
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.
Recent Comments