JujitsuBlog.com

Grapplemania

Kobukai Jujitsu - 15th Annual Bash

Dustin Carter & Rohan Murphy

New Year's Jujitsulotions

As we head toward the end of the year, I've started to think about my resolutions for the coming year. I have a long personal list that I create and another list of 'objectives' that are mandated by my work. During our annual jujitus 'bash' last Saturday, Sensei advised that the 'bash' was a cleansing of sorts. A chance to test our will and skills before embarking on the next year's journey. This seemed like the perfect chance to consider my jujitsu possiblities in 2009. 

Last Saturday marked Kobukai's 15th annual bash. We gather to workout crazier than usual, to fight harder and longer than typical and then to share some warm food, cool drinks and old stories. As the guys rolled into the dojo, I began to assess the likelihood of surviving intact. Seated beside me was Osoto Gary who is, like myself, far less experienced than most of the guys coming onto the mats. I said to him, 'It's not looking good for us, dude. We're jujitsu fodder today.' He simply nodded his head in grime agreement. 
 
Things started easily enough. We started with some basic stretching but then were turned over to Sempai Ryan for some cardio. Not surprisingly, this included his favorite 'little man in the woods' jumping jacks. Sempai Jake led us through a torturous amount of ab work including enough leg lifts to feed his fetish. Sensei Tony jumped in for another few sets of leg lifts to finish us off. 
 
Next up was doing squats with someone on your back and then wheelbarrows. We next jumped over a stick and into a forward roll. The stick was about three feet high to start and then moved up. Eventually, Sensei stood where you'd end your roll and swung a stick toward your head which forced you into a sprawl. The next exercise was doing more sit-ups but after jumping into your opponent's guard. Despite recovering from recent knee surgery, Sensei then took the group through a series of push-ups including on knuckles, judo-style, wide-armed and tricep-focused. All of us had a puddle of sweat in front of us and now it was time to fight. As tough as it was, I couldn't complain since Osoto Gary was paired with Big Dave and the veins were popping out of his head from the strain. 

Sensei instructed us to put on gloves and pair up. Unlike our typical randori, we would be using gloves and striking with both punches and kicks. This is so unusual to me that I often forgot to throw or defend. That said, I still have some sore spots around my head today. Since the room was full of black belts and other tough fights, I walked right across the floor to Sempai Kenny. I knew I had no chance but figured I'd get my whipping over with. It wasn't long before I was tapped from an omoplata and an arm bar shortly after that.
 
As the afternoon progressed, I had a chance to roll with Osoto Gary, Oz 'The Wizard' (twice), Sempai Ryan (formerly known as The Prodigy), Sempai Jake (formerly known as The Sadist), Joelbow and Sempai Kenny again. My tapping muscles definitely got a workout and my head was a little sore from the jabs I took along the way. Still I was able to hang in there and, on occasion, make it tough for my more able peers. I walked out of the dojo under my own power. I'll consider that a victory (and also an example of my dojo mates ability to restrain themselves against lesser competition). 

So what about the year ahead? 

Fitness: Generally, my fitness level is good for someone that will turn 50 in the year ahead. I went through a year of jujitsu classes and even ran a half-marathon in October. This noted, I need to up my level of cardio and strength training. Shoulder injuries took away my old weight routine but I need to create something new. A new job at mid-year caused me to get out of my old workout routine, miss a number of runs and end up gaining a few pounds. I need to find a way to get these workouts back into my schedule and bring my weight back down.

Injuries: It was a tough year for injuries. I banged up both shoulders. They're both workable now but not nearly 100 percent. My wrists are sore by they will be okay. I've been wearing knee braces as a preventive measure and they're holding up so far. Oddly, the biggest issue I have currently is the big toe I broke in a couple places last year. It's really sore and I think it needs another x-ray. There's no way to avoid injuries but I can be a little more careful and considerate. It's tough to miss class and lose progress but becoming too hampered will mean I can't progress at all. 

Perseverance: I did well in this area in 2008. I can take some pride in heading to every hombu class I could possibly get to. I might have been better served to skip a couple. I definitely struggled with concentration at times. There were quite a few classes where my mind was drained or elsewhere and I'm sure that my classmates took notice. I'll need to be smarter about getting the necessary rest and recovery in 2009. 

Skills: I learned a great deal in the past year including gaining an appreciation that I have a long road in front of me. I really began looking at DVDs and instructional manuals in 2008. These gave me a few new techniques. I also took private lessons with Sensei and at American Top Team while on vacation in Florida. I want to continue finding time in my schedule (e.g., reading at lunch time, watching DVDs while on the treadmill) to study outside class. I also need to learn how to be a better teacher. During yesterday's class, Sensei and I worked with a new student on white belt techniques. Sensei took extra time to instruct on the techniques. I need to have more knowledge than just the components of a technique. I need to know the purpose behind each part of each movement. 

Language: My eyesight doesn't allow me to read the charts without getting within a few inches. I'm going to leverage this gap by not depending on reading the charts. I need to get very comfortable with just working off the verbal instructions. My sister's Christmas gift of the Japanese version Rosetta Stone language-learning DVDs should be very helpful. 

One more class on the schedule before year-end. It's been an eventful year. I'm going to hope that life conspires to allow me another year of experiences on the mat. 

 

What Is Training At Kobukai Jujitsu Like?

Posterized

Bash Photos

• Bash Photo Gallery (354 photos)

Machado Brothers Workout

Bash Prep

We had light attendance at class last night. It could have been the cold weather or the bad traffic on the highway. Possibly it was the blizzard in the next day's forecast or last minute Christmas shopping. Or maybe it was guys figuring that it would be best to rest up for Saturday's annual Bash. Those of us in attendance did some Bash preparation. I now feel both better prepared and pretty sore. Maybe some snow shoveling will loosen me up?

I spent the first part of the class working with Sempai Steve on a number of throws. Being a judo black belt, he has a number of variations and favorite ways to fit throws. He was also very considerate in taking lots of my throws as I attempted to work out some of the kinks. 

• Harai Goshi: We didn't spend a great deal of time on this because my initial attempts went pretty well. Sempai had me work on just the fit and that helped the throw work better than it has for me. 
• Maki Geashi: This Sumi Geashi variation worked relatively well and we didn't work this too long. I like this toss but I've yet to run across an opportunity to use it during Randori. 
• Uchi Mata: We spent lots of time on this one. One version felt very comfortable for me and the other took lots of reps before I got in a decent one. The first version was a sweep of the near leg using an overhook and lapel grab as a fit. The throw from this variation allowed for a transition into a knee on stomach position. The more traditional fit was more difficult. My kick back on this wasn't strong or well-placed for many reps. I finally had one decent one and then we moved on.
• Tomoe Nage: We worked this throw on Tuesday night and my issue this night was the same. I needed to get further under my opponent versus pulling them toward me. Once again, we did lots of reps while I attempted to get this correct. I did fine when placing my foot on the hip before beginning but not nearly as well when trying to jump into this throw.  
• Seoi Nage: Sensei provided some advice on getting low enough on this throw. I was keeping my legs wide and had me bring them together more. Sempai Steve showed me a variation where you dropped your throw-side knee to the ground to get lower. We also worked on 'circling' into the fit by pulling your opponent around you in an Ouchi Gari-type entry. I think this will work for me during Randori if I perfect the set-up variations. 
• Uke Waza: Sensei corrected my set-up by having my step foot be much further in which allowed by slide foot to 'trip' the uke. I like this throw and it seems to work for me. My problem is being the uke. Not falling correctly on this is going to mess up my already fragile shoulder sockets. Sensei and Sempai Steve worked on this with me for a long time but I still have work to do on this. 

Sensei then paired me with Osoto Gary and asked him what positions he felt stronger in. He rattled off everything but guard to which Sensei said, 'Good, we'll work on guard'. Gary and I then spent the next 20 minutes or so trying to hold or work out of guard. Sensei stopped in to point out the opportunities presented. He pointed out that there was always an opportunity to exploit when your opponent is passing your guard but that you only have the briefest moment to react and take advantage. 

We spent the last twenty minutes on with gloves doing light sparring. I had a chance to go with Sempai Steve, Osoto Gary and Mikey. It was more exhausting than typical Randori as we went straight through the time and had to deal with the punching and kneeing along with the usual throws and newaza. I'm feeling a few aches from this today but it was an important personal milestone. It was at the same pre-Bash practice that I separated my shoulder last year. I might be a little worse for wear but I'm planning on being ready to fight tomorrow. 

Throws & Strangles

An interesting class last night as all the participants were blue belts and above. No white or yellow belts in attendance. Add to this the return of Sensei and we had the making for a class you'd remember the next day as you reached for the Aleve. 

It seemed to be my night to be the target of verbal jabs and light-hearted taunting. I guess the guys missed me on Saturday. I even got a jab for not responding to their noise. I think this silent approach is something I picked up in the service along with saying 'sir'. Some of that training just never leaves you. The repetition of four years sinks it in deep and, for me, it's still there thirty years later. I imagine that jujitsu practice is intended to provide that same type of learning through the hours spent on the mats. All the books, DVDs and YouTube videos will get you nowhere without taking them into the dojo and working on them endlessly. 

Sensei broke the class down into Nage (throws) and Jime (strangles). On the throws, we began by working on the standard chart version and then trying out some modifications. 

• Seoi Nage: I like this variation version Ippon Seoi Nage. I think this is because there seems to be less moving parts for me. Using the lapel grab seems natural. I still need to get a lower posture to make the throw easier. One variation we learned was to pull the uke to our right hip much like an Ouchi Gari setup. We then transitioned into the Seoi Nage. The timing and spacing was a little tricky but I think this is one that will work for me with some practice. 
• Ura Nage - Harai Goshi: On this technique, we defensed the opponent's Ura Nage attempt by trapping their right arm and then repositioning ourselves for a Harai Goshi. I was working with Mega Chris and we got the timing on this. Personally, my standard Harai Goshi still sucks and this variation was largely a mess for me. 
• Tomoe Nage: Sensei referred to my initial attempts as the 'Captain Kirk's' and that he almost expected to see space monsters and women in silver outfits to appear. This throw requires you to swing your body under the opponent versus falling back and pulling them toward and over you. My last couple attempts were less Kirk-like.   

We ended the evening going through the charts and practicing our chokes. On one variation, the choke was an Okuri Uri Jime. We tried this a couple times by flattening out our opponents. This was a real joy when you were Big Dave's uke. I think being flattened out was actually worse than the choke. 

One more class before the annual bash on Saturday. Since I was injured last year and relegated to photo journalist, I'm looking forward to seeing what memorial craziness will come about this time around. I imagine that someone will capture a video of me being devastated. YouTube infamy awaits.