Japanese Festival

Yesterday, Amanda and I went to the Japanese Festival in Fort Worth at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens, in the Japanese Gardens. We went with the BTK ladies. It was a lot of fun. We heard Taiko drummers, saw some dancing and of course, martial arts demonstrations. The first martial arts demonstration was a Hanbo-Jitsu demonstration. That was interesting. They used various grabs and arm bars. We watched one big guy pick up a girl and she showed everyone how to get out of it. She literally swung her feet up, then used her momentum to get her feet back to the ground. Then she dropped a shoulder and threw the guy over her shoulder to the ground.
We watched them, then wandered off to the Zen garden area. Amanda made an origami crane (which I put into her purse, so it got mushed) and got her name written in Kanjii. We tried to do fish painting with the kids since we had three kids, but the ladies at the fish painting pavilion said they were out of paper.

We went out and had lunch out by the Rose Gardens. There were a lot of brides there, taking pictures. It was really neat to see. I think there was at least one wedding taking place because we saw a party of people who were in green dresses and of course, tuxedos. I don't think I saw the bride, just the bridal party.

One of our members, K, and her family brought lunch for us all. She spoiled us immensely. We had a mushroom and rice dish, Japanese meatballs, an egg dish that I liked (need to get the recipe from her!) and for an end, we had cheesecake. It was really good. She likes to cook and it shows. We were spoiled rotten by her. Thank you for that meal, K!!

After that, we wandered around a bit. The weather was misty, humid and very nice. It was peaceful in the gardens. They have a Zen garden that must take a long time to get it just right. There's also several connecting small ponds that are interconnected. They have very large koi in these ponds. The koi know that whenever something is dropped into the water, it's food. They literally will swarm the bridges and the areas near the edge of the pool that are accessible to the public. The caretakers of the gardens have set out food dispensers with kibble specifically for the feeding of the koi. Those fish are HUGE!! Amanda had a blast feeding them. This was her first visit to the gardens. I've been there before, but it has been many years since I was last out there.
There's also a large blue heron out there who regularly eats the koi. From what I was told, the groundskeepers call him "jaws". He's protected, so they can't do anything about it. I got a couple of pictures of him but I was too far away for a good shot. I need to get a new camera for long distance pictures, but that's a dream for another time.

We watched another martial arts demonstration before we left. This one was a combination karate and Tai Chi demonstration. His Tai Chi class demonstration was very serene and looked nice. I would like to take classes some time. If he wasn't out in Fort Worth, I'd be more than happy to take classes. I liked the way the Sensei ran his demo. He didn't have JUST his high ranked karate students out there. He had the full range of students, from white belt to black belt. I really enjoyed seeing it. He ran the demonstration as if he was teaching a normal class. He had the students run through katas. I could see the similarities between the forms I do in Tang Soo Do and the karate kata they were doing. At the end of his karate demonstration, Sensei came down to the mats and did a kata, which I think was Bassai. It was beautifully executed.

They had the Tai Chi students come back out afterwards and they had a group Tai Chi session with the audience. Amanda participated in that and says she enjoyed it. She followed the person in front of her and beside her and did fairly well.

This was the first Japanese Festival I've attended. I think if I'm invited again next year, I'm going.

December's busy!!

Man, what a month this is turning out to be! We had our Cub Scout Committee meeting tonight. Wednesday is the Den Meeting, plus I have my company's Christmas dinner that night. I absolutely must be at the den meeting!! I'm planning a few things that my assistant doesn't know about. I'm organizing a game that will help the boys earn an advancement. They also are getting their recognition badges/beads. We're baking cookies and talking about kitchen safety and playing a game. It'll be crazy!

Then, next week is tied up with Pack meeting on Tuesday, my daughter has a concert that night, my department is having a dinner on Thursday (darn it, there's my Tuesday/Thursday commitment already knocked flat!!). If I hadn't already told my instructors that I'd not be in on Tuesday, they'd think I had just up and forgotten them!!

The week after is, of course, Christmas week. Wow. It's hard to believe that we're almost at mid-month. I hadn't realized how busy my life was until I looked at a calendar. I am beginning to wonder if I'm crazy? I must be.

