...Cameras and guns, that is.
This has nothing to do with Aikido, Judo, or indeed any martial art. This is a plug for a non-martial arts blog I just started to keep track of stuff I learn as I get into photography. If any of my thousands of loyal readers are camera/photography buffs, feel free to check it out here.
And stay tuned for yet another blog I'm going to get rolling this week. I only bought my first gun a few years ago, right after Hurricane Katrina. I'm now beginning to get more interested in guns and shooting, for fun and defense. This other blog will be about that stuff.
I guess to round out the "shooting" theme, I should learn single- and double-leg takedowns.
Man...novice martial artist, novice photographer, novice gun enthusiast....my novicity seems to know no bounds.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Recommended Listening
For a couple years now, I’ve been interested in so-called “Reality Based Self Defense”. One of the pioneers of RBSD is Jim Wagner. I’m writing this post to recommend a podcast I regularly listen to by one of Mr. Wagner’s certified instructors, Alex Haddox. While the show is not geared toward martial artists specifically, Mr. Haddox has fifteen-plus years of traditional martial arts training. He teaches both traditional martial arts and Jim Wagner’s Reality-Based Personal Protection System.
The Practical Defense Podcast has been both entertaining and informative. Mr. Haddox talks about everything from hotel safety, to road rage, to hurricane/earthquake preparedness, to warning signs of impending violence. I’ve particularly enjoyed his programs on handguns (as a budding gun enthusiast), the “Use of Force” ladder, and car emergency kits.
Check him out!
The Practical Defense Podcast has been both entertaining and informative. Mr. Haddox talks about everything from hotel safety, to road rage, to hurricane/earthquake preparedness, to warning signs of impending violence. I’ve particularly enjoyed his programs on handguns (as a budding gun enthusiast), the “Use of Force” ladder, and car emergency kits.
Check him out!
Of All the Cotton Pickin'...
I woke up this morning too sick to go to Judo/Aikido lessons. I'm having a hard time describing how dissappointed I am. In a previous post, I talked about how I really missed lessons last week, because I was stressed to my limit at work. That goes double for this week, and here I'm missing another class. I know it's not the end of the world, but I was sure looking forward to it. My wife and daughter have been passing a sinus infection back and forth for about 12 days now, and I've been oddly free from it. Until, of course, there's something I want to do.
I think in addition to just being disappointed about missing, there's also an element of "What next?" This week has seen my oven break, my garage door motor break, and a new job prospect fall through. Last night (Friday night) my DVR broke, and the cable company said they could have someone out by Tuesday afternoon. Last night (after being on the phone about my DVR for a while), I headed to the pharmacy to pick up some meds for my wife and daughter...my wife's car wouldn't start. Local weather people promised an all-day rain event for yesterday, and I was looking forward to rainy day at home, because I was off work (I love rainy days off). We ended up getting about 5 minutes of a mild rain. Oh, and of course I blew my diet at Thanksgiving. That's the one thing I had control over, and still jacked it up!
I'm usually an upbeat, positive person. But it seems like I can't catch a break lately. All this right here at Thanksgiving. There's a verse in the Bible in which Jacob tells God "I'm not worthy of even the least of Your blessings..." That really is my mantra. I really am thankful and amazed at how I've been blessed. I don't know anyone more blessed than me. Honestly. I guess sometimes it's easy to get wrapped up in what is NOT going my way than the multitude of things that ARE going well - much better than I deserve.
Still sucks I'm missing class today, but I'm forced to admit in the grand scheme of things, in the biggest of big pictures, it's not THAT big of a deal. Sorry to whine like a little baby.
I think in addition to just being disappointed about missing, there's also an element of "What next?" This week has seen my oven break, my garage door motor break, and a new job prospect fall through. Last night (Friday night) my DVR broke, and the cable company said they could have someone out by Tuesday afternoon. Last night (after being on the phone about my DVR for a while), I headed to the pharmacy to pick up some meds for my wife and daughter...my wife's car wouldn't start. Local weather people promised an all-day rain event for yesterday, and I was looking forward to rainy day at home, because I was off work (I love rainy days off). We ended up getting about 5 minutes of a mild rain. Oh, and of course I blew my diet at Thanksgiving. That's the one thing I had control over, and still jacked it up!
I'm usually an upbeat, positive person. But it seems like I can't catch a break lately. All this right here at Thanksgiving. There's a verse in the Bible in which Jacob tells God "I'm not worthy of even the least of Your blessings..." That really is my mantra. I really am thankful and amazed at how I've been blessed. I don't know anyone more blessed than me. Honestly. I guess sometimes it's easy to get wrapped up in what is NOT going my way than the multitude of things that ARE going well - much better than I deserve.
