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.
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, 5 February 2012
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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