On the karate front, I haven't even set my workout plan into action yet. I am trying to commit myself to practicing at least 1-2 forms a day so that I'm up to speed on everything.
I want to practice Sip Soo again (that's one of my favorite forms). I know it's a high level form that I shouldn't know just yet, but...I like it just the same. I need to practice Bassai and Nahainchi Cho Dan as well. Actually, if I'm smart, I'll practice ALL of my forms! That way I can keep up with my training and won't be as lost as I could be when I return to class in January.

Thursday's class

Thursday night's class was most fun and challenging. Master M had us do what she called a "DQ Sundae". Basically, she started us off with a technique and we then had to one by one, add on another technique. It was a matter of listening and remembering. She demonstrated each technique as we called it out. That was fun. It started out with an Aneseo Pahkaro Mahkee (spelling, sorry!), followed by a low side kick in kemah Jahsee (horse riding stance), then a torrida (spinning)...um, it was a back fist. I am still learning the terminology, so I don't have it all yet. It was a Kap Kwon, I think! I offered a Jang Kwon (palm-heel strike) ending in a front stance. I'm not looking at my notes at present, so I don't have all the techniques our line offered up memorized. It was a lesson in putting together the various techniques and think of the flow and how they interacted with the previous and the next technique. I have to admit to being disconnected. I was concentrating on doing the technique and making sure I did it correctly (which can be improved, I'm sure!). I didn't really think of the application at that point, but I've since been thinking about how they worked together. I can see in my mind how a torrida kap kwon can work to pop someone upside the head (I believe it's a temple strike), then with my offering (jang kwon), it's a blow to the ribs to further incapacitate the opponent. I think there may have been another kick there...I forgot what Mr. L offered (a spinning inside/outside crescent kick, maybe??). One of the other Mr. L's offered up a round house, I think. I forgot (again, not looking at my book), what the last technique was.

We were in two lines and the second line offered up a high block, jumping front snap kick, something that landed in a cross legged stance, reinforced middle block (I THINK). It ended with a jumping front snap kick with the REAR leg (need to work on those...I think too much and an opponent would see it coming a mile away!), ending in a cat stance with a plier/pincer grip?

When it came to forms work, I actually remembered Keecho Hyung Il Bu, Ee Bu and Sam Bu!!!! I think I spaced out on Bassai, so that means I need more work on it...and Naihanchi Cho Dan I think I had!! It really pays to practice. I'm going to get myself back into the habit of reviewing forms, starting with my basic forms and working up. I really need to stop THINKING and actually start doing. I will get there. Nothing happens overnight, no matter how impatient I am.

Mr. L gave me a few pointers on my high 'x' blocks. I can see the application and the benefit of doing it the way he showed me--there's a 'divot' on your wrist that you can lock your other wrist bone into...and it's more stable than the way I had been doing it. One minor tweak learned and committed to memory (we hope!).

Learning the basics again

I had an awesome class tonight. I worked with Ms. M on the kicking drills, Ho Sin Sul (self defense) and sparring. Our primary drill was back kicks. I'm not the strongest when it comes to back kick. I had to really concentrate to get my kicks to land where I wanted them to land. Again, I have sloppy kicks, so I have a LOT to work on.

I talked to Ms. M tonight and asked her if she'd help me out after she's fully recovered from her belt test on Saturday. I want to get into great shape and I need a buddy. I am too darned lazy to do it on my own. We talked about possibly getting together and going walking. This would be a good thing. I won't get my butt off the couch without having a companion. For whatever reason, I don't know that I want to walk with my hubby, mainly because I think he'll walk too slowly and if I'm trying to get in some cardio, I can do it better if I'm walking with someone else who is motivated to walk fast.

We were talking after class tonight about Bunkai. We talked about Bassai and the fact that the opening of Bassai is essentially an attack. You have to look at it as if you're sneaking up to a fortress that is guarded by a sentry (or multiple sentries). With the salutation/Choon Be of Bassai, you're literally grabbing the sentry, stabbing him and kicking him to the ground at the same time. Then you'll turn and use his body as a shield or a weapon as you turn to get someone who might be sneaking up behind you.
I'm seeing the forms I've learned in a totally different light. I think that learning the Bunkai of a form makes the form take on a new meaning. I can see the practical application. I was talking to a friend earlier tonight and she said that if you learn the theory behind what you're learning, it'll stick with you better. She's right because I can actually SEE the form and can feel how it should work.

