The day after my last entry, the promotion results went up. I was promoted to green belt with 3 make up classes (kata, meditation, and blind class). I'm in the progress of completing those now. I completed the blind class on Saturday (an intense experience blind-folded that frustrated me but also gave me a new appreciation for my ability to see), kata on Sunday (Kyoshi David's kata class, probably one of the most challenging kata class I've taken to date), and this coming Thursday night I will take meditation class (which I honestly think I should take more often anyway).
I'm not sure how I feel just yet about leaving yellow belt. I'm excited of course but also I am aware of the level of frustration I've experienced everytime my belt changes color. I'll try my best...osu...funny that I haven't thought of that definition for the word "osu" since white belt. I should more often.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
February Promotion--Over!
Tomorrow the results go up--they typically go up on the following Friday. Last weekend had to be about the most interesting promotion yet. I honestly don't believe it was the best one I've done for sure but I wouldn't label it a total disaster. After the expected quiz from Max on my stances and techniques on the ride to Honbu, I was full to the brim with Japanese terms I prayed Kaicho wouldn't ask me to attempt to pronounce correctly :o I arrived about a half an hour before the promotion, warmed up, and in no time it was time for our group to go up. What struck me is as odd (and make me a bit uneasy) was the small group of advanced yellow belts. I thought more of my peers would go for this promotion too but this is the point where many students put the brakes on. Before at blue belt it seemed like if you weren't going for promotion, you were the only one (I myself took an extra month at blue belt)and the farther along you go, where things get more technical and the learning curve flattens out, the more erratic each person's promotions become I guess. However, it did seem like every blue belt in NYC period decided to take February promotion but it was 5 of us.
The written test was fair. I expected it to be a bit harder. I'm definitely seeing a progression toward a specific format as you test for a more advanced belt level. Can't say it's harder but I think it's suited to my personality because I like to write :) I'll embrace the idea of more essays as long as Kaicho doesn't have us write them in Japanese. Still, the hardest written exam for me personally was from advanced blue to yellow back in June.
You know I honestly tried to ignore my mounting nerves as we started the physical test. We started with the dreaded "who has an injury?" conversation. I debated whether to let Kaicho know about my knee as I wasn't sure whether it would seriously impede a successful promotion. My left knee has the tendency to pop out of the socket and it can be a painful experience kicking at times but other than that I am pretty healthy. After this initial conversation, the physical test began. Overall, it was a fair one. I had trouble with the one handed push-ups (as in I couldn't do one correctly) but other than that, the material we were tested on was very familiar and some challenging combinations were thrown in.
My nerves hit a roadblock during the Sanchin kata testing and I got very upset but now that I look back at it, it wasn't so bad. I missed a step or two but was able to regain my footing as I practiced this kata a fair amount of times. It was over in no time--or at least it seemed that way because my ridiculous nerves shut down my ability to feel time at a normal pace. I mean it felt like 20 minutes! After it was over I was pretty upset but when I came down from the anxiety, it hardly seemed like a terrible promotion. In fact, it was pretty decent.
The written test was fair. I expected it to be a bit harder. I'm definitely seeing a progression toward a specific format as you test for a more advanced belt level. Can't say it's harder but I think it's suited to my personality because I like to write :) I'll embrace the idea of more essays as long as Kaicho doesn't have us write them in Japanese. Still, the hardest written exam for me personally was from advanced blue to yellow back in June.
You know I honestly tried to ignore my mounting nerves as we started the physical test. We started with the dreaded "who has an injury?" conversation. I debated whether to let Kaicho know about my knee as I wasn't sure whether it would seriously impede a successful promotion. My left knee has the tendency to pop out of the socket and it can be a painful experience kicking at times but other than that I am pretty healthy. After this initial conversation, the physical test began. Overall, it was a fair one. I had trouble with the one handed push-ups (as in I couldn't do one correctly) but other than that, the material we were tested on was very familiar and some challenging combinations were thrown in.
