we don't. The West Coast of Canada gets jokingly referred to as the Banana Belt for just this reason. Last year we had no snow at all. I didn't lose a single ride day to weather. Managing that again would be swell.
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Firefly
Five bike lights. It might be an addiction.
There is a built-in rear light that I never liked. It stopped working a while back anyway. There is a small red light snapped on that is darn bright.
The main forward LED light uses a couple of penlight batteries and throws a surprising glow. Next to that is an almost-as-bright one that is rechargeable. The last of my forward white lights is strapped on my helmet. In morning's dark, I can see pretty well.
Some bikes have incredible set-ups that rival the headlight on a motorbike. They can cost as much as an entire bike. I'm too cheap for that.
I would like a few more of the tiny rechargeable LED dealies. They weight nothing and take no space. I'd look like the Disneyland Light Parade.
They are for safely, as they let me see and make me visible to cars. If I get enough, drivers will have to pull over and shield their eyes.
That will work, too.
There is a built-in rear light that I never liked. It stopped working a while back anyway. There is a small red light snapped on that is darn bright.
The main forward LED light uses a couple of penlight batteries and throws a surprising glow. Next to that is an almost-as-bright one that is rechargeable. The last of my forward white lights is strapped on my helmet. In morning's dark, I can see pretty well.
Some bikes have incredible set-ups that rival the headlight on a motorbike. They can cost as much as an entire bike. I'm too cheap for that.
I would like a few more of the tiny rechargeable LED dealies. They weight nothing and take no space. I'd look like the Disneyland Light Parade.
They are for safely, as they let me see and make me visible to cars. If I get enough, drivers will have to pull over and shield their eyes.
That will work, too.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Crisis
I wonder why I'm so full-speed-ahead in my training at age 55.
Maybe it's a very late mid-life crisis. It is the kind of thing a mid-lifer might do. What are some of the symptoms?
According to wikipedia they are;
-abuse of alcohol (not me. Not even close)
-acquisition of unusual or expensive items such as motorbikes, boats, clothing, sports cars, jewelry, gadgets, tattoos, piercings, etc. (I bought my bike a couple of years ago and it's sort of a motorbike, if you close one eye and squint. No boat or expensive clothes. Am interested in a new car, but it's as un-sports car like as is possible. Helen makes me beaded jewelry, and I've always bought gadgets. I find tattoos and piercings hilarious and frightening)
-depression (I'm actually pretty giggly)
-blaming themselves for their failures (I'm a massive success)
-paying special attention to physical appearance such as covering baldness, wearing youthful designer clothes, etc. (I am bald and wear my remaining hair short to emphasize the gleam, and I dress like a hobo)
-entering relationships with younger people, either/or sexual, professional, parental, etc. (creepy or what? I have started training Jiu-Jitsu with a young crowd, but I like the adults best, and wish everybody were my age so I wouldn't be the most decrepit)
-placing over importance, and possibly a psychologically damaging amount, on their children (really can't be me, as I have no kids)
So not a late mid-life crisis. Maybe I'm just a keener. Maybe I'm just mental. Those both seem much closer to the mark.
Maybe it's a very late mid-life crisis. It is the kind of thing a mid-lifer might do. What are some of the symptoms?
According to wikipedia they are;
-abuse of alcohol (not me. Not even close)
-acquisition of unusual or expensive items such as motorbikes, boats, clothing, sports cars, jewelry, gadgets, tattoos, piercings, etc. (I bought my bike a couple of years ago and it's sort of a motorbike, if you close one eye and squint. No boat or expensive clothes. Am interested in a new car, but it's as un-sports car like as is possible. Helen makes me beaded jewelry, and I've always bought gadgets. I find tattoos and piercings hilarious and frightening)
-depression (I'm actually pretty giggly)
-blaming themselves for their failures (I'm a massive success)
-paying special attention to physical appearance such as covering baldness, wearing youthful designer clothes, etc. (I am bald and wear my remaining hair short to emphasize the gleam, and I dress like a hobo)
-entering relationships with younger people, either/or sexual, professional, parental, etc. (creepy or what? I have started training Jiu-Jitsu with a young crowd, but I like the adults best, and wish everybody were my age so I wouldn't be the most decrepit)
-placing over importance, and possibly a psychologically damaging amount, on their children (really can't be me, as I have no kids)
So not a late mid-life crisis. Maybe I'm just a keener. Maybe I'm just mental. Those both seem much closer to the mark.
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Self congratulations
I love that I'm actually able to pull this off.
Tonight it was Jiu-Jitsu, and so is tomorrow. The day after? Jiu-Jitsu class again. Friday holds my regular Karate class. Saturday, a special 2 hour class in Vancouver. That's 5 days of a row of pretty intensive training.
After a couple of non-training days, it's back into the routine and 4 more days in a row of intensity.
Over Christmas, I won't be training at all. In Victoria, I switch back to running and will crank out kilometre distances every day in the double digits.
The effort doesn't slow me down. A few injuries have. A cracked rib in June, and an ankle strain this week are the worst. Neither has been a problem. There have been numerous toe injuries, including some breaks. I've barely noticed those.
I'm 55 years old, for Pete's sake. I'm supposed to be doing nothing, or perhaps the odd jaunty walk. People my age are considered active if they golf once a week, with an electric cart.
I've even toyed with the idea of organizing a weekend session to get in more Karate.
Maybe I'll explode.
Tonight it was Jiu-Jitsu, and so is tomorrow. The day after? Jiu-Jitsu class again. Friday holds my regular Karate class. Saturday, a special 2 hour class in Vancouver. That's 5 days of a row of pretty intensive training.
After a couple of non-training days, it's back into the routine and 4 more days in a row of intensity.
Over Christmas, I won't be training at all. In Victoria, I switch back to running and will crank out kilometre distances every day in the double digits.
The effort doesn't slow me down. A few injuries have. A cracked rib in June, and an ankle strain this week are the worst. Neither has been a problem. There have been numerous toe injuries, including some breaks. I've barely noticed those.
I'm 55 years old, for Pete's sake. I'm supposed to be doing nothing, or perhaps the odd jaunty walk. People my age are considered active if they golf once a week, with an electric cart.
I've even toyed with the idea of organizing a weekend session to get in more Karate.
Maybe I'll explode.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)