Saturday, December 22, 2007

Aikido - Test Day!

It was a nice, bright, sunny day for a test. We had a good-sized Saturday class because we were holding three tests. I tested for sankyu and T.D. and M.L. tested for ikkyu. We had a short warm-up and class before the tests started. I was flagging half-way through the class - breathing heavily, getting up slowly. I settled down and caught my breath while we set up for the test. I went first. At first, it didn't seem like a very long test. I was tired and getting a bit shaky but I pretty much kept going. I received some helpful advice from the yudansha both during and after the test. M.L.'s and T.D's tests went well, too, and I got to participate in their tests, as well. Their tests were about 40 minutes long!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Aikido – Katatetori Variations and Test Prep

I was huffing and puffing in the shortened stretch and warm-up tonight. We practiced the side ukemi a bit before starting in on katatetori iriminage variations. We did the put-the-wrist-over-the-shoulder throw (almost shihonage) and a variant of that approaching kotegaeshi now named after a classmate, a put-the-elbow-down-behind (sort of a short sumi otoshi) and a tenkan-into-sokomen-iriminage.

We also celebrated M.K.'s and T.D.'s birthdays with birthday rolls. I had a pretty good randori at the end of class. Sensei tossed in a fourth uke part way through and he only does that when I'm doing well.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Aikido - Tantodori and Gokkyo Variations

Tired from the get-go, I struggled through stretching and aikitaiso. We started with yokomenuchi taisabaki and then to yokomenuchi ikkyo both with and without tanto. We worked up to gokkyo and tried a new variant where nage doesn't take the uke all the way to the ground. I pooped out when we got to koshinage variations. I did a decent randori at the end of class.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Aikido - Katatetori Variations

I arrived a little late (work, again) but in time for aiki taiso. It was a smaller class than usual. We worked on katatetori tai sabaki and then several kokyunage and iriminage variations including sokomen iriminage.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Gym 12/11

Lifefitness Elliptical: 16 minutes, level 6, cadence high 50s, heart rate: 154
Triceps pull-downs: 3x15 @ 65 lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x15 @ 70 lbs

Friday, December 07, 2007

Gym 12/7

Lifefitness Elliptical: 15 minutes, level 5, cadence high 50s

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Aikido - J.B.Test

I arrived half-way through the class because I had to work late. We worked on katatori ikkyo and nikkyo - omote and ura - kokyunage and iriminage. At the end we had a test (rokkyu?) for J.B. I think he did well.

Gym 12/6

Lifefitness Elliptical: 15 minutes, level 5, cadence high 50-53

Weight: 308

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Gym 12/5

Triceps pull-downs: 3x15 @ 60 lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x15 @ 70 lbs
Lifefitness Elliptical: 10 minutes, level 5, cadence 50-53, heart rate: 154

Weight: 308

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Aikido - Ryotetori Variations

We worked on ryotetori - grabbing both wrists - and did kokyunage, iriminage, ikkyo, and tenchinage variations. I got pretty tired by the end.

Gym 12/4

Lifecycle: 10 minutes at level 5, cadence high 80s, HR 154

Friday, November 30, 2007

Gym 11/30

Lifecycle - 10 minutes on level 5 at 85 rpm. Feet feeling better

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Aikido - Munetsuki Variations

Sensei awarded J.B. the rank of rokkyu. Since we had a new student in class tonight Sensei did some basics through warm-ups, stretching and aikitaiso. We worked with munetsuki, tonight, starting with the basic kokyunage and iriminage then on to sokomen iriminage. He also worked in some tanto munetsuki for T.D. and M.L. for their impending ikkyu test. We finished with some randori for those of us testing soon. I felt pretty good about mine.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Aikido - Rokkyu Test!

J.B. tested for rokkyu tonight. I thought the test went pretty well. Before that we started with shomenuchi tai sabaki and then worked on lots of shomenuchi kokyunage and iriminage variations. We did some interesting varitions and applied them to shomenuchi tanto attacks.

My feet are still sore from Saturday's class and they're aching more, now. Plantar fasciitis is no fun!

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Aikido - Test Prep and Bokken Tai Sabaki

Sensei taught today to help a bunch of us get ready for testing. We've got two ready for ikkyu, me for sankyu, one for yonkyu and some others but I'm not sure who or how many or what rank. Suwariwaza (techniques from a kneeling position) is giving me fits but I can do it. After class, some of us went outside to work on the latest version of the bokken tai sabaki.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Aikido - Munetsuki and Test Prep, Part II

We worked on munetsuki variations again tonight: kotegaeshi, sankyo and more. Sensei is hoping to hold several tests on a Saturday in December.

