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On Thursday, I finally did the wise thing and made a doctor's appointment after a month of waiting for my sinus infection to clear. The doc loaded me up with antibiotics and said I'd be feeling better in a few days. Now if I'd just gone to see him three weeks ago instead of getting on the DayQuil/NyQuil express. Judgment isn't always my strong suit.
Thursday class was relatively small with Sensei, Sempai Matt, Mega Chris, Osoto Gary and I. Sempai Matt led the warm-ups and added a couple new exercises. One of them reminded me of being a flipped-over turtle trying to right itself. Sensei demonstrated how this postion could be used to work on defended from the ground. We also did another new exercise where we rolled back, raised our legs and hips toward the ceiling and then came up into a kneeling stance on the way back.
Sensei segued into a drill where we tried to defend against a standing opponent by blocking with our legs and arms. Osoto Gary and I were matched up for this exercise. One of us took the downed postion while the other attempted to pass into guard. I like these competitive practice pieces.
We spent the next chunk of class practicing a range of Osoto Gari variations including:
The last of these was a new addition and was another 'hands-free' fall that the blue belt chart has a few of. Nothing like hurtling toward the mat figuring out how you're going to break your fall. I found myself doing many of the Osoto Gari techniques without thinking hard. it was very much muscle memory. I just focused on tightening up where I felt gaps in my techniques.
I had a good roll with both Osoto Gary and Mega Chris. Chris caught me on a ridiculous choke early on but I fared better afterwards despite still feeling the effects of my sickness. I was most happy with an Ouchi Gari and an Ippon Seoi had I was able to complete versus Osoto Gary.
Warm-ups for Saturday's class were led by Sempai Ryan with the 'highlight' being three hundred crunches. He apologized for lapsing into some type of 'ab coma' about halfway through.
I spent most of the class working on blue belt weapon defenses with Big Dave. These techniques included:
Big Dave and I also decided to end all our weapon defense techniques with a retrieval of the weapon and then an attack on the assaulter. We felt this would ensure we completed the end of the move and didn't get lazy with the finish.
For Randori, I drew Big Dave, Sempai Steve and Sempai Ryan. I didn't fared too well but I didn't really care on this day. It was the first day in a month that I felt energized and healthy. I volunteered to get right back onto the mats and got in plenty of time. I'll hope to fare better on another day but, on this day, I was just happy to feeling really able.
Posted at 05:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Anyone who has been at the Kobukai hombu for a while knows how physically challenging summer is. We run - alot - streets, hills, forest trails. There is no AC in our dojo - so 80 degrees outside is 90 degrees inside. Many of you have 'visited the bushes' to relieve your stomach of the extra food your body didn't really need anyway. Overheated heads are soaked under garden hoses. Even the pool is no relief - just more physical torture. So...it is my advice that you join me in getting shape for the summer with this very simple plan - starting now. I offer (and highly suggest) my 12-week plan of fitness preparation. Each week, I will suggest a change. These changes are cumulative over the twelve weeks. Eat or do whatever you wish on one day of the week. Come May, it will be obvious who has taken the suggestion - and who hasn't.
Week Nine - March 29th - April 4th
Posted at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
I think I've reached a burn out period today. A lingering sinus infection/cold hasn't stopped me from training three times a week but it has me worn down. I have a scheduling conflict with tomorrow's class and I'm thinking that might just be a good thing. I'll give myself a little pat on the back for getting to most of the classes throughout the cold winter and consider this miss a needed pause. On the other side, I finally feel like the blue belt chart is starting to sink in and will hope to be back in class on Thursday as to not lose too much momentum.
With that, I'll try to provide a brief recap of last Thursday and Saturday's classes.
I went to Thursday's class feeling like crap and the workout led by Sempai Jake (formerly known as 'Jake the Sadist') didn't do much to help my spirits. He wasn't having us do anything too crazy but the squat thrusts with a push-up added which made me think about getting into my car and driving away. I barely made my way through the set and the rest of the routine before we started working on techniques.
Sempai Jake was my partner to begin the class and we worked on blue belt jujitsu. Overall, I don't feel like there's anything on this section of the chart that's difficult for me physically. It's really a matter of repetitions and fine tuning. Actually, the worst part of these techniques is being uke. There are a few tough throws including a couple where your arms are wrapped up. After class, I thanked Sempai Jake for being uke for so many of my reps. It's very admirable for these black belts to subject themselves to these dangerous landings after spending years attaining their rank.
I then moved to nage practice with Sempai Steve. As a judo and jujitsu black belt, he has not only skill in the basic techniques but many variations he's come up with to suit his style and to vary his attack. He really had me tighten up my hip positioning on Harai Goshi but there was little he could do to help my Uchi Mata. This is going to be my toughest throw on the chart.
