Last week my bike's lovely electric motor started sounding really unhealthy. It has been in the shop since then.
Bummed a couple of automobile rides off of Helen, and have gone to work on the other days on her bike, and one time on foot.
Hers is the same bike as mine. A Giant brand model called a Twist. Her bike, however, has a much smaller frame. Much, much smaller frame. It is not comfortable at all, but it works.
This has had no effect on my running, except for the one day when I got a ride to school, and ran home afterwards.
Tonight I did a normal, evening run. Lots of dogs. For some reason, most of the dog walkers tonight had multiple pooches.
Saw one other critter.
A big old black bear wandered casually across the gravel road ahead of me. I haven't seen a bear around here for quite a while. They are around, but our paths haven't crossed. Tonight they did.
Nothing exciting happened, other than the sighting itself. As the bear didn't seem concerned by my running, I just kept going. Reached where he had re-entered the bush, and couldn't see anything. Somehow they don't disturb the underbrush the way a person or a dog would.
He had vanished.
I wonder if he was watching me go by.
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 June 2011
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Fresh
I taught tonight's Karate class. This is nothing new. I've been doing it off and on since 1983. For this club's first couple of months, I was the regular instructor.
Since then, that duty has devolved on another. She's been doing a fine job, but couldn't be there tonight.
Of the six students present tonight, three were students when I was the teacher, and three are newer and have never seen me in that role.
I chose not to take things off on any funny tangent, but also didn't stick to what we always do.
In the warmup, and cool down, we did isometrics and plyometrics. They all seemed to understand, and did very well.
In class, did it just a little different. Corrected one foot and one arm thing for them as a group.
Tortured them in Kata, having them do Heian Shodan the wrong way (left to right). Before they got any good at that, had them do it from last move until the first. They got real lost doing that. Also had them do their Kata with their eyes shut.
Explained how the Sempai Kohai thing works in Japan.
I think it went well, and it probably felt fresh.
Since then, that duty has devolved on another. She's been doing a fine job, but couldn't be there tonight.
Of the six students present tonight, three were students when I was the teacher, and three are newer and have never seen me in that role.
I chose not to take things off on any funny tangent, but also didn't stick to what we always do.
In the warmup, and cool down, we did isometrics and plyometrics. They all seemed to understand, and did very well.
In class, did it just a little different. Corrected one foot and one arm thing for them as a group.
Tortured them in Kata, having them do Heian Shodan the wrong way (left to right). Before they got any good at that, had them do it from last move until the first. They got real lost doing that. Also had them do their Kata with their eyes shut.
Explained how the Sempai Kohai thing works in Japan.
I think it went well, and it probably felt fresh.
Monday, 27 June 2011
Numbers game
Blogging is funny. I've become somewhat obsessed with the number of people who read my ramblings.
Altogether people have viewed this thing 1659 times since it first started. They call these visit pageviews.
As most people who visit are my Facebook friends, it's no wonder that most are viewing from Canada, 1429 in fact.
Somehow, people from the USA have managed to find it, too. 113 pageviews. Not surprising, I suppose. My blog is in English, and the USA is the most populous English speaking country.
Citizens of the UK have popped in 9 times, and 2 from Ireland. I have a friend in Germany, and I suppose that she is responsible for most or all of the 26 German pageviews. 2 Danes have wandered in as well.
Any from Asia? Why yes, there are 2 from India. I seem to have a fan or two in Malaysia, 35 pageviews, and Singapore 17 pageviews. I wonder if this is one guy.
I don't include any countries that have a single pageview. One must assume that they wandered in by mistake, and foolishly chose to never return.
And what does it all mean?
Nothing.
Altogether people have viewed this thing 1659 times since it first started. They call these visit pageviews.
As most people who visit are my Facebook friends, it's no wonder that most are viewing from Canada, 1429 in fact.
Somehow, people from the USA have managed to find it, too. 113 pageviews. Not surprising, I suppose. My blog is in English, and the USA is the most populous English speaking country.
Citizens of the UK have popped in 9 times, and 2 from Ireland. I have a friend in Germany, and I suppose that she is responsible for most or all of the 26 German pageviews. 2 Danes have wandered in as well.
Any from Asia? Why yes, there are 2 from India. I seem to have a fan or two in Malaysia, 35 pageviews, and Singapore 17 pageviews. I wonder if this is one guy.
I don't include any countries that have a single pageview. One must assume that they wandered in by mistake, and foolishly chose to never return.
And what does it all mean?
Nothing.
A single class
This week we have no Karate classes at all, except for Tuesday. I'll be teaching that one.
What to do? I could just continue with our usual routines.
Same warm up. Same basics. Same stuff.
I could also make it all different. Weird warm up. Alternate basics. Maybe all hippy stuff.
When I was Sensei with this club, I tried to establish a class routine. Since then, the routine has evolved into what we currently do. Nothing wrong with it at all.
With me being a one time teacher I perhaps should do something different. Maybe I should think on that a bit.
