Well it has been awhile since I updated things. Thanksgiving took away a day of practice, and my middle daughter's basketball season started; considering I am coaching her basketball team, that takes away one night of Judo as well. What is one to do?
That said, Thursdays workout was lighter than usual, but it allowed me to work with Sensei Steve on a new throw. As mentioned earlier, I have spent most of my time focused on Ippon Seoi-nage. I am beginning to figure that technique out and it is feeling more comfortable every day. So, it was fun to learn Harai Goshi to add to my workout regime. Harai Goshi is a good throw to use when we are working with somebody who is smaller than you, whereas Ippon Seoi-nage works well with somebody who is the same size or larger. That is because Harai Goshi requires that you throw your right arm over the top of your opponent's left shoulder and grab the right arm of their Gi, with their head locked close to your body. It is hard to throw your arm over a taller person.
Today we will not be going to practice as it is a very busy day. My youngest two daughter's have a cheer leading clinic, we have to run a couple of birthday parties at the gym, and finally, the cheerleaders will then be presenting at the Southwest Basketball game. So the black belt today goes to the other activities! Talk to you soon!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Self Defense - Punching!
So our last practice was a knockout...no pun intended! We began putting principles of Judo together in the event that you are being attacked.
For example. If somebody goes to punch you (from above or straight on), you simply do a block with your left hand, while your right hand comes under their right armpit, flex your right hand, grab their punching arm with your left arm, and do you Ippon Seoinage, throwing them to the ground.
If they are punching you from an outside to in motion (e.g. right arm is going counterclockwise to the ground), you again block, but this time you immediately shove your chest against their chest, throwing your right arm over their left shoulder so that their neck is on your shoulder (like you are hugging them), and keep moving forward, throwing them to the ground.
If somebody catches you unaware and throws you to the ground, you immediately block your face your hands, and kick them (above the knees) with all your might, yelling "STOP".
We were practicing in full speed, and it was astounding how well this worked. It certainly begins to give you confidence if you are ever confronted in an aggressive manner.
For example. If somebody goes to punch you (from above or straight on), you simply do a block with your left hand, while your right hand comes under their right armpit, flex your right hand, grab their punching arm with your left arm, and do you Ippon Seoinage, throwing them to the ground.
If they are punching you from an outside to in motion (e.g. right arm is going counterclockwise to the ground), you again block, but this time you immediately shove your chest against their chest, throwing your right arm over their left shoulder so that their neck is on your shoulder (like you are hugging them), and keep moving forward, throwing them to the ground.
If somebody catches you unaware and throws you to the ground, you immediately block your face your hands, and kick them (above the knees) with all your might, yelling "STOP".
We were practicing in full speed, and it was astounding how well this worked. It certainly begins to give you confidence if you are ever confronted in an aggressive manner.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Two's Company...Three's a Joy!
Today was a very special day. My youngest daughter joined me and my oldest daughter at Judo. The Dojo was filled with kids! We did lots of excercises today, probably due to how many children were there. We did more practice on Kesa Gatame as well as Mune Gatame.
I also learned how to escape the Kesa Gatame, but it doesn't work as well with the Mune Gatame. The goal is to get your hips under the other persons body. To do this, thrust your hips in the air to throw them forward, immediately get your hips under them, and then roll.
Several of the teenagers and children also tested for their yellow belts today. It is exciting to see them growing and maturing in the art. Congratulations to them!
After a good workout, we decided to get a healthy meal. So, we went to Fox's to get two tacos for $1. Mmmmm!
So today was quite fun. They say that two is company and three is a crowd, but I don't think they ever applied that to a father and two of his daughters. I have found quite the contrary. Two is company...three is a joy!
I also learned how to escape the Kesa Gatame, but it doesn't work as well with the Mune Gatame. The goal is to get your hips under the other persons body. To do this, thrust your hips in the air to throw them forward, immediately get your hips under them, and then roll.
Several of the teenagers and children also tested for their yellow belts today. It is exciting to see them growing and maturing in the art. Congratulations to them!
After a good workout, we decided to get a healthy meal. So, we went to Fox's to get two tacos for $1. Mmmmm!
So today was quite fun. They say that two is company and three is a crowd, but I don't think they ever applied that to a father and two of his daughters. I have found quite the contrary. Two is company...three is a joy!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
What is a Dojo?
All in all, the journey is going well. My Japanese is even getting better!
Our Dojo (school) is really incredible. The Sensei's are wonderful, patient, and great teachers. Lots of kids also attend, but it is nice to see that I am not the oldest person there. Just the oldest white belt! Each workout varies in intensity, but there are a couple that have literally about left me flat on the mat.
The odd thing about Judo is that getting thrown is not really painful. The very first time I was SERIOUSLY thrown, it was actually a rush. Weird! It is nice to know you can take a serious throw and feel good about it. I remember one of my colleagues telling me that this is what addicted him to the concept of Judo. He was sparring against another (much smaller) person, and in a split second he was laying on the ground staring at the ceiling wondering what happened. It was at that point he realized Judo was for him.
Me too. We looked at Taikwondo originally, but it looked awfully boring. There isn't anything boring about Judo...so far!
So the journey continues. More later.
Our Dojo (school) is really incredible. The Sensei's are wonderful, patient, and great teachers. Lots of kids also attend, but it is nice to see that I am not the oldest person there. Just the oldest white belt! Each workout varies in intensity, but there are a couple that have literally about left me flat on the mat.
The odd thing about Judo is that getting thrown is not really painful. The very first time I was SERIOUSLY thrown, it was actually a rush. Weird! It is nice to know you can take a serious throw and feel good about it. I remember one of my colleagues telling me that this is what addicted him to the concept of Judo. He was sparring against another (much smaller) person, and in a split second he was laying on the ground staring at the ceiling wondering what happened. It was at that point he realized Judo was for him.
Me too. We looked at Taikwondo originally, but it looked awfully boring. There isn't anything boring about Judo...so far!
So the journey continues. More later.
First four throws learned...
So in four weeks, I have learned (and remembered) four throws and one grappling technique. They are:
I have also learned that an invaluable resource for learning these techniques after coming home exhausted is by going to http://www.judoinfo.com which is an incredible resource for my journey.
- Ippon Seoinage - The throw I practice the most!
- Kouchi Gari -
- Kosoto Gari -
- Tomoe Nage - My favorite throw so far, but it is kind of scary the first time!
I have also learned that an invaluable resource for learning these techniques after coming home exhausted is by going to http://www.judoinfo.com which is an incredible resource for my journey.
The Journey Begins
So here I am, 43 years of age, and I am deciding to take up Judo. Call it a mid-life crisis if you must, but I continue to argue that it is for the sake of some father/daughter bonding. So, my daughter and I headed down to Roseberry's Sho-Rei-Shobu Kan martial arts center to take the journey together.
We started on October 2nd and were a bit confused, lost and embarrassed. What language are they speaking...uh...maybe I am not smart enough to do this. Several weeks later I realized it must be Japanese. Okay, of course I am not quite that dumb, but I certainly felt like it.
I can now say that four weeks later, my daughter and I have learned a lot. But more importantly, we are bonding! This blog thus begins our journey. There is no telling if either of us will ever get a black belt, but that is not the important thing. The important thing is that we are on a journey together.
We started on October 2nd and were a bit confused, lost and embarrassed. What language are they speaking...uh...maybe I am not smart enough to do this. Several weeks later I realized it must be Japanese. Okay, of course I am not quite that dumb, but I certainly felt like it.
I can now say that four weeks later, my daughter and I have learned a lot. But more importantly, we are bonding! This blog thus begins our journey. There is no telling if either of us will ever get a black belt, but that is not the important thing. The important thing is that we are on a journey together.
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