My nerves hit a roadblock during the Sanchin kata testing and I got very upset but now that I look back at it, it wasn't so bad. I missed a step or two but was able to regain my footing as I practiced this kata a fair amount of times. It was over in no time--or at least it seemed that way because my ridiculous nerves shut down my ability to feel time at a normal pace. I mean it felt like 20 minutes! After it was over I was pretty upset but when I came down from the anxiety, it hardly seemed like a terrible promotion. In fact, it was pretty decent.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Seido Honbu Promotion Feb. 2009 This Saturday
It has been a month since my last entry and I though I have been training regularly I just haven't had as much time as I would like to update The Seido Journey. Nevertheless I will continue my reflections when I do get the time.
In less than 4 days I will be taking promotion for my green belt. My application is completed and was signed by Sensei Marc. All I have to do is attach the picture, fee, and get it in before Thursday evening's deadline.
It's been a long road to get to this point (mostly mentally--even wanting to give up during uncertain/frustrating times) and all things considered, I am pretty confident in my material. I still train 3 or 4 days a week and I try to mix my classes up with pilates and endurance classes for conditioning and Kata, color belt, and step by step kumite classes to practice/review my material.
Max and I went snowboarding and skiing over the holiday weekend and we both got a little banged up--Max trying to not to hit someone cutting in front of him and me stopping myself from going off a trail (way too advanced for a first time skier--I didn't know this at the time because of misleading opinions from certain people...)and going off a 20 foot drop :O We're both taking it easy this week but I do plan on going in on Thursday for blue and yellow belt class.
All in all, I am definitely excited about promotion but I am nervous as always. It's like you know what's expected on many components (e.g. the written test, group sharing at the end, etc.) but then again Kaicho and Jun Shihan Walter always have new tricks under their sleeves.
In less than 4 days I will be taking promotion for my green belt. My application is completed and was signed by Sensei Marc. All I have to do is attach the picture, fee, and get it in before Thursday evening's deadline.
It's been a long road to get to this point (mostly mentally--even wanting to give up during uncertain/frustrating times) and all things considered, I am pretty confident in my material. I still train 3 or 4 days a week and I try to mix my classes up with pilates and endurance classes for conditioning and Kata, color belt, and step by step kumite classes to practice/review my material.
Max and I went snowboarding and skiing over the holiday weekend and we both got a little banged up--Max trying to not to hit someone cutting in front of him and me stopping myself from going off a trail (way too advanced for a first time skier--I didn't know this at the time because of misleading opinions from certain people...)and going off a 20 foot drop :O We're both taking it easy this week but I do plan on going in on Thursday for blue and yellow belt class.
All in all, I am definitely excited about promotion but I am nervous as always. It's like you know what's expected on many components (e.g. the written test, group sharing at the end, etc.) but then again Kaicho and Jun Shihan Walter always have new tricks under their sleeves.
Friday, January 16, 2009
2009 First Impressions (Kagami Baraki)
We are a little more than two weeks into the new year. Kagami Baraki--a spirited new year's workout with Kaicho and Nidaime that takes place annually--is behind us as well. This was my second Kagami Baraki and I must say that this event seems to hammer home the idea that a new year is finally here and the old is gone.
I've got a lot on my plate in the next few weeks. I am hoping to go for my green belt in 5 weeks and I am planning on making a bigger commitment to the YAI program. On top of it, I just started a new job. It's tricky balancing a new job, which if I do the right things can get me into my dream career and, something I love doing such as karate. I try to make at least 3 days of classes a week, usually Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. But with work ending at 6 pm, I'll have to opt for an altered schedule.
I'm work hard in preparing for the "big leap" or the promotion from advanced yellow belt to green belt. Though I must admit that it's coming up quicker than I imagined.
I've got a lot on my plate in the next few weeks. I am hoping to go for my green belt in 5 weeks and I am planning on making a bigger commitment to the YAI program. On top of it, I just started a new job. It's tricky balancing a new job, which if I do the right things can get me into my dream career and, something I love doing such as karate. I try to make at least 3 days of classes a week, usually Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. But with work ending at 6 pm, I'll have to opt for an altered schedule.