Gym 11/15

Lifefitness Elliptical: 15 minutes, level 5, cadence high 40s to low 50s, heart rate: 140

Weight: 308

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Aikido - Munetsuki and Test Prep

I got back to Aikido, tonight, after way too much time off. Got pooped out a bit but did an okay randori at the end. We worked on munetsuki variations: ikkyo, nikkyo, kokyunage, kaitenage, and sumi otoshi. K.M.'s sandan certificate arrived and Sensei presented it tonight.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Gym 11/7

Leg press: 3x15 @ 160 lbs (80 lbs/side)
Leg press toe raises: 3x15 @ 160 lbs (80 lbs/side)
Triceps pull-downs: 3x15 @ 60 lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x15 @ 70 lbs
Lifefitness elliptical: 10 minutes, level 5, cadence 50 (last minute "sprint" at 55)

Monday, November 05, 2007

Gym - 11/5

I've been doing poorly on the eating front as well and it's had a financial cost. Back to making my own (better) food. Back in the saddle...

Lifecycle: 10 minutes, level 5, cadence 85, heart rate: 140

Weight: 308

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Gym 10/30

Lateral arm raises: (15, 10, 10) @ 5 lbs
Dumbbell curls: 3x12 @ 10 lbs
Dumbbell bench press: 3x12 @ 10 lbs
Leg press: 3x12 @ 160 lbs (80 lbs/side)
Leg press toe raises: 3x12 @ 160 lbs (80 lbs/side)
Triceps pull-downs: 3x12 @ 60 lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x12 @ 70 lbs

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Fire Week

Due to the widespread wildfires that started on Sunday and all the smoke and ash I'm not working out.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Gym 10/19

Lifecycle: 10 minutes, level 5, cadence mid 80s to mid 90s, heart rate 147 - should have gone longer but my right knee was starting to catch and hurt.

Weight: 301

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Aikido - Movement and Ukemi

We started with kokyunage techniques using a palm-to-palm push instead of an attack to help us feel timing and connection. Sensei then tied each of these to one of the regular attacks for katatetori kokyunage, munetsuki sokomen iriminage (shortest, most direct entry), munetsuki kokyunage (reversing throw version), munetsuki iriminage (internal kotekiri parry and chin push version). We then did some randori and I got a turn. I felt a little disconnected but didn't get too caught up. We ended with kokyudosa, stretching and guided relaxation. I gave M.L. a six-pack of Newcastle Brown Ale for rescuing my weapons from the seminar.

With all the ukemi, I ended up hammering my knees a lot. I need to fix my rolling!

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Gym 10/17

Lifefitness Elliptical: ~13 minutes, probably the lowest level - the electronics weren't working so I watched the clock.

Weight: 301

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Gym - 10/16

Life Fitness Elliptical: 10 minutes, level 5, cadence low 50s, last minute cadence high 50s
Triceps pull-downs: (20, 15, 15) @ 60 lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x15 @ 70 lbs

Monday, October 15, 2007

Gym 10/15

Life Fitness Elliptical: 10 minutes!, level 4

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Aikido - Katatori Ikkyo

After warming up, we worked on katatori ikkyo starting from taisabaki on up. As a variation, we also did a tanto shoulder attack to work on the intensity. We also worked on shihonage and several kokyunage throws. I ran low on energy toward the end. The ukemi from kokyunage sapped me.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Gym - 10/10

Life Fitness Elliptical: 8 minutes!, level 5, cadence low 50s

Life Cycle: 4 minutes, level 5, cadence mid-80s, then "sprinted" for 1 minute at cadence in the mid-90s, right knee hurting a bit

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Aikido - Pretest

Back in the old home dojo! We started by warming up and then into some basics - shomenuchi kokyunage, shomenuchi iriminage and shomenuchi ikkyo. We did some variations that are not commonly taught in the AAA. They were reminiscent of my previous sensei. We ended with a rokkyu pretest for J.B.

Gym 10/9

Leg press: 3x15 @ 140 lbs (70 lbs/side)
Leg press toe raises: 3x15 @ 140 lbs (70 lbs/side)
Dumbbell bench press: 2x15 + 7 @ 12 lbs
Triceps pull-downs: (15, 15, 10) @ 60 lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x15 @ 70 lbs

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Gym 10/6

Life Cycle: 15 minutes at level 5, cadence mid-80s to mid-90s, heart rate in the high 140s

Friday, October 05, 2007

Gym 10/5

Life Fitness Elliptical: 7 minutes!, level 3, cadence low 50s, "sprinted" for last 30 seconds at cadence in the high 50s

Life Cycle: 5 minutes, level 6, cadence low- to mid-90s, heart rate low to mid 150s

Weight: 299

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Gym 10/4

Life Fitness Elliptical: 6 minutes, level 5, cadence low 50s, heart rate high 140s
Life Cycle: 8 minutes, level 5, cadence low- to mid-80s, heart rate low 150s