Form reviews

It's official. If I don't get my butt into class tomorrow, I shall be hunted down with small, yappy dogs and tortured. (This is coming from a friend. She specifically said that she's got a dog that jumps really high, so I'd best get there!!!)

I'm going to work on material that I need to practice tonight. I need to practice some kicks (Hook kick comes to mind). I need to practice Bassai and Nahainchi Cho Dan. I THINK I know NCD, but am not 100% on the fine tuning. I have to keep practicing. I will do the basic forms tonight and make sure I know them. I know Keecho Hyung Il Bu, Ee Bu and Sam Bu. I also know Pyung Ahn Cho Dan, Ee Dan, Sam Dan (well, yeah, I BETTER!), Sa Dan and Oh Dan (again, I BETTER!). I feel confident that I can do Sam Dan. LOL!! I think Sa Dan I'd need to practice a little more...wait..."splat!" to the left, "splat!" to the right...ummm, gotta think on that one. It's the interesting form where you're doing a "grab the collar, twist, kick, punch, punch" type of move...

Goals are achievable

It's beginning to feel like Autumn. Since we had that all day rain yesterday, you'd think that it would be humid, but it's not. It's actually hinting at being cool. I love this weather! We have all the windows in the apartment open. It's wonderful.

I'm going to go outside in a little while and practice Pyung Ahn Cho Dan. I think I actually have it now. Ms. S refreshed my memory on the last part I was messing up. Now that I have that, I SHOULD be able to actually do the form and do it right!!! I disappointed myself for forgetting it, but if I practice and practice some more, I'll be able to pick it back up. My next step is going to be working on Bassai. Those are a couple of forms I don't want to forget. I have Keecho Hyung Il Bu, Ee Bu and Sam Bu, plus Pyung Ahn Cho Dan, Pyung Ahn Ee Dan, Sam Dan, Sa Dan, Oh Dan, then Bassai, Nahainchi Cho Dan. I know Sip Soo, but am not really supposed to know it until 4th Dan, so I'll practice it just to know it. I don't want to lose my skill. It'll be adjusted to work in the BTK specs anyway.

Good news on the weight front---I have lost 2.5 pounds in 2 weeks, so that's a plus for me. It means that if I keep eating right and get in exercise, I'll manage to get back to where I was at Christmas, 2007. I will do it.

What a fun evening!!

Okay, color me crazy, but tonight I had one of the BEST workouts I have *ever* had since I joined martial arts in 2004! We went back to the old stuff--we did old combinations we haven't done in absolutely forever (well, since 2006!). We did a combination of stepping out with your left foot, downblock, reverse inside/outside block, front snap kick, reverse punch.
We did front snap kick, roundhouse, back kicks. Inside/outside kick, roundhouse, reverse ridge-hand...no, wait, that was just a plain ridge-hand,. I love doing the "old" things! I like it much better than the Ho Sin Sul!! I really enjoy it. I am not a spar-er. I don't like sparring and will be the first to admit to it. I know it has a purpose, so I will do it without complaint. I actually enjoy it if it's with a good partner who gives a good dialog/return on my punches, kicks, whatever. I had that on Wednesday with Mr. T. We worked very hard on sparring--every time I hit him with my right hand (I'm severely right-handed!), he blocked it easily. I know I have to work on that, so that's on the agenda. (I should also work on adding in some weight lifting to work my triceps, but that's another thing I have on the books...)

After the combinations, we moved into doing our forms. We did the Kee-cho forms one after another, then did Pyung Ahn Cho Dan (which Amanda now tells me she "remembers" finally!), then Pyung Ahn, Ee Dan, Sam Dan, Oh Dan, Sah Dan, Bassai, Nahainchi Cho Dan and then Sip Soo. I didn't work on Nahainchi Ee Dan because my memory of the form is fuzzy at best. We'll look at practicing that hopefully next class.