I'm work hard in preparing for the "big leap" or the promotion from advanced yellow belt to green belt. Though I must admit that it's coming up quicker than I imagined.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Seido from the start
I think it is great to have a Seido blog. This is my first contribution to any blog.
My journey in Seido began in 1994 when my therapist told me that I should take up karate to learn how to yell. I don't know how serious he was, but since he went on a vacation the next week, I decided to look into karate. I visited several dojos around NY. Seido seemed too big so I joined a small dojo near my office. I stayed for a few months, but found it disorganized. I went back to 23rd street and watched a class there. It felt much clearer and focused. I joined and have been here ever since. I yell better now and also am much more in touch with myself on many levels.
I found it very challenging at first since everything was so new. I watched other people learn faster than me. Once I learned to focus on myself and to stop comparing myself to people half my age, I found that I was, in fact, learning. Starting karate as a 49 year old, age has been a factor for me, but less so as time goes on.
As I moved through the belt levels, I continued to be challenged and to acquire new skills. Kumite was terrifying, and there were many locker room tears in the process. However, someone told me that the only way to get better was to come to kumite every week. The fear is gone now and although I am not to best or most skilled, I do have some skills.
When I promoted to black belt, a YAI student was part of our group. His perseverance was inspiring so I got involved in the YAI program for developmentally disabled students. The students are wonderful people who have varying skill levels, but each of them shows up and does their best. To see them improve over the years is rewarding and they really appreciate the classes and the volunteers.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
My Seido Journey thus far
It has been a little over two and half years that I have been with the Seido program. I have just received my brown belt about three weeks ago but I still remember the first time I stepped into the beautiful Seido Honbu dojo and took the introductory class taught by Sensei Mark Lefkowitz (who has since moved to the Bay Area). I did not know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised to find out all of the intricacies of Karate, and see that it is not as linear as the image I had in my mind from watching the movies.
From that class on, I was hooked. I would come in and train 10 classes per week and I would work myself into exhaustion. Blisters would constantly form on my toes and soles and my muscles would be sore for days. I did not mind that though, because I just really wanted to get good.
I was pretty slow to pick up things, so I reasoned that if I took up a large amount of classes that my learning would accelerate. The terminology alone was quite hard, since there was so much of it, but I soon devised a method to learn it. It was very simple. I would just learn one new word per day. I would constantly repeat the word in my mind in both Japanese and in English. And after about a month I knew all of the terms.
I am a huge fan of Bruce Lee, I just love his style and just the incredible shape he is in. One of the first Martial Arts books I have read, other than Kaicho's Autobiography, was called "The Ultimate Training for the Martail Arts". In that book one of the passages was about Lee's training regimen. In that passage he said that getting into the top shape conditioning-wise would allow you to become a better practitioner. And I figured that if that was the case, I could concentrate more on my technique rather than on just trying to keep up with the physical strains.
So that is what I did. I would take up all three endurance classes per week and I would also do some light jogging in the mornings.
Getting into the whole endurance training was not easy though. I was so out of shape when I first joined Seido that I was nearly thirty pounds overweight. My first conditioning class that I ever took happened to be taught by Senpai Angel. As it turned out, that was probably the most physically demanding class that you could take. I felt incredibly winded and I had a very painful feeling around my kidney area. I had to stop for a minute because I just felt paralyzed.
Over time I saw that my technique improved. One of the most constructive tips that I received came from Senpai Jorge. I remember one time where I was stretching out on the side and talking to him and he pointed out one of the students in the class, and told me:
"See how low her stance is? That is how it should be done". From that day on, I would sink into the lowest stance possible. I must admit, it hurt a lot, but after a few months it was not so bad, and I would realize how much stronger my legs became. It took a lot of concentration and constant reminding to work on maintaining my stance low and just making sure that every bit of my technique was correct.