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Gym 10/3

Lifecycle: 10 minutes, level 5, cadence 85-90, HR 135-140

Late start - it was hard getting A.C. up.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Gym 10/2

Leg press: 3x15 @ 140 lbs (70 lbs/side)
Leg press toe raises: 3x15 @ 140 lbs (70 lbs/side)
Dumbbell bench press: 3x13 @ 12 lbs
Dumbbell fly: 2x12 @ 12 lbs
Triceps pull-downs: (15, 15, 10) @ 60 lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x15 @ 70 lbs

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Gym 9/29

Elliptical: 5 minutes!
Lifecycle: 5 minutes, level 5, cadence 90

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Gym 9/27

Leg press: 3x15 @ 90 lbs (45 lbs/side)
Leg press toe raises: 3x15 @ 90 lbs (45 lbs/side)
Lateral arm raises: (15, 12, 10) @ 5 lbs
Dumbbell curls: 3x12 @ 12 lbs
Dumbbell bench press: 3x12 @ 15 lbs
Triceps pull-downs: 3x12 @ 60 lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x12 @ 70 lbs

Runny nose will keep me out of Aikido, tonight. Don't want to "share".

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Gym 9/26

Lifecycle: 10 minutes at level 5, cadence - all over the 80s

Legs still feeling last weekend's Aikido seminar.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Gym 9/25

Lateral arm raises: 3x12 @ 5 lbs
Dumbbell curls: 3x12 @ 10 lbs
Dumbbell bench press: (20, 15, 10) @ 10 lbs
Triceps pull-downs: 3x12 @ 55 lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x12 @ 70 lbs

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Aikido - More Seminar!

The muscles in my legs and back are very stiff and sore. My knees and elbows feel bruised. I had a great time! I would be back tomorrow for the final session but I have other responsibilities tomorrow. This seminar really helped me push myself. I met a lot of wonderful people who all had something to teach me. Due to my own limitations I had to sit out one hour of each of the sessions today but I did train for four hours today and three yesterday which was more than I thought I'd be able to do. I saw - and experienced - a lot of great Aikido. Wonderful!

Friday, September 21, 2007

Aikido - Seminar!

Considering how long I was able to go last night, tonight was great! I arrived just after 6pm to the Kenshinkan dojo in Vista. After stretching, MacBeth Sensei taught for an hour with variations on sokomen iriminage. After a 10 minute break, Dyer Sensei taught for an hour on kokyunage and suwariwaza. Katz Sensei finished the session with jo dori, stretching and massage. The session went three hours and, except for some work from my knees I pretty much kept up with everything.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Aikido - Randori Practice

We worked on Randori skills tonight. Unfortunately, I pooped out about half way through. Drag.

Gym 9/20

Long time away! I've been staying up too late.

Leg press: 3x20 @ 90 lbs (45 lbs/side)
Leg press toe raises: 3x20 @ 90 lbs (45 lbs/side)
Lateral arm raises: 3x12 @ 5 lbs
Dumbbell curls: 3x12 @ 10 lbs
Dumbbell bench press: 3x12 @ 10 lbs
Triceps pull-downs: 3x12 @ 55 lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x12 @ 60 lbs

Friday, September 14, 2007

Gym 9/14

Lifecycle: 20 minutes, level 4, cadence mid-80s to mid-90s, HR 135-145

Weight: 299

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Aikido - Shomenuchi Variations

K.M. sensei taught tonight. We started with stretches and full-court rolling then we started in with shomenuchi attacks defending with iriminage, basic kokyunage, a different version of udegarami. Then we went into more kokynage variations.

Gym 9/13

Lateral arm raises: 15,10,10 @ 5 lbs
Dumbbell hammer curls: 3x12 @ 10 lbs
Dumbbell bench press: 3x12 @ 10 lbs
Triceps pull-downs: 3x12 @ 60 lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x15 @ 70 lbs
Lifecycle: 5 minutes at level 4, cadence high-80's

Sore pecs today!

Weight: 299

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Gym 9/12

Leg press: 3x20 @ 90 lbs (45 lbs/side)
Leg press toe raises: 3x20 @ 90 lbs (45 lbs/side)
Lateral arm raises: 15,10,7 @ 5 lbs
Dumbbell curls: 3x12 @ 10 lbs
Dumbbell bench press: 3x12 @ 10 lbs
Dumbell flys: 2x12 @ 10 lbs
Triceps pull-downs: 3x12 @ 55 lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x15 @ 60 lbs
Lifecycle: 5 minutes at level 5, cadence high-80's

First time in too long!

Weight: 299

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Aikido - Gan Menuchi

After warming up, we worked on katatori ikkyo leading up to katatori ganmenuchi (lapel grab then face punch) attacks. With that opening we did ikkyo, iriminage, kokyunage, and shihonage. T. came to class tonight, too.