Friday night is the test and I'm looking forward to that. I'm working at it. I have to be there as an instructor, because I'm working with the Little Ninja and Young Warrior class with Mrs. T. It's going to be fun. My kids are both testing at that test. I hope they do well. I just want to make sure they know their material and can do it well enough to pass the test.

50 days until Re-Certification

50 days until re-cert. I did get a chance to work on my forms last night and that was a good thing. The ONLY real issue I had was that my stances were really poor. I don't care HOW sore my leg is (did I mention I have tendonitis in my left hip?), I have absolutely NO EXCUSE for not holding a good deep front stance. For Pyung Ahn Sam Dan, there is a stance that requires you to step into a bent-knee, crossed foot stance. That stance about killed me last night! I had even taken an anti-inflammatory and it STILL hurt!! The boy I was working with had his stances right, but he had a few things to work on too. I wasn't alone with needing minor tweaks to the forms. Bassai was another weak spot for me last night. I was also off on my count for Sip Soo and THAT is totally unacceptable to me! I'm very fussy about my forms and want to do them at 100% accuracy. However, as Master St. James says, "the only room is room for improvement." so I know I was there. I definitely was in that room last night!

I also worked on Bong Hyung Il Bu last night. I got it down, I think. It was a good thing that I got to practice it. I feel a bit more confident in the form. I just need to make sure I get myself to run through it tomorrow too. I have the day off, so I'll work on it for a little bit. I want to make sure I get the forms worked on tomorrow. I do have a meeting at my son's school in the morning, then an appointment with my old cat at the vet's office.
Then it's home to rest again for an hour--I'll have two giggling girls in the house for the afternoon and that'll be fun. I've got to decide what to do with them. I may set them up in my room with movies and popcorn. They'll like that!!

Setting goals

I am going to set myself some goals. I have issues with keeping myself on track with water, so one of my goals is to drink no less than 48 ounces of water in a normal day. Today, I've made that goal and have had 72 ounces of water. Not too bad. I think it's okay. That's one goal.

Another goal is to practice my forms daily. I need to make sure that I am doing everything correctly. Yesterday I actually ran through Nahainchi Cho Dan and Sip Soo. Today I have only worked on technique, but it WAS a practice. I practiced high knife hands, cat stance and moving forward in a cat stance. That's a new "game" I've created for the kids called "Ninja walk". You get into a cat stance, where you've created an 'L' with your feet--you put all of your weight on your back foot and have just the toes of your front foot or the ball of your front foot on the floor. The point of it is to be able to spring forward to pursue an attack if needed. If you turn your front foot, almost into a ballet stance, then ROLL as you shift your weight from the back foot to the front foot. This puts you into the correct position to perform a middle chop or something along those lines.
It's another technique that requires exact form. I *finally* have the "ninja walk" down!!

So, today I only worked on technique, but tomorrow, to escape the frustration of the people I work with (very stressful, that group!), I'm going to work on Bassai and then work my way back. I need to practice Oh Dan, Sam Dan, Sa Dan (and do Sam Dan correctly!), then Ee Dan and go backwards to Pyung Ahn Cho Dan, etc. I also need to practice Bong Hyung Il Bu at some point.

Prep class review and random thoughts

If you THINK you're working hard, you probably aren't. How do I know this? Because after the workout yesterday, almost every part of me aches. I only *thought* I was working out hard in class!!!
Yesterday was the first of my black belt prep classes. Yes, I've already achieved the rank of black belt, but I have to re-certify for the Federation, so I have to take classes to make sure that I know the forms and the one steps and do them correctly. The importance of doing the forms correctly is emphasized here. Plus, this time around, they've added physical fitness test to the mix, so you have more work to do.