For randori, I drew Oz 'The Wizard', Sempai Steve and Sempai Jake. Now it's no real shame to lose to an undefeated MMA fighter and two black belts but I do like to take some pride in being a 'tough out'. On this particular night, I sucked. I had no energy. I had no pizzazz. I was a boring and easy to handle opponent. Possibly my worst night of newaza in recent memory.
Sensei wasn't in class this night which meant that Sempai Matt was leading us. At the end of class, he delivered a long speech to us directed primarily at Special Ed. Sempai spoke about his love for Kobukai and what he expected from those priviledged enough to train within the walls of the hombu. He was very clear in what he felt was necessary of someone choosing this path. It was a good reminder for someone like myself and a clear message to Special Ed.
On Saturday, I walked into a dojo that had only black belts beside myself. Along with Sensei, we had Sempai Jake, Sempai Ryan and Sempai Steve. We warmed up by doing some light newaza. Just enough to break a sweat and get a feel for rolling around. I went with Sempai Ryan (who was experimenting on BJJ stuff) and Sempai Steve (who was treating me with kid gloves).
I spent the bulk of the class training with Sempai Steve on blue belt jujutsu and weapon defense. Since we'd done jujutsu the previous class, the techniques felt fairly comfortable. Sempai worked on tightening up my grips and footwork, teaching me some variations (e.g., kneeling versus standing) and showing me how to make the uke's landing easier or harder (depending on the desired result).
We ended class working through the weapon defenses. Again, I felt like I was starting to grasp the basics and that there's nothing on the chart that's beyond me physically. It's really a matter of concentrating on the particulars and making the techniques crisp and fluid.
I'll be back to class on Thursday with three days of rest and looking forward to keeping my training momentum going. Be well.
Posted at 09:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Anyone who has been at the Kobukai hombu for a while knows how physically challenging summer is. We run - alot - streets, hills, forest trails. There is no AC in our dojo - so 80 degrees outside is 90 degrees inside. Many of you have 'visited the bushes' to relieve your stomach of the extra food your body didn't really need anyway. Overheated heads are soaked under garden hoses. Even the pool is no relief - just more physical torture. So...it is my advice that you join me in getting shape for the summer with this very simple plan - starting now. I offer (and highly suggest) my 12-week plan of fitness preparation. Each week, I will suggest a change. These changes are cumulative over the twelve weeks. Eat or do whatever you wish on one day of the week. Come May, it will be obvious who has taken the suggestion - and who hasn't.
Week Eight - March 22nd - March 28th
Posted at 09:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Despite not being able to get over a lingering sinus infection-type nastiness, I have been continuing to get in my classes. Then again, it's very possible that being so persistent about getting to class versus taking a couple off has allowed this illness to keep a hold on me. I'm either tough-minded or foolish. It's a gray area.
Posted at 08:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Anyone who has been at the Kobukai hombu for a while knows how physically challenging summer is. We run - alot - streets, hills, forest trails. There is no AC in our dojo - so 80 degrees outside is 90 degrees inside. Many of you have 'visited the bushes' to relieve your stomach of the extra food your body didn't really need anyway. Overheated heads are soaked under garden hoses. Even the pool is no relief - just more physical torture. So...it is my advice that you join me in getting shape for the summer with this very simple plan - starting now. I offer (and highly suggest) my 12-week plan of fitness preparation. Each week, I will suggest a change. These changes are cumulative over the twelve weeks. Eat or do whatever you wish on one day of the week. Come May, it will be obvious who has taken the suggestion - and who hasn't.
Week Seven - March 15th - March 21st
Posted at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
I recently finished reading 'Blood In The Cage: Mixed Martial Arts, Pat Miletich, and the Furious Rise of the UFC'. Even thought I follow the UFC closely, the book provided an excellent background on the rise of the sport but the best part is the life story of the eventual founder of Miletich Fighting Systems. The author, Sports Illustrated's L. Jon Wertheim, comments that the popularity of MMA may be due to the straightforward nature of the sport. While football, hockey, baseball, soccer and most all other sports are aggressive, they mask this hostility beneath rules and the idea that tackling and checking are somehow different than a double leg takedown. MMA is straightforward. Even more so than boxing which is limited in its attacks. The assortment of attack options in the one-on-one competition of MMA make it stand apart from all other sports.
Posted at 07:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Things have stayed very busy and I haven't had a chance to do a write-up. I'm going to attempt a short one tonight before heading off to sleep.
Posted at 11:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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