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Aikido - Ushiro Tekubitori Techniques

I ran out of energy from the beginning of class, tonight. It might be because my eating has been... less than good this week. Anyway, we worked on ushiro tekubitori responses, tonight: kokyunage, ikkyo, shihonage and others. We also did a couple rounds of jiyuwaza - giving S.W. and K.M. lots of practice for their up-coming tests - and ended with each of them doing a randori against five (S.W.) and six (K.M.) uke.

Gym 9/6

Whoof! Tired today. Got home late from work last night (~10:40pm) and went straight to bed.

Lifecycle: only 15 minutes and the first third was only at level 4 (the rest at level 5) and cadence in the high 80s to low 90s.

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Doctor

I went in for a physical today. The results of last month's blood test were pretty good - cholesterol: 184 with a 3.6 ratio (they want it less than 200 and less than 5, respectively), no other problems. My BP was 122/73.

Gym 9/5

Lifecycle: 19 minutes at level 5 with cadence in the low 90s and 1 minute at level 6 with cadence in the low 100s to finish.

We got a late start because my alarm was in my pants pocket and I didn't hear it and A. had a hard time getting up.

Weight: 299

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Aikido - Jiai Dojo

Tonight was our first night practicing at Jiai Aikido. We'll be here all month because the Rec Center is redoing the floors. The dojo is a lovely, spacious place with a large mat area and high ceilings. T. went with me to check it out. Since she might be practicing on Tuesdays and Saturdays I signed her up for the whole month.

Sensei started us off with stretching and paired ukemi practice then we went into a number of techniques starting with munetsuki ikkyo and then several oyowaza including a kokyunage and a koshinage ending. We also did some munetsuki kaitenage.

Another advantage is that we will be learning some of the more tradition dojo practices while we are here. We will be bowing in the style that Soderman Sensei practices in his dojo and helping sweep the mats after class.

Gym 9/4

Missed the notice that the gym wouldn't open until 8:00 am. I have a doctors appointment at 8:40 so no work-out today, either!

Monday, September 03, 2007

Gym 9/3

Gym closed for Labor Day. Temperature over 100 degrees. To hot. No work-out.

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Gym 9/2

Leg press: 3x15 @ 90 lbs (45 lbs/side)
Leg press toe raises: 3x15 @ 90 lbs (45 lbs/side)
Lateral arm raises: 3x10 @ 5 lbs
Dumbbell curls: 3x10 @ 10 lbs
Dumbbell bench press: 3x12 @ 10 lbs
Dumbell flys: 2x12 @ 10 lbs
Triceps pull-downs: 3x10 @ 55 lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x10 @ 60 lbs
Lifecycle: 4 minutes at level 5, cadence high-80's and 1 minute at cadence 100 (waiting for Amanda to finish)

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Gym 9/1

It is hot, today!

Lifecycle: 20 minutes - Started at level 5 with cadence in the low-90s and the last minute at level 6 with cadence at 100+. That's a big improvement since I started a month ago when all I could manage was "20 minutes at level 3 with HR ~123 and cadence in the mid-70s."

Lateral arm raises: 3x10 @ 5 lbs - I have some improvement to do in the weights end of things.

Friday, August 31, 2007

Gym 8/31

Late start, today. It took an hour to get A. out of bed. This marks the end of our first month at the gym. Except for three Sundays, I've gone every day this month. A. missed one Friday (which is why we went that one Sunday).

Lifecycle: 20 minutes - Split between levels 4 and five cadence in the low- to mid-90s and the last minute at level 5 with cadence at 108+

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Aikido - Better Late Than Never

I took T. to her YAMS group tonight. There was some tight traffic in some places and roads were closed in other so I was nearly an hour late for class. As it was, I was soaked in a few minutes - it has been hot and muggy here. We did yokomenuchi shihonage, yokomenuchi kokyunage, yokomenuchi ikkyo and ikkyonage, and T.M's favorite dance-like kokyunage response to yokomenuchi.

This was our last night in the rec center for a month while they redo the floors. For the month of September we'll be joining another local dojo and training with them.

Gym 8/30

Lifecycle: 20 minutes - 16 at level 4 with cadence in the low 90s, 2 minutes with cadence in the high 90s and the last 2 minutes at level 5 with cadence at 100+

Weight: 298

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Gym 8/29

No cardio today.
Leg press: 3x10 @ 90 lbs (45 lbs/side)
Leg press toe raises: 3x10 @ 90 lbs (45 lbs/side)
Lateral arm raises: 3x10 @ 5 lbs
Dumbbell curls: 3x10 @ 10 lbs
Dumbbell bench press: 3x10 @ 10 lbs
Dumbell flys: 2x10 @ 10 lbs
Dumbbell hammer curls: 2x10 @ 10 lbs
Triceps pull-downs: 3x10 @ 55 lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x10 @ 60 lbs
Lat bar straight-arm pull-downs: 1x10 @ 40 lbs, 1x5 @ 40 lbs (to failure)

Weight: 298

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Aikido - Sankyu Tests

After a quick but brutal warm-up (ha!) we started with some shikko practice followed by suwariwaza (attack and defense from seiza) versions of shomenuchi ikkyo (omote and ura), shomenuchi kokyunage, and shomenuchi iriminage. E.L. and Z.O. then tested for sankyu together. I was pretty low energy and my knees weren't up for much suwariwaza but I did get to participate in the test. It was a fun class.

Gym 8/28

Lifecycle: 20 minutes on level 4, cadence in the low 90s except for the last minute when I "sprinted" in level 5 at a cadence between 100 and 110.

Weight: 298

Monday, August 27, 2007

Aikido - Kumi Tachi #5 and #6

After warming up with suburi, we worked on Kumi Tachi numbers 5 and 6 until it was too dark to see. They came back to me pretty quickly - I hadn't practiced them since last year. I worked with B.A. who is more advanced than me so we got to really figure some stuff out, together.

Gym 8/27

Lifecycle: 20 minutes - Even though I was working on level 4 at a cadence of nearly 90 it took me almost 18 minutes to get to HR 140.
Lat bar pull-down rows: 3x10 @ 60lbs
Triceps pull-down: 3x10 @ 55lbs

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Aikido (sort of) - Funny!

Okay, I'm a nerd. I think that I Can Has Cheez Burger is absolutely hilarious. Here are two that I think belong here:

The Nikkyo pin:
masterlock.jpg

Sensei:
sensei

Gym 8/26

A. and I went today because she missed Friday. I did 22 minutes on the Lifecycle at level four and at a high cadence.

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Gym 8/25

My quadraceps are still feeling deep tired from yesterday's elliptical minutes!

LifeCycle: 25 minutes @ lvl 4, high cadence
Dumbbell lateral arm raises: 3x10 @ 5 lbs
Triceps pull-downs: 3x10 @ 55 lbs
Lat bar straight-arm pull-downs: 3x10 @ 40 lbs
Lat bar rows: 1x10 @ 50 lbs, 2x10 @ 60 lbs

Weight: 300

Friday, August 24, 2007

Gym 8/24

Elliptical: 3 minutes, 40 seconds - killer!!!
LifeCycle: 22 minutes @ HR 135-145
Leg press: 3x15 @ 45 lbs
Leg press toe raises: 3x15 @ 45 lbs
Lateral arm raises: 3x10 @ 5 lbs
Triceps pull-downs: 3x10 @ 55 lbs
Lat bar straight-arm pull-downs: 3x10 @ 40 lbs
Lat bar rows: 1x10 @ 50 lbs, 2x10 @ 60 lbs

Weight: 299

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Aikido - Test Prep

Sensei is prepping three of us for our sankyu test next month so we've started working on those techniques.

Gym - 8-23

Leg press: 3x15 @ 45 lbs
Leg press toe raises: 3x15 @ 45 lbs
Lateral arm raises: 3x10 @ 5 lbs
Dumbbell curls: 2x10 @ 10 lbs
Dumbbell hammer curls: 2x10 @ 10 lbs
Dumbbell bench press: 2x10 @ 10 lbs
Dumbell flys: 2x10 @ 10 lbs
LifeCycle: 15 minutes

Weight: 300

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Gym

Lateral arm raises: 3x10 @ 5 lbs
Dumbbell curls: 2x10 @ 10 lbs
Dumbbell hammer curls: 2x10 @ 10 lbs
Dumbbell bench press: 2x10 @ 10 lbs
Dumbell flys: 2x10 @ 10 lbs
Tricep pull-down: 3x10 @ 55 lbs
Lat bar straight-arm pull-downs: 3x10 @ 40 lbs
Lat bar rows: 1x10 @ 50 lbs, 2x10 @ 60 lbs
LifeCycle: 5 minutes - Could have gone longer but was getting close to being late for work

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Gym

LifeCycle: 23 minutes @ HR 135-145

Monday, August 20, 2007

Gym

I did about half an hour this morning.

Shoulder raises: 3x10@5lbs
Curls: 2x10@10lbs
Hammer Curls: 2x10@10lbs
Dumbell Press: 2x10@10lbs
Flys: 2x10@10lbs
Tricep pull-downs: 1x10@50lbs 2x10@55lbs
Lat bar straight-arm pulldowns: 2x10+8@40lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x10@50lbs
LifeCycle: 15min@hr=138-145

Weight: 300

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Gym

Weights this morning. Pretty much all shoulders and arms. I also tried the elliptical, again, and only held on for three minutes. Boy, that thing burns!

Shoulder raises: 3x10@5lbs
Curls: 2x10@10lbs
Hammer Curls: 1x10@10lbs
Dumbell Press: 2x10@10lbs
Flys: 2x10@10lbs
Tricep pull-downs: 3x10@50lbs
Lat bar straight-arm pulldowns: 2x10+8@40lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x10@50lbs

Friday, August 17, 2007

Gym - Short Workout

A.C. was only in the morning for a short warm-up because she's going back at noon to meet with her trainer. I worked on arm and shoulder stuff because my knees were feeling a little iffy.

Shoulder raises: 3x10@5lbs
Curls: 2x10@10lbs
Hammer Curls: 1x10@10lbs
Dumbell Press: 2x10@10lbs
Flys: 2x10@10lbs
Tricep pull-downs: 3x10@50lbs
Lat bar straight-arm pulldowns: 2x10+7@40lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x10@50lbs

Weight: 301

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Aikido - Flake Out!

I had an intense workout this morning and it was a hot day finished by installing a screen door. I was tired, hot, sweaty and I felt that I'd be sitting out before aiki taiso were over. I wanted to go, though, because it was K.S.'s last night before returning to school and she wanted to have a group photo. So I took my camera and tripod but not my dogi. As soon as K.S. started teaching (at Sensei's insistence) I was bummed that I wasn't dressed to play, too! She taught some very interesting spinning, blending moves from ryotetori and ushiro dori that led to powerful iriminage, kokyunage, nikkyo, ikkyo, kotegaeshi and koshinage techniques. Dang! Lesson learned (I hope).

Gym

This morning, I did 45lbs/side in the leg press machine - both leg presses and toe raises - 3x15; 10lb dumbell curls, hammer curls 2x10 each and "21"x1, chest press and fly 2x10; 5lb shoulder side raises 3x10; 50lb hamstring curls 3x10; 50lb triceps pull-downs 3x10; 40lb pull-downs (arms extended straight forward, not bent at elbow) 2x7; 20 minutes on the Life Cycle with heart rate between 127 and 142.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Gym - Work, Work, Work...

I started with 20 minutes of Life Cycle with my heart rate up in the mid- to high-130's. I did some leg stuff: 35 lbs on the leg press and toe-lifts and 60 lbs on the quad curls. I did some of arm stuff: 10x3 10 lb press and fly, 50x3 tricep pull-down.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Aikido - Ryotetori Variations

Tonight we worked on quite a few ryotetori variations, mostly kokyunage but with some iriminage, too. I did a pretty good randori at the end. Good class!

Gym - Mixed it up

I worked on some of the stuff A.'s trainer set up for me when we met for my second free consultation. I did some leg stuff: 35 lbs on the leg press and toe-lifts and 50 lbs on the quad curls (lying on my belly machine). I did quite a bit of arm stuff: 10x3 10 lb curls, hammer curls and "21", 10x1 5 lb outward arm extension, 10x3 10 lb press and fly, 50x3 tricep pull-down. There was some other stuff but I can't remember what it was. I was so tired that I could only do 5 minutes of cardio Life Cycle afterward.

Weight: 302

Monday, August 13, 2007

Gym - Life Cycle

Just did 20 minutes on the Life Cycle. Didn't get into the weights. I'll do that tomorrow.

Weight: 302

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Gym - Consultation 2

J. and I talked today. She showed me how to do a series of exercises for legs, arms, core body, and shoulders. (I'm finding that I need quite a bit of work on my shoulder, especially the right one.) She also wants me to up my cardio work to half an hour (up from 20 minutes) with a 118+ heart rate - 130 is better - and more stretches, too. Feels like I'll be in the gym for a couple hours a day! I didn't take up her offer to work with me but A. wants to work with her so I signed her up.

Weight: 301

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Aikido - Tests!

I was beat this evening! I was light-headed for about half of the techniques we practiced. We worked on stuff for shichikyu and gokkyu tests. We did kokyunage, iriminage, and shihonage variations.

First, A.S. (?) tested for shichikyu. She's been training with both the youth class and the adult class for at least the last year and her test seemed fantastic to me. L.P. tested for gokkyu and did well, too. I got to take some falls for her and I wasn't too tired.

Gym - Life Cycle

I went for ten minutes on the Life Cycle and then sets of shoulder pull-downs at 50 for 20 reps, tricep pull-downs at 50 for 15 reps (failure), curls at 50 for 15 reps (failure), bench press at 50 for 20 reps, and fly press at 50 for 20 reps.

Weight: 302

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Gym - Trying Stuff

I tried to use one of the stair-stepper things this morning but it was so slow even with my full weight on it. I'll ask about how to use it on Saturday. I went for ten minutes on the Life Cycle and then sets of shoulder pull-downs at 50 for 20 reps, tricep pull-downs at 50 for 15 reps (failure), curls at 50 for 15 reps (failure), rowing at 70 for 20 reps, bench press at 50 for 20 reps, and fly press at 50 for 20 reps.

Weight: 301.5

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Aikido - Test Prep

Sensei awarded T.W. rokkyu this evening after his test last Thursday. T. came to practice tonight, too. We worked on ryokatatetori ikkyo (omote and ura), ryokatatetori sokomen iriminage (omote and ura), and ryokatatetori shihonage (omote and ura). We also did some yokomenuchi shihonage. I was feeling pretty drained and I'm blaming it on working out at the gym in the morning but I was able to get through it all. We ended with a set of randori. Sensei let me do two sets with different levels of uke. I did pretty well the first time but with the second group attacking with shomenuchi, yokomenuchi and munetsuki, I didn't do as well. I clobbered K.M. in the nose! Again, more motion and some appropriate and quick responses are what I need to work on.

Gym - Whoof!

I tried the elliptical machine for a bit, this morning. Whoo-ee! I could only do it for less than four minutes before my thighs were burning! I worked on arm, chest and shoulder weights the rest of the morning.

Weight: 303.5

Monday, August 06, 2007

Aikido - Late for Bokken Practice

I was late for practice because we got out of the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit later than I thought we would. We worked on kumi tachi 1 through 3. It took me a couple minutes but they came back from last summer. I mostly have to work on stance. I'm standing too lazily. I need to be more forward-focused.

Gym - Life Cycle

A. and I went this morning and cycled the time away. She's got to set her seat a little farther back (8?) so she doesn't bump her knee on the handlebar. I went 20 minutes at level 3 with HR ~123 and cadence in the mid-70s.

Saturday, August 04, 2007

Gym - Consultation

A. and I went into to meet with one of the trainer/coaches today. She gave us a questionnaire and took measurements and talked to us about goals. We'll each meet with her at the end of next week to run through the equipment and what we need to do. First things for both of us to do are drink more water, eat more protein and less carby-type foods (but increase the vegetables).

Friday, August 03, 2007

Gym - Life Cycle

I did 20 minutes on the Life Cycle today and then puttered around the weight room while A. did some weights, too.

Weight: 305

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Aikido - Another Test!

We helped T.W. get ready for his rokkyu test tonight. After warming up we worked on katatori ikkyo, katatori nikkyo (omote and ura), shomenuchi kokyunage, shomenuchi kotegaeshi and munetsuki kotegaeshi. After some randori (I did one, too!) we had T.W.'s test. I got to be uke for several techniques.

Gym - Intro With C.

My knee felt much better this morning. C. came down and went with us to the gym. She offered to be our e-mail coach which is pretty cool. Now she knows what the gym has and can give us ideas on what to do. She also walked A. through the equipment in the women's part of the gym so she'd know how to use it properly.

I did 5 minutes on the Life Cycle to warm up and then did random upper-body work.

Weight: 305

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Gym - Arms

The back of my knee is feeling stiff and a bit sore from yesterday's cycling. Today, I used some of the weight machines so I wouldn't stress my knee. I just randomly did about 20 minutes (elapsed time) on seven or eight exercises.

Weight: 305

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Aikido - Test!

The back of my left knee is a little sore from this morning's exercise. Sensei said I had the seat too far back. If it was too close the front of my knee would hurt. I worked with T.W. this before class to help him prep for testing. L.P. is also testing soon. We worked on ryokatatori kokyunage, ryokatatori iriminage, ryokatatetori kokyunage, kokyudoza leading to ryokatatetori tenchinage and some henkawaza variations for when you get stuck in preparation for all the testers. We did a round of randori before the testing and I got to do one. I got a little tied up and spent too much time backing up but got complements from others so I did okay.

Tonight, S.B.(?) (a young woman who often attends our class after working out with the older kids) tested. S. did pretty well even though she was nervous.

It was also the last class for the two sisters from Scotland and their German friend. They're flying back home on Thursday. The older sister brought her new camera (a Canon 30D!) to take a group picture.

Gym - First Morning

A. and I got a started a little late (I set my alarm incorrectly - oops) but we walked down with our towels and our receipts in lieu of our membership cards. We went straight to the recumbent exercyles and did a 20 minute "ride". I ran my heart rate at about 120 and my cadence at just under 100 on level 2 resistance. I'll set my resistance a little higher tomorrow. I'll also try the upright "bike" because my feet kept slipping on the pedals. Too bad the pedals don't have toe-clips! A.'s shoes need arch supports.

C. says she'll work with us via e-mail to design a plan and (hopefully! *fingers crossed*) help us stay motivated. Heck, the next 14 months are paid for. We'd better darn-well use it!

Weight: 306

Monday, July 30, 2007

Aikido - Bokken

Tonight, K.S. sensei led weapons class. We worked on bokken basics: The stances, the strikes, the yokomen parry and, putting them all together, Bokken Kata #1.