The morning started out with a minute's worth of jumping jacks. I am happy to say that this old lady can knock out 70 jumping jacks in a minute. (While that may not be overly spectacular, given my impression of jumping jacks, I think it's actually rather good!!) After that, he made us do 30 (I think) push ups, then we did another 50 jumping jacks. We also did one legged squats. There was also an exercise where we got into a push up position and brought first one leg, then the other up between our hands. It's like a split, but not quite. Those I can't do, courtesy of my left quad. (note to self--get thee to the doctor to have that checked out ASAP!) The one legged squats were the hardest, I think. You have to basically go into crane stance, but keep your hands up by your face. The foot you are NOT balancing on cannot touch the ground. Sound fun? Yep. Try maintaining your balance being still 50+ pounds overweight! I digress...

I was fairly pleased with my performance on MOST of the forms. I still have issues with joon be on Bassai, Nahainchi Cho Dan and Sip Soo. I know that Bassai is left foot raised, Nahainchi Cho Dan is right foot raised and Sip Soo is left foot raised. Then you have to add in your hands as well. It looks really neat when it's done correctly by someone who isn't balance challenged. I stood next to a 14 year old from my belting class and watched him out of the corner of my eye. It's obvious, even to me, that he practices. I see major differences between him and myself. I need to work more on practicing on my off days from class. (Off days? What off days? I practically live up there--classes four days a week plus the prep class on Saturdays.)

This morning I feel older than my 42, almost 43 years. I'm stiff and sore in places I didn't think would be stiff and sore!! I don't mind it though. It reminds me that I got an excellent work out in yesterday. I decided this morning that I'm taking the family to one of the local parks and I'll work on Bong Hyung Il Bu since that's something I want to nail. I am determined to go to the next class having my forms look better than I think they look now.

I had a talk with Sa Bu Nim McGee a few weeks ago and mentioned to him that I felt like my stances had gotten better. I said I was seeing improvement in myself. He said that it's possible that I'm seeing where people are making their mistakes and that I've been making the same ones, but now I'm correcting my mistakes automatically. Must be because I'm learning how to spot the mistakes and correct them in others, so I can correct them in myself.


Sa Bu Nim told us in class yesterday that we needed to keep a practice record and have our parents sign it. Well, I'm the parent, so I have no one to sign mine. I asked Mrs. T if she'd sign mine for me. She's my 'boss' in the LN/YW class and is one of my best friends. We had a good giggle about that.

Looking forward, I know what I need to do to make improvements. Next week is the first of three pre-tests for this belt test. It's on forms and I'm going to have a good pre-test.

First re-cert class-January 05, 2008

The first of 8 weeks' classes is over. I'm wiped out too! This morning has been VERY busy! I got out and went to WW (lost what I gained last week so I'm back on track!). I stayed for 20 minutes of the meeting, then raced out to the car and headed back to Allen. I made it to class with *minutes* to spare. I had my uniform in the car, so that was an easy thing to deal with--just grab and go! I got changed in nearly record time and was a minute or two late to line up, but not enough to freak out. What's really embarrassing to me is that I am an instructor and can't be late as I'm in the front row. The Cho Dan Bo's see me walk in and they must be wondering why I was so late! I've got to refine that process. I can do it.

We worked--HARD--for two hours. My friend Susan brought the coffee, so I was thrilled to pieces with that! I didn't have breakfast, so there were a few points where I got light headed and dizzy. Today's work out was advanced forms and weapons. I hadn't picked up a bong until last night when I was showing the guys at work how we worked with it. I now have to create a work out schedule/log and stick with it. I want to ace that form (Bong Hyung Il Bu). I have to work on the other forms too, the non-weapons forms. I can do Sip Soo well. I should as it's my newest form, but I REALLY need to work with it. We did Sip Soo, Nahainchi Cho Dan and Bassai today. Wait, we also did Pyung An Sam Dan, Oh Dan and Sa Dan. I know where I need to improve and that's something I'll start doing on my own at home. If he expects an hour a day from the kids, he'll get it from the adult in the class too.

I'm excited. I can already see how this is going to work. I am able to get many of my chores done Friday night, so I'll have Saturday as a "free" day after my class. Just need to figure out WHAT to eat that will give me energy and not sit heavily on my stomach when I go to class. I can't take another dizzy day! I ate when I got home and have finished my first 30 ounce glass of water for the day. MORE water! LOL!
I'm in a great mood and I'm sure this is going to carry over into the next week.