Kaicho always says that Karate is not just about physical training and kicking and punching, but I feel like the training does go a long way about teaching about other aspects of Karate. I feel like it has made me grow as a person in many areas outside of my training. I feel more confident, more focused, more aware of my surroundings, and also more giving, and the list goes on.
I feel more confident in the fact that I can give my opinion when in the past I would feel more timid because I would be afraid to express myself.
I feel more focused on the tasks at hand, whether it be at work or just in my daily rituals. And I also feel more focused about my long term goals.
Whenever I walk around or go for a drive, I feel like I know where everything is around me. I think the dojo etiquette of bowing to seniors and knowing their ranks and just knowing when and where they are on the floor has a lot do with it.
The Saturday Kata class taught by Nidaime has definitely taught me about being aware of my physical surrounding especially when you are wedged in between a pole and three other Senpais.
The feeling of giving is true because I love to share my experience with people and pass down what was taught to me at some point. I know it may not be much, but I do what I can.
That being said, I do not think that I have learned everything. It's quite the opposite. Every day that I step into the dojo I try and have a beginner's mind. I know I have to not only learn new material, but I have to remember everything that I have learned up until now. I need to constantly keep reminding myself about lowering my stance, polishing my technique, saying a loud Osu every time an instructor gives a command and having a loud Kiai.
It is Ren-ma (constant polishing) which is one of the fundamental principles of training. And it also helps to examine the things that you think you know. You need to think about why you are doing those things? Why are you in this stance or that stance? Why are you doing this strange combination? Why does this block seem weird to you? How can I apply this one technique in a situation? What are those situations? Why is the Kata called that name? How does that name apply to the Kata?
Those are the type of questions I constantly ask myself.
This is only a tip of the iceberg on my journey thus far. I do want to say however, that being part of Seido Juku it is important to think about the fundamental principles that you learn as a white belt and carry on with you on your journey.
Love, Respect and Obedience.
Those three words are what I always think about during my Journey and I try and take them to my heart and make them become a part of myself. The more I train here, the more I begin to understand and realize the meaning of those words. It is no accident that their symbol is actually sewn onto the sleeve of your gi.
All of this is very important, but I feel like if you are serious about Karate and want to become a better Karataka, the most important thing that you need to remind yourself is that the training never stops. It is a life-long journey and you can never reach the end.
Keep on training! Osu!
From that class on, I was hooked. I would come in and train 10 classes per week and I would work myself into exhaustion. Blisters would constantly form on my toes and soles and my muscles would be sore for days. I did not mind that though, because I just really wanted to get good.
I was pretty slow to pick up things, so I reasoned that if I took up a large amount of classes that my learning would accelerate. The terminology alone was quite hard, since there was so much of it, but I soon devised a method to learn it. It was very simple. I would just learn one new word per day. I would constantly repeat the word in my mind in both Japanese and in English. And after about a month I knew all of the terms.
I am a huge fan of Bruce Lee, I just love his style and just the incredible shape he is in. One of the first Martial Arts books I have read, other than Kaicho's Autobiography, was called "The Ultimate Training for the Martail Arts". In that book one of the passages was about Lee's training regimen. In that passage he said that getting into the top shape conditioning-wise would allow you to become a better practitioner. And I figured that if that was the case, I could concentrate more on my technique rather than on just trying to keep up with the physical strains.
So that is what I did. I would take up all three endurance classes per week and I would also do some light jogging in the mornings.
Getting into the whole endurance training was not easy though. I was so out of shape when I first joined Seido that I was nearly thirty pounds overweight. My first conditioning class that I ever took happened to be taught by Senpai Angel. As it turned out, that was probably the most physically demanding class that you could take. I felt incredibly winded and I had a very painful feeling around my kidney area. I had to stop for a minute because I just felt paralyzed.
Over time I saw that my technique improved. One of the most constructive tips that I received came from Senpai Jorge. I remember one time where I was stretching out on the side and talking to him and he pointed out one of the students in the class, and told me:
"See how low her stance is? That is how it should be done". From that day on, I would sink into the lowest stance possible. I must admit, it hurt a lot, but after a few months it was not so bad, and I would realize how much stronger my legs became. It took a lot of concentration and constant reminding to work on maintaining my stance low and just making sure that every bit of my technique was correct.