Gym - Signed up!

A.C. and I signed up, this morning, at the Being Fit gym near home. We plan to go every weekday morning to work on the machines to get healthier, get stronger, get fitter and lose weight.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Test Prep

Several of us have been helping some of our fellow students get ready for testing. I helped L. P. and T. W. through the evening with the rokkyu and gokkyu techniques they need to know. My toe slowed me up a little bit but not too much. Good class (as usual).

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Purple Toe

Another crowded mat. It's good to have a nice mix of new and experienced people to work with. I am helping one guy get ready for his rokkyu test. I missed too much tonight because about an hour into class I caught my right little toe in the crack between two mats. It started to swell and turn pretty colors. I sat out for a bit and did some more training near the end of class.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Katatori Attacks

Before class, Sensei had me help a new student get familiar with sitting seiza and working on kohotento undo and another student asked me to help him get ready for his rokkyu test. Most of our new students were back, too, so we had another large class (21, I think). After warming up we worked on katatori responses, first yielding then parrying then responding with ikkyo. We also worked on katatori iriminage and ended class with kokyu doza and misogi breathing.

Weight: 303

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Sensei's Back

T. and I went to Aikido tonight and had fun. It was about the largest class I've seen in our dojo. There were 24 people on the mat. We have a lot of new people and, in my opinion, one of Sensei's strengths is being able to teach one technique in such a way that anyone can learn it at their current level. We did some more ki testing and some of the techniques that naturally flow from them. We did katatetori sokomen iriminage among other things.

My wrist acted up a bit but not as much as last week.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Wrist Pain

T. went to her YAMS group tonight to make connections there. She'll be coming to Aikido on Monday and Tuesdays for the summer, at least.

I got to class a bit early to stretch out. I'm a bit stiff from Tuesday (no surprise, there, after almost two months off!). Only one of the older male beginners came back but the two young women (sisters from Scotland) came and brought a friend of theirs from Germany. After warming up and rolling we worked on katatecosadori ikkyo, katatecosadori tenkan kokyunage, katatecosadori sokomen iriminage and other variations. My left wrist, which has been bugging be for a couple weeks (feels like a bit of tendonitis) and it got so I couldn't hold on during the grab as uke. Especially painful was putting my palm on the floor when doing or recovering from ukemi. I had to use the knuckles of my fist to push up with.

I wore out a little earlier tonight because the class was a bit more vigorous than Tuesday.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Beginner Night

T. and I came back after a far-too-long absence for sickness, vacation and, well, laziness. It was the first day of the summer session and as T. and I came up to the desk to register there were two young women registering and a young man who'd just finished and was putting on a dogi. T. helped him with his belt. We had at least five new attendees.

A.O. sensei taught tonight. After stretching and kohotento undo, we did rolls to give the new people practice. We worked on sumi otoshi for rolling practice (forward and back) then worked on ikkyo. Next, we worked on katatecosadori kokyunage and katatecosadori kotegaeshi. We finished with some ki exercises.

My left wrist has been bugging me for a couple weeks. I must have tweaked it because I can't bend it forward or back and kotegaeshi is right out.

Weight: 305

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Munetsuki

We worked with munetsuki with an ikkyo response. It lead into quite a few things: ikkyo ura, sumi otoshi, sankyo, kaiten nage, iriminage, ikkyo/nikkyo/sankyo combination, etc. The last thing we worked on was a direct nikkyo but nage slides one hand down, takes uke's thumb and reverses it under uke's arm into a standing pin. (One of T's favorites.)

I tired out a bit (after a month off it's not surprising!) and I felt some spasms in my lower back. I did some stretches that Sensei suggested and was able to finish the class.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Private Lesson

I've mostly recovered from the cough that's kept me from practicing for over a month. I am way out of shape. T.G. showed up to teach and I showed up to learn. We worked on jo kata #1, kumijo 1 and 2, and bokken kata #1.

Weight: 302

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Oyowaza!

T. and I went to aikido tonight even though it was pretty warm. Yea, us! After warming up (more!) we started with katatetori tai sabaki leading to shihonage. From that starting point we did oyowaza variations to a lot of different throws. Didn't overheat. Did okay on the randori at the end.

Weight: 307 (after sweating!)

Monday, May 07, 2007

Back to Weapons Class

T. and I went to weapons class, tonight. We worked on some of the exercises that M.L. picked up at the seminar this weekend. They consisted of paired kumi jo where both people do the same moves. We had a good time although getting into that left side hasso no kamai was a bear!

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Birthday Randori for S.J.

My ankle felt fine this evening. T. stayed home, ostensibly to do schoolwork. After warming up, we worked on tai sabaki - initial body movement in response to an attack - following each one with a technique. We worked on tai sabaki for katatetori, munetsuki, ushiro katatori, ushