The end of my time as a White Belt in Jiu-Jitsu got closer tonight.
I was awarded my 4th and final stripe for my belt. The instructor also looked over my record card, and said I'll be starting my promotion test soon. Technically I have a few classes left to complete, but it's up to him when my exam can start.
There are a couple of test sections that I am ready for, and a couple I am not. Perhaps we'll do those ones first, while I'm still training a bit more for the other parts.
I hope this is how it goes as it means I have over two months to complete the test before summer. Likely the recordings could all be sent to HQ for final evaluation before the end of May. It takes a week or two to get results, so news of the decision regarding promotion would be back before summer, too. This would be a bonus.
I'd be happy to just get it all done, recorded, and sent off before July. Finding out the result as well would be very nice.
If I pass, I think it will be the fastest anyone has earned a Blue Belt at my local club. I will also be the oldest person to earn a Gracie Blue Belt in all of Canada.
Then it's on to the advanced class to learn even sneakier ways to choke and squish my friends.
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.
Tuesday, 17 April 2012
Monday, 16 April 2012
Stiff
Today I'm pretty old.
I did a run yesterday barefoot style. My calf muscles really felt it, and this morning they were trying to kill me.
I was glad it was raining heavily, creating an excuse for me not to ride my bike to work. Stairs have been a challenge all day.
No Jiu-Jitsu today, just a Karate class. I can make it work fine for the hour and a half of training, but then will go back into shuffle mode.
I'll run again on the weekend, and my legs will punish me less. They will have given up and will let me do what I want.
Bodies do this. They do it more if they are old ones.
There is no rain predicted for tomorrow, so I'll be biking.
No excuse available.
I did a run yesterday barefoot style. My calf muscles really felt it, and this morning they were trying to kill me.
I was glad it was raining heavily, creating an excuse for me not to ride my bike to work. Stairs have been a challenge all day.
No Jiu-Jitsu today, just a Karate class. I can make it work fine for the hour and a half of training, but then will go back into shuffle mode.
I'll run again on the weekend, and my legs will punish me less. They will have given up and will let me do what I want.
Bodies do this. They do it more if they are old ones.
There is no rain predicted for tomorrow, so I'll be biking.
No excuse available.
Sunday, 15 April 2012
Paper
Have you seen the text books kids haul around these days?
Let's have a high school kid with homework in 4 subjects; Math, English, Physics and Biology. Three of those texts are monsters, and the English book likely a novel. The accompanying binders seem weightless in comparison.
Would you like to haul that back and forth on the bus? I wouldn't.
Teachers are often old fashioned, and some decry the arrival of e-readers and such. I contend that they are necessary.
All those texts, and more, can be fit into an e-reader whose weight is measured in grams. Aha, you say. What about all the accompanying binders? Are they not also vital for a proper education even if the physical textbooks are not?
There have been kids using laptops for years for taking notes. Not a separate one for every subject. Just one. This year I've had an explosion of iPad toting note takers. I even have a few who are able to keep notes on their phones or iPods. I was sceptical at first, but it's true. I have tried to catch them doing other things, and have failed. It's the kids with the devices hidden away that you have to watch.
If the text situation ever becomes flexible enough, a student could carry an iPad which holds all their textbooks as well as all their notes. From a stuffed and heavy backpack, a kid walks out with a tiny electronic device.
Thing aren't really there yet, but it's coming really soon.
The paper addicts should try and get used to the idea.
Let's have a high school kid with homework in 4 subjects; Math, English, Physics and Biology. Three of those texts are monsters, and the English book likely a novel. The accompanying binders seem weightless in comparison.
Would you like to haul that back and forth on the bus? I wouldn't.
Teachers are often old fashioned, and some decry the arrival of e-readers and such. I contend that they are necessary.
All those texts, and more, can be fit into an e-reader whose weight is measured in grams. Aha, you say. What about all the accompanying binders? Are they not also vital for a proper education even if the physical textbooks are not?
There have been kids using laptops for years for taking notes. Not a separate one for every subject. Just one. This year I've had an explosion of iPad toting note takers. I even have a few who are able to keep notes on their phones or iPods. I was sceptical at first, but it's true. I have tried to catch them doing other things, and have failed. It's the kids with the devices hidden away that you have to watch.
If the text situation ever becomes flexible enough, a student could carry an iPad which holds all their textbooks as well as all their notes. From a stuffed and heavy backpack, a kid walks out with a tiny electronic device.
Thing aren't really there yet, but it's coming really soon.
The paper addicts should try and get used to the idea.
Run
Off for a run in my weird, almost-not-there shoes. They make me run a little tippy-toed.
My left calf didn't like it right away, but I kept going.
Up the hill and over the creek. One kilometre. All is fine and no signs of any cars. This is not strange for our country roads early on a Sunday. Onto the long road.
Two kilometre mark. Still no cars. I pass cows and horse in their fields. Some watch me, and some don't. The road fades to gravel. Three kilometres.
The gravel and the new shoes do not get along. The sharp stones dig in, and are too numerous to avoid. I turn east, still on gravel.
No cars on the gravel either. At four kilometres I turn into the tree and onto dirt paths. This is much better going. I pass several dog walkers in the trees. Five kilometres. Out of the trees and it's six kilometres.
Back on pavement amongst houses. Where are the cars? I reach the downhill with the stunning, blue-skied ocean vista. Seven kilometres. I turn for home. Eight.
Finally a car goes by. Over the creek. Nine kilometres and I'm home.