Kaicho always says that Karate is not just about physical training and kicking and punching, but I feel like the training does go a long way about teaching about other aspects of Karate. I feel like it has made me grow as a person in many areas outside of my training. I feel more confident, more focused, more aware of my surroundings, and also more giving, and the list goes on.
I feel more confident in the fact that I can give my opinion when in the past I would feel more timid because I would be afraid to express myself.
I feel more focused on the tasks at hand, whether it be at work or just in my daily rituals. And I also feel more focused about my long term goals.
Whenever I walk around or go for a drive, I feel like I know where everything is around me. I think the dojo etiquette of bowing to seniors and knowing their ranks and just knowing when and where they are on the floor has a lot do with it.
The Saturday Kata class taught by Nidaime has definitely taught me about being aware of my physical surrounding especially when you are wedged in between a pole and three other Senpais.
The feeling of giving is true because I love to share my experience with people and pass down what was taught to me at some point. I know it may not be much, but I do what I can.
That being said, I do not think that I have learned everything. It's quite the opposite. Every day that I step into the dojo I try and have a beginner's mind. I know I have to not only learn new material, but I have to remember everything that I have learned up until now. I need to constantly keep reminding myself about lowering my stance, polishing my technique, saying a loud Osu every time an instructor gives a command and having a loud Kiai.
It is Ren-ma (constant polishing) which is one of the fundamental principles of training. And it also helps to examine the things that you think you know. You need to think about why you are doing those things? Why are you in this stance or that stance? Why are you doing this strange combination? Why does this block seem weird to you? How can I apply this one technique in a situation? What are those situations? Why is the Kata called that name? How does that name apply to the Kata?
Those are the type of questions I constantly ask myself.
This is only a tip of the iceberg on my journey thus far. I do want to say however, that being part of Seido Juku it is important to think about the fundamental principles that you learn as a white belt and carry on with you on your journey.
Love, Respect and Obedience.
Those three words are what I always think about during my Journey and I try and take them to my heart and make them become a part of myself. The more I train here, the more I begin to understand and realize the meaning of those words. It is no accident that their symbol is actually sewn onto the sleeve of your gi.
All of this is very important, but I feel like if you are serious about Karate and want to become a better Karataka, the most important thing that you need to remind yourself is that the training never stops. It is a life-long journey and you can never reach the end.
Keep on training! Osu!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Walking Meditation 2008
On Wednesday evening, Seido Honbu hosted the annual Walking Meditation, where Seido students and instructors walked to the local shelters to deliver clothing, toys, and dry goods to those in need. At least 30 of us showed up to participate. It was quite a mixed crowd with Sei Shihans, Jun Shihans, Kyoshis, and Senseis as well as color belts of all different ranks. After a couple of pictures upstairs, Kaicho, along with Nidaime,led the procession into wet and rainy streets of downtown Manhattan. The first stop was a co-ed church shelter that couldn't be more than two avenues down 23rd street and half of the group--each with a bag in hand--delivered their goods to the appreciative residents. My group walked ahead to a shelter for women on 30th street to deliver clothing such as winter coats, sweaters, pants, and scarves to its residents. I must admit, I was not prepared for what I saw when I got there. I thought that it would be dropping the bags off in the lobby and going on my way but we were all met by at least a dozen women hovering around the entrance eagerly receiving these donated goods (some very gently used designer garments, some of the ones I donated still had the tag on them as I never wore those pieces). It was definitely an experience to make another person's day, especially when I wasn't expecting my participation or donations to really make a big difference. For those of you that missed the chance to share some holiday cheer, there will be another walking meditation on Dec. 18th (yesterday's 2nd walking meditation was postponed due to extremely nasty weather) when more clothing ,and this time, toys for children will be given to local shelters. I encourage all who can to take advantage of this unique experience and if you can't make it, to donate something!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)