Warm up; perhaps plyometrics. Maybe isometrics.
Technique? Wonder if I could get the wrestling room at chat. That could be interesting.
Why do this? It would be more fun for me, but the idea isn't to have classes that are fun for the instructor. Not even principally to have a fun class for the students. The idea is supposed to be a class that will move the students a small step towards...what?
Being better people? Better Karateka? Better Martial Artists? I've been an instructor since 1983, and I don't know the right answer.
Maybe fun is the answer.
What to do? I could just continue with our usual routines.
Same warm up. Same basics. Same stuff.
I could also make it all different. Weird warm up. Alternate basics. Maybe all hippy stuff.
When I was Sensei with this club, I tried to establish a class routine. Since then, the routine has evolved into what we currently do. Nothing wrong with it at all.
With me being a one time teacher I perhaps should do something different. Maybe I should think on that a bit.
Warm up; perhaps plyometrics. Maybe isometrics.
Technique? Wonder if I could get the wrestling room at chat. That could be interesting.
Why do this? It would be more fun for me, but the idea isn't to have classes that are fun for the instructor. Not even principally to have a fun class for the students. The idea is supposed to be a class that will move the students a small step towards...what?
Being better people? Better Karateka? Better Martial Artists? I've been an instructor since 1983, and I don't know the right answer.
Maybe fun is the answer.
Friday, 24 June 2011
Ow...
What is pain?
It isn't really very much. It is supposed to be a signal from a part of your body that something isn't right. I don't know why it has to hurt so much.
When some people feel pain they shut down. That's what I do if I interpret what I'm feeling to mean something is being damaged. If my knee hurts while I'm running, I stop immediately.
But what about that kind of pain that doesn't mean something is being damaged?
Take a punch in the ribs. It can hurt. If it means there is damage, I'll stop right away. It can only make things worse to continue. But it can also hurt when it doesn't mean anything. It can hurt a great deal and still mean nothing.
Should I stop, and nurse a meaningless injury? It isn't an injury at all. It's just discomfort.
Sometimes I'm not tough enough, and the amount of pain I'm feeling is debilitating in itself. Have to stop then, too. This is quite rare.
How about real fighting with a life at stake, and you experience pain. Do you crumple, or stop fighting, or even show that it hurts? Any of those could earn you even more serious injury, or death. You have to continue, and show nothing.
This needs to be practiced. It isn't an easy thing to do.
Little things help. Like a Sensei that insists that you show nothing if an exercise hurts. Push ups on one's knuckles hurt, but don't damage anybody who has finished growing. Do them anyway. Ignore the discomfort if you can, but even if you can't, you do not show it. Showing it doesn't help. Smile while doing them. Practice.
Treat a meaningless hit during training as if you felt nothing. No wincing, or groaning, or pained expressions. Ignore it if you can, but even if you can't you must not show it.
If it could be an injury, stop. No need to be an idiot about this stuff.
It isn't really very much. It is supposed to be a signal from a part of your body that something isn't right. I don't know why it has to hurt so much.
When some people feel pain they shut down. That's what I do if I interpret what I'm feeling to mean something is being damaged. If my knee hurts while I'm running, I stop immediately.
But what about that kind of pain that doesn't mean something is being damaged?
Take a punch in the ribs. It can hurt. If it means there is damage, I'll stop right away. It can only make things worse to continue. But it can also hurt when it doesn't mean anything. It can hurt a great deal and still mean nothing.
Should I stop, and nurse a meaningless injury? It isn't an injury at all. It's just discomfort.
Sometimes I'm not tough enough, and the amount of pain I'm feeling is debilitating in itself. Have to stop then, too. This is quite rare.
How about real fighting with a life at stake, and you experience pain. Do you crumple, or stop fighting, or even show that it hurts? Any of those could earn you even more serious injury, or death. You have to continue, and show nothing.
This needs to be practiced. It isn't an easy thing to do.
Little things help. Like a Sensei that insists that you show nothing if an exercise hurts. Push ups on one's knuckles hurt, but don't damage anybody who has finished growing. Do them anyway. Ignore the discomfort if you can, but even if you can't, you do not show it. Showing it doesn't help. Smile while doing them. Practice.
Treat a meaningless hit during training as if you felt nothing. No wincing, or groaning, or pained expressions. Ignore it if you can, but even if you can't you must not show it.
If it could be an injury, stop. No need to be an idiot about this stuff.
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Short seminar
A week from Saturday, I might toddle into Vancouver to catch a day of the Kline Sensei seminar.
If I do, I can catch the 8:20am ferry, which means I'll leave the house around 7:30am, so up by 7:00am.
The ferry costs $60-70 bucks, and figure $15 for breakfast.
The seminar costs $30.
If I head home right after, I'll be on the 1:30pm boat, and be home about 3pm.
So up early, 8 hour hole blown in the day, out well over $100. Fair enough. What do I get back?
One seminar class of one hour length. There is always a warmup within the class; call it ten minutes.