My left calf is still unhappy, and not really exhausted. My right calf has decided to match the attitude of its twin.
Overall, I feel normal enough. No joint aches or pains, just my protesting calves.
The new shoes are fine, as was my run.
My left calf didn't like it right away, but I kept going.
Up the hill and over the creek. One kilometre. All is fine and no signs of any cars. This is not strange for our country roads early on a Sunday. Onto the long road.
Two kilometre mark. Still no cars. I pass cows and horse in their fields. Some watch me, and some don't. The road fades to gravel. Three kilometres.
The gravel and the new shoes do not get along. The sharp stones dig in, and are too numerous to avoid. I turn east, still on gravel.
No cars on the gravel either. At four kilometres I turn into the tree and onto dirt paths. This is much better going. I pass several dog walkers in the trees. Five kilometres. Out of the trees and it's six kilometres.
Back on pavement amongst houses. Where are the cars? I reach the downhill with the stunning, blue-skied ocean vista. Seven kilometres. I turn for home. Eight.
Finally a car goes by. Over the creek. Nine kilometres and I'm home.
My left calf is still unhappy, and not really exhausted. My right calf has decided to match the attitude of its twin.
Overall, I feel normal enough. No joint aches or pains, just my protesting calves.
The new shoes are fine, as was my run.
Saturday, 14 April 2012
Saturday class
Saturday morning Jiu-Jitsu class is great.
I'm an early riser, so it's no problem getting ready. On the road before 8:30 for the 9am start.
The class is a little more advanced than the evening sessions, and the groups are very small and much more focused. Finished at 10.
So I head home. I can do errands along the way, but many businesses are not open yet. Too early for an early lunch. Usually I just drive on through.
Back home a little after 10:30. Many people haven't done anything more ambitious than a cup of coffee. My wife is often still in her jammies.
Not a bit of Saturday really used up.
I'm an early riser, so it's no problem getting ready. On the road before 8:30 for the 9am start.
The class is a little more advanced than the evening sessions, and the groups are very small and much more focused. Finished at 10.
So I head home. I can do errands along the way, but many businesses are not open yet. Too early for an early lunch. Usually I just drive on through.
Back home a little after 10:30. Many people haven't done anything more ambitious than a cup of coffee. My wife is often still in her jammies.
Not a bit of Saturday really used up.
Friday, 13 April 2012
New Shoes
Barefoot running is the latest fad. They say it is a more natural way to do it. It is also really hard on the feet.
Imagine giving it a try, and stepping on some broken glass, or even some crushed gravel.
The newest variation is barefoot running shoes. Quite a contradiction in terms, but actually a good idea. They fit close to the feet, provide no cushioning or support, and yet act as a super tough layer of skin. They even have separate compartments for each toe.
This has been intriguing me for a while. Last Saturday I bought a pair. They say you should start with short runs as this kind of running is so different. I cranked out a few kilometres that day. My calves found it quite a challenge.
I didn’t get another chance on that weekend, and have been too busy since. Maybe tomorrow I’ll get the new booties on the road again. I’d like to take them on a normal distance run. Maybe 8-10 km. That should let me know how my body likes running this way.
Imagine giving it a try, and stepping on some broken glass, or even some crushed gravel.
The newest variation is barefoot running shoes. Quite a contradiction in terms, but actually a good idea. They fit close to the feet, provide no cushioning or support, and yet act as a super tough layer of skin. They even have separate compartments for each toe.
This has been intriguing me for a while. Last Saturday I bought a pair. They say you should start with short runs as this kind of running is so different. I cranked out a few kilometres that day. My calves found it quite a challenge.
I didn’t get another chance on that weekend, and have been too busy since. Maybe tomorrow I’ll get the new booties on the road again. I’d like to take them on a normal distance run. Maybe 8-10 km. That should let me know how my body likes running this way.
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Job
This is an important time of year for High School teachers. It is the time when the school schedule for next year is figured out. We find out what our jobs will be like next year.
So far, my position will be fine. I will be teaching 6 classes of Social Studies and 1 of Computers. These are both my areas of expertise. This is good.
In my career I've taught both of these subjects, and Science, and Math, and English. I am not a Science, Math, or English teacher.
I am happy as can be for next year. It will be a good last year of teaching. I'd hate to have a crappy assignment for my pre-retirement year.
My assignment is a good one mostly due to my tons of seniority. It is painful to see young teachers waiting year after year hoping to get a full time position. They say they aren't circling me like a herd of buzzards, but they are. My full-time job will be a real gem for somebody to inherit.
Keep in mind, that when I call them young teachers it's a relative term. People in their 40s are still struggling. Every year they lay off about 75% of all our teaching staff. I have only been exempt for a couple of years, and I'm almost retired.
It can be good to be old.
So far, my position will be fine. I will be teaching 6 classes of Social Studies and 1 of Computers. These are both my areas of expertise. This is good.
In my career I've taught both of these subjects, and Science, and Math, and English. I am not a Science, Math, or English teacher.
I am happy as can be for next year. It will be a good last year of teaching. I'd hate to have a crappy assignment for my pre-retirement year.
My assignment is a good one mostly due to my tons of seniority. It is painful to see young teachers waiting year after year hoping to get a full time position. They say they aren't circling me like a herd of buzzards, but they are. My full-time job will be a real gem for somebody to inherit.
Keep in mind, that when I call them young teachers it's a relative term. People in their 40s are still struggling. Every year they lay off about 75% of all our teaching staff. I have only been exempt for a couple of years, and I'm almost retired.
It can be good to be old.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)