Still sucks I'm missing class today, but I'm forced to admit in the grand scheme of things, in the biggest of big pictures, it's not THAT big of a deal. Sorry to whine like a little baby.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Learning to Write
So I was talking to my wife about the article I read and mentioned in my previous post. The one about the imperceptible growth we experience over time as we train. We were talking about how while I'm learning some techniques, it will be quite a while before I have those techniques at my beck and call...available to me at a moment's notice should I need them. She was saying it's like learning to write (she's a teacher):
When we're kids, we may practice our handwriting awkwardly, slowly. "Hmmm. An 'F'...I don't use that letter much...how do I write it again?" Compare that to now - I can scribble down an entire sentence with nary a thought. I don't have to THINK about forming the letters. They're ingrained and subservient to my every whim. Tools I can call on and effectively use in an instant. One day my Judo and Aikido will be like that. But for now...it's like C.S. Lewis said: "As long as you're counting the steps, you're not dancing; you're only learning to dance"
And after all these years of writing, you know what? Writing the letter "Q" still trips me up. I have to stop and very intentionally form the letter, whether I'm printing or writing in cursive. I suspect my martial arts will be that way too. I'll always be learning.
When we're kids, we may practice our handwriting awkwardly, slowly. "Hmmm. An 'F'...I don't use that letter much...how do I write it again?" Compare that to now - I can scribble down an entire sentence with nary a thought. I don't have to THINK about forming the letters. They're ingrained and subservient to my every whim. Tools I can call on and effectively use in an instant. One day my Judo and Aikido will be like that. But for now...it's like C.S. Lewis said: "As long as you're counting the steps, you're not dancing; you're only learning to dance"
And after all these years of writing, you know what? Writing the letter "Q" still trips me up. I have to stop and very intentionally form the letter, whether I'm printing or writing in cursive. I suspect my martial arts will be that way too. I'll always be learning.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Watching the Change
I just read this article about progress in martial arts. It's a struggle sometimes for me to remember that each time I train, I add a LITTLE skill. It's encouraging to know that just because I don't "get" something fully this week, there's always next week. Or the next. Or the next. Or even next year. I recommend reading it!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Down Times
No training logs or observations from class this week, as there WAS no class this week. When I have to miss a week of class for whatever reason, it always kind of bums me out. For one thing, I need all the mat-time I can get, so I can get the hang of this stuff. The main reason is it's just FUN, and I really could have used the diversion, this week in particular. Lots of work-related stress, etc.
I wish there were more ways to train in Judo and Aikido that didn't require a partner. I have a grappling dummy (a UFC product, which is basically like a heavy bag with a few contours to simulate someone's waist, head, hips, etc). I try to work with that a few times a week, however, it's not very good at giving feedback. On the upside, all of my techniques seem to work on it, haha. I'm planning on buying a (person-shaped) throwing dummy soon, so I can at least keep the throws fresh in my mind as well. Those should help SOME with Judo, but for Aikido... well, there's the walking (solitary) kata we do. I need to be more consistent with that.
Ideally I suppose I'd have a friend who was into Judo and Aikido, lived nearby, and liked to train at 4:30 or 5am daily. No prospects so far. None likely for the future either. Ah well. Can't have everything I want.
I wish there were more ways to train in Judo and Aikido that didn't require a partner. I have a grappling dummy (a UFC product, which is basically like a heavy bag with a few contours to simulate someone's waist, head, hips, etc). I try to work with that a few times a week, however, it's not very good at giving feedback. On the upside, all of my techniques seem to work on it, haha. I'm planning on buying a (person-shaped) throwing dummy soon, so I can at least keep the throws fresh in my mind as well. Those should help SOME with Judo, but for Aikido... well, there's the walking (solitary) kata we do. I need to be more consistent with that.
Ideally I suppose I'd have a friend who was into Judo and Aikido, lived nearby, and liked to train at 4:30 or 5am daily. No prospects so far. None likely for the future either. Ah well. Can't have everything I want.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The Beginning
The video that follows happens to be what got me interested in Aikido to begin with (a couple of years ago). I believe this is a demonstration of Yoshinkan Aikido. I'm learning Tomiki Aikido, so the style is slightly different.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Fierce Judo Player...