Over $100 and 8 hours of time invested to get 50 minutes of instruction. Hmmmm?
Old style seminars would cost the same, and require going a ferry earlier, and getting home 4 hours later. $100 again, and 14 hours to get 4 1/2 hours of classes. Deduct 3 warm ups and it's still 4 hours of training.
Actual seminar like this week's is $2 per minute and 9.6 minutes wasted per minute of class.
Old style seminar $.42 per minute and 3.5 minutes wasted per minute of class.
I would like to go in either Saturday or Sunday, but won't do both, even if I can.
In a single hour class, instructors only have time to hit one main point, or maybe two. Sometimes it's something that doesn't mean much. Sometimes, of course, it's fantastic. Call it 50-50.
The city seminars great for the city people. Great even for those with a mere one-hour drive. We're kinda far away, and the ferry costs twice what the seminar itself does.
For me, one hour city days will remain the exception, rather than the rule. Will likely do one day of most seminars, but not more.
Likely can't go to this one at all due to other commitments.
Everybody should go once in a while, just to get the experience. Super high level instructors are different. I hope everybody in our club goes to one of the days.
I think Sensei is going to all of them.
If I do, I can catch the 8:20am ferry, which means I'll leave the house around 7:30am, so up by 7:00am.
The ferry costs $60-70 bucks, and figure $15 for breakfast.
The seminar costs $30.
If I head home right after, I'll be on the 1:30pm boat, and be home about 3pm.
So up early, 8 hour hole blown in the day, out well over $100. Fair enough. What do I get back?
One seminar class of one hour length. There is always a warmup within the class; call it ten minutes.
Over $100 and 8 hours of time invested to get 50 minutes of instruction. Hmmmm?
Old style seminars would cost the same, and require going a ferry earlier, and getting home 4 hours later. $100 again, and 14 hours to get 4 1/2 hours of classes. Deduct 3 warm ups and it's still 4 hours of training.
Actual seminar like this week's is $2 per minute and 9.6 minutes wasted per minute of class.
Old style seminar $.42 per minute and 3.5 minutes wasted per minute of class.
I would like to go in either Saturday or Sunday, but won't do both, even if I can.
In a single hour class, instructors only have time to hit one main point, or maybe two. Sometimes it's something that doesn't mean much. Sometimes, of course, it's fantastic. Call it 50-50.
The city seminars great for the city people. Great even for those with a mere one-hour drive. We're kinda far away, and the ferry costs twice what the seminar itself does.
For me, one hour city days will remain the exception, rather than the rule. Will likely do one day of most seminars, but not more.
Likely can't go to this one at all due to other commitments.
Everybody should go once in a while, just to get the experience. Super high level instructors are different. I hope everybody in our club goes to one of the days.
I think Sensei is going to all of them.
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Busted bike
It isn't easy having no bike. Helen and I are now sharing our single car. It is a great car, a red Prius.
It isn't the car that is the problem, it's the scheduling.
Today I dropped Helen at her school, then went to mine. I needed it to get the bike to the repair shop, an hour of driving away. Helen bummed a ride after school to the union office for a meeting, and I swung by to pick her up after my bike repair run. Then I dropped her at her music group, and went home. I waited for her to phone for a pickup, but she got a ride home with a friend. That was just today.
If it was just work, it would be fine.
Tomorrow there is work, and then she has an eye appointment, and won't be able to drive afterwards (eye drops). After getting home, I have Karate from 6:30 to 8:00.
Thursday, I have a dentist appointment.
Friday we both have activities in the evening, music and Karate.
I am really missing my bike. A car could take its place, but we don't have one.
Next week will be better. My work no longer has a strict timetable, so I can get dropped off in the mornings, and walk home afterwards. Or I could run. That could be fun. My only after work activity will be a single Tuesday Karate class. Helen can have the car at work everyday, and for music the other evenings.
I want my bike back.
I almost don't care what the repair costs.
It isn't the car that is the problem, it's the scheduling.
Today I dropped Helen at her school, then went to mine. I needed it to get the bike to the repair shop, an hour of driving away. Helen bummed a ride after school to the union office for a meeting, and I swung by to pick her up after my bike repair run. Then I dropped her at her music group, and went home. I waited for her to phone for a pickup, but she got a ride home with a friend. That was just today.
If it was just work, it would be fine.
Tomorrow there is work, and then she has an eye appointment, and won't be able to drive afterwards (eye drops). After getting home, I have Karate from 6:30 to 8:00.
Thursday, I have a dentist appointment.
Friday we both have activities in the evening, music and Karate.
I am really missing my bike. A car could take its place, but we don't have one.
Next week will be better. My work no longer has a strict timetable, so I can get dropped off in the mornings, and walk home afterwards. Or I could run. That could be fun. My only after work activity will be a single Tuesday Karate class. Helen can have the car at work everyday, and for music the other evenings.
I want my bike back.
I almost don't care what the repair costs.
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