Okay, so it's official: I'm spending this whole week working on intermediate self defenses 1-3 (4-5 can wait, I can barely remember the first 3). Last night, in senior review, I got my first taste of the intermediate self defense techniques on my green belt syllabus and it was bittersweet--bitter being the frustrating attempts that resulted in awkward movements that looked more like I was trying to pry open a wooden crate and sweet being the end of the class when I was able to do some techniques that actually resembled intermediate self defense. You know, for me it's the directional aspect that is so hard. Moving 45 degrees to the left or right while trying to execute a block plus a punch and on top of it a sweep...I mean can you say overload?
Well, I'm hitting up color belt class tonight at 6:30 and senior kata tomorrow.
Happy Tax Day :) Osu!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Congrats to Black Belts Promoted/This Week
First off, congrats to all the black belts that were promoted. I'm really happy and proud that a lot of my friends and instructors/previous instructors were promoted :) Senpai Luke Mayes is now Sensei Luke and Sensei Marc Ravage is now Kyoshi Marc. There were so many senpais (3rd degree black belts) promoted to sensei...don't ask me to name them all. Also, Kyoshi Paul Williams was promoted to Jun Shihan Paul, Senpai Maya and Senpai Donald are now senseis as well.
Well, the week is over and the weekend is practically here. I made it to 3 classes this week. Monday (Kaicho's green belt and up class) was a bit of a train wreck considering I was so tired but I made it through. I was pretty discouraged that I couldn't do many of the harder combinations too well but I'm not giving up. Tuesday, I did kumite, that was okay. Another class functioning on very little sleep but I was able to fight some good rounds. Thursday was perhaps the best class (hint: I was able to sleep a reasonable amount of time the night before). I took Kaicho's senior kata class and was able to finally make some breakthroughs in my green belt katas. Props to Heather and Samantha (two other green/adv green belts) for helping me before class with Seido 3 and Gekisai Dai. Us green belts did Gekisai Dai for almost the entire class and I came out of it feeling way more confident in the movements. I think by next week I can take it to the next level of polishing my katas.
Tomorrow, I plan on doing my usual kata and endurance double header 12 and 1. Maybe kumite at 3 since Saturday is the only day I can take classes and not worry about being tired from work or having to get up early the next day.
Well, the week is over and the weekend is practically here. I made it to 3 classes this week. Monday (Kaicho's green belt and up class) was a bit of a train wreck considering I was so tired but I made it through. I was pretty discouraged that I couldn't do many of the harder combinations too well but I'm not giving up. Tuesday, I did kumite, that was okay. Another class functioning on very little sleep but I was able to fight some good rounds. Thursday was perhaps the best class (hint: I was able to sleep a reasonable amount of time the night before). I took Kaicho's senior kata class and was able to finally make some breakthroughs in my green belt katas. Props to Heather and Samantha (two other green/adv green belts) for helping me before class with Seido 3 and Gekisai Dai. Us green belts did Gekisai Dai for almost the entire class and I came out of it feeling way more confident in the movements. I think by next week I can take it to the next level of polishing my katas.
Tomorrow, I plan on doing my usual kata and endurance double header 12 and 1. Maybe kumite at 3 since Saturday is the only day I can take classes and not worry about being tired from work or having to get up early the next day.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Tired Beyond Belief, Interdojo Tournament One Month Away
Maybe it's because I haven't been getting enough sleep or maybe it's because I've been trying to do too many things in one day (I work full time now and I recently started playing music everyday again) but lately, I am tired ALL the time! It's definitely taking its toll on my training. While I've been training regularly, many classes I am so physically exhausted I find myself dragging through kata exercises halfway through a one hour class. Fighting classes aren't too bad for the simple fact I'm forced to stay on my toes to avoid being pummeled and even in those classes I find myself focusing on blocking punches/kicks and not throwing them...this is bad, I know. I really need some energy!
Tonight I am taking Kaicho's 7'o clock evening class. I've never taken this class before but I've heard that it's a great class and Kaicho is a great instructor who I have not had the privilege of taking very often. The class is in 4 hours and I figure I'll get some wind before then...my spirit is definitely there (for karate at least, in terms of other aspects of life, that's another story), I just hope my body will hold-up. You know, tonight, I'm going to get to bed by 11 (or 12 the absolute latest!) because if I don't get a full 8 hrs or even 9 hrs, I'll probably fall apart as in my arms and legs will fall off...
I think once I get more sleep I should be okay really. And it's especially important now because I have to get to class and continue learning my new material (since receiving my green belt nearly a month ago) and I have to prepare for the interdojo tournament exactly one month from today. It's not so much about placing as it is about the experience (which is very fun :)). This year I get to do kumite but we'll see what that looks like in the next few weeks but I'm doing kata for sure. I'm working on Pinan IV, which is a cool kata (my favorite so far) and the one I know the best out of the three green belt katas I have on my syllabus.
You know last May, I placed 7th out of 7 adv. blue belt women and I was pretty torn up about it but I learned a pretty strong lesson about sportsmanship and dealing with being "last". I learned not to take it so hard even though I've always been the last kid picked for dodge ball or any team for like my whole life. I'm almost 23 tears old so I think it's honestly time to let that go. The I-can't-do anything-right-I'll-never-be-good-at-anything mentality...It's a hard mentality to rid yourself of when it's been a part of you your whole life. But I am dealing with it and that's all I can do if I expect to over come it. I mean in I promised myself I wouldn't quit and back in the October tournament, I placed 5th out of 8 yellow belts and I was super happy because I overcame my fear and had fun. I hope to do my best kata yet this tournament especially since I am really beginning to breakdown the technical aspects in my katas.
On a final note: I MISS YAI :( My work schedule is just too tough right now but when things settle, I hope I can make it regularly.
Happy Training,
Danielle
Tonight I am taking Kaicho's 7'o clock evening class. I've never taken this class before but I've heard that it's a great class and Kaicho is a great instructor who I have not had the privilege of taking very often. The class is in 4 hours and I figure I'll get some wind before then...my spirit is definitely there (for karate at least, in terms of other aspects of life, that's another story), I just hope my body will hold-up. You know, tonight, I'm going to get to bed by 11 (or 12 the absolute latest!) because if I don't get a full 8 hrs or even 9 hrs, I'll probably fall apart as in my arms and legs will fall off...
I think once I get more sleep I should be okay really. And it's especially important now because I have to get to class and continue learning my new material (since receiving my green belt nearly a month ago) and I have to prepare for the interdojo tournament exactly one month from today. It's not so much about placing as it is about the experience (which is very fun :)). This year I get to do kumite but we'll see what that looks like in the next few weeks but I'm doing kata for sure. I'm working on Pinan IV, which is a cool kata (my favorite so far) and the one I know the best out of the three green belt katas I have on my syllabus.
You know last May, I placed 7th out of 7 adv. blue belt women and I was pretty torn up about it but I learned a pretty strong lesson about sportsmanship and dealing with being "last". I learned not to take it so hard even though I've always been the last kid picked for dodge ball or any team for like my whole life. I'm almost 23 tears old so I think it's honestly time to let that go. The I-can't-do anything-right-I'll-never-be-good-at-anything mentality...It's a hard mentality to rid yourself of when it's been a part of you your whole life. But I am dealing with it and that's all I can do if I expect to over come it. I mean in I promised myself I wouldn't quit and back in the October tournament, I placed 5th out of 8 yellow belts and I was super happy because I overcame my fear and had fun. I hope to do my best kata yet this tournament especially since I am really beginning to breakdown the technical aspects in my katas.
On a final note: I MISS YAI :( My work schedule is just too tough right now but when things settle, I hope I can make it regularly.
Happy Training,
Danielle
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