....in the future anyway. You'd never know it by looking at her today though, huh? She's doing newaza drills in this pic, I think.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Judo Training Log, 11/15
Ninth judo lesson. After warm-up, we practiced a failed hiza garuma going into sasae-tsurikomi-ashi. Then we worked on a failed hiza immediately going into a hiza on the opposite side. The push attempt to effect one hiza is really effective when switched to the opposite side. As your opponent defends to the opposite direction to your push, suddenly yanking him over the other foot (in the direction of his resistance) is comically easy.
Pat demonstrated that one thing that makes hiza work is uke tightening his lower back muscles to keep from falling. He showed how to defend against hiza by relaxing and leaning in toward your opponent, then stepping over his hiza attempt into a hiza of your own on his other leg. Nice.
Next we practiced the kata version of sasae-tsurikomi-ashi. This was my first introduction to formal judo kata. Pat talked about how in kata, the steps are shorter and quicker, and therefore they can be a little tougher to deal with. This version of sasae was pretty amazing though. The throw was BIG. It’s odd because it seemed like very little effort was put into the throw, but the throw was huge. Pat recommended I read “Judo: Formal Techniques” by Otaka & Draeger for a lengthy discussion on kata. I started reading it yesterday, and came across the following line that seemed to jive with my experience with that throw: "This discipline {kata}, instead of hampering the judoist, actually frees him from undue restrictions, liberates his bodily expression in movement, and best teaches him economy of mental and physical energy." That throw may have been the clearest example I've seen of "Maximum Efficiency with Minimum Effort" so far in my very short judo experience.
Pat demonstrated that one thing that makes hiza work is uke tightening his lower back muscles to keep from falling. He showed how to defend against hiza by relaxing and leaning in toward your opponent, then stepping over his hiza attempt into a hiza of your own on his other leg. Nice.
Next we practiced the kata version of sasae-tsurikomi-ashi. This was my first introduction to formal judo kata. Pat talked about how in kata, the steps are shorter and quicker, and therefore they can be a little tougher to deal with. This version of sasae was pretty amazing though. The throw was BIG. It’s odd because it seemed like very little effort was put into the throw, but the throw was huge. Pat recommended I read “Judo: Formal Techniques” by Otaka & Draeger for a lengthy discussion on kata. I started reading it yesterday, and came across the following line that seemed to jive with my experience with that throw: "This discipline {kata}, instead of hampering the judoist, actually frees him from undue restrictions, liberates his bodily expression in movement, and best teaches him economy of mental and physical energy." That throw may have been the clearest example I've seen of "Maximum Efficiency with Minimum Effort" so far in my very short judo experience.
Aikido, November 15
11/15/08
Today I did a private Aikido lesson AND stayed for the Aikido class. That brings my total sessions to 10.
My co-worker, Nathan, began Aikido today. Nathan is brand-new to Aikido, and I’m sharing my private lesson time with him. I think it’s good that he’s there, because as Pat explains things to Nathan from the ground up, I feel like some of my potential deficiencies may get cleared up in the process. In some ways, having a little Aikido experience from a previous dojo has presented a challenge for me. Most of the techniques were the same, but the teaching methods, as well as defense theory associated with them were pretty different. I think hearing the instruction to someone with zero previous experience is filling in some gaps I have, and clearing up leftover misunderstandings. Nathan is also a different body-type to practice with, so I think that’s helpful as well.
We began the lesson by practicing the first half of tegatana no kata. Then we moved to Release 1, with emphasis on getting off the line and synching up with uke. If tori can time his technique with uke’s footfall, it’s easier to synch up from the very beginning. If you do it just right, you can start out in synch immediately. From there, we worked on flowing with uke and finding good times to separate (by a “bump” timed with uke’s footfall to one direction or the other).
Something for me to remember:
1) The bump should not be a “grab, pull/push, and release”; it should be instant.
We then worked on a Nijusan #2 off-balance, into a Nijusan #6. Pat talked more about the “evasion first” mindset.
Something else for me to remember:
1) When turning uke’s arm over for a #6, it’s easier to bring my body to his arm, then apply my weight, than it is for me to try to pull/force his arm into position.
For the Aikido class, we began by working on the Nijusan #2 off-balance, with the idea of tori stepping into the “hole” in front of uke’s feet (his line of weakness). Here again, the timing concept came up – by timing the off-balance to uke’s footfall, it worked MUCH better. Uke’s step should be when tori off-balances using the arm and steps into the hole. Maybe that will just click with me one day, but so far, I still have to be reminded. We then moved into several repetitions of aigamaeate, followed by lots of repetitions of shomenate.
Things for me to remember:
1) in shomenate, don’t pull uke to turn him around. As you evade, if he wants to engage you (has intent), he’ll turn around himself.
2) The deflection/off-balance should be straight out, not downward, as in my previous experience. This made more sense to me given the goal of separation/evasion. Back when my goal was a pretty off-balance, a downward deflection seemed to suit the technique. I really like my new dojo!
3) Use unbendable arm in the evasion. This will cause more separation and cause the 2 bodies to bounce apart like pool balls (tori evading at roughly 90 degrees). Tori should not “glance” off of uke, as that puts him in danger for far too long.
Pat talked about how it might be a good idea to shout things like “Stop! Help! What are you doing?!?” when defending yourself, so that it’s clear to witnesses that you’re not assaulting some poor guy. That may help you if/when the authorities document what happened. It also gets people’s attention and may get you some help. I thought of how funny it would be to take that to the extreme, and yell things like “I’m clearly outmatched!” or something to go into articulate detail while you’re busting some guy.
Lastly, Pat talked about the “Tripod” of Opportunity, Ability, and Intent in relation to defense. We discussed how all 3 need to be present in our attacker for him to be a danger to us. We talked about how different techniques might remove one of the three. We also briefly talked about the “Use of Force ladder”.
Today I did a private Aikido lesson AND stayed for the Aikido class. That brings my total sessions to 10.
My co-worker, Nathan, began Aikido today. Nathan is brand-new to Aikido, and I’m sharing my private lesson time with him. I think it’s good that he’s there, because as Pat explains things to Nathan from the ground up, I feel like some of my potential deficiencies may get cleared up in the process. In some ways, having a little Aikido experience from a previous dojo has presented a challenge for me. Most of the techniques were the same, but the teaching methods, as well as defense theory associated with them were pretty different. I think hearing the instruction to someone with zero previous experience is filling in some gaps I have, and clearing up leftover misunderstandings. Nathan is also a different body-type to practice with, so I think that’s helpful as well.
We began the lesson by practicing the first half of tegatana no kata. Then we moved to Release 1, with emphasis on getting off the line and synching up with uke. If tori can time his technique with uke’s footfall, it’s easier to synch up from the very beginning. If you do it just right, you can start out in synch immediately. From there, we worked on flowing with uke and finding good times to separate (by a “bump” timed with uke’s footfall to one direction or the other).
Something for me to remember:
1) The bump should not be a “grab, pull/push, and release”; it should be instant.
We then worked on a Nijusan #2 off-balance, into a Nijusan #6. Pat talked more about the “evasion first” mindset.
Something else for me to remember:
1) When turning uke’s arm over for a #6, it’s easier to bring my body to his arm, then apply my weight, than it is for me to try to pull/force his arm into position.
For the Aikido class, we began by working on the Nijusan #2 off-balance, with the idea of tori stepping into the “hole” in front of uke’s feet (his line of weakness). Here again, the timing concept came up – by timing the off-balance to uke’s footfall, it worked MUCH better. Uke’s step should be when tori off-balances using the arm and steps into the hole. Maybe that will just click with me one day, but so far, I still have to be reminded. We then moved into several repetitions of aigamaeate, followed by lots of repetitions of shomenate.
Things for me to remember:
1) in shomenate, don’t pull uke to turn him around. As you evade, if he wants to engage you (has intent), he’ll turn around himself.
2) The deflection/off-balance should be straight out, not downward, as in my previous experience. This made more sense to me given the goal of separation/evasion. Back when my goal was a pretty off-balance, a downward deflection seemed to suit the technique. I really like my new dojo!
3) Use unbendable arm in the evasion. This will cause more separation and cause the 2 bodies to bounce apart like pool balls (tori evading at roughly 90 degrees). Tori should not “glance” off of uke, as that puts him in danger for far too long.
Pat talked about how it might be a good idea to shout things like “Stop! Help! What are you doing?!?” when defending yourself, so that it’s clear to witnesses that you’re not assaulting some poor guy. That may help you if/when the authorities document what happened. It also gets people’s attention and may get you some help. I thought of how funny it would be to take that to the extreme, and yell things like “I’m clearly outmatched!” or something to go into articulate detail while you’re busting some guy.
Lastly, Pat talked about the “Tripod” of Opportunity, Ability, and Intent in relation to defense. We discussed how all 3 need to be present in our attacker for him to be a danger to us. We talked about how different techniques might remove one of the three. We also briefly talked about the “Use of Force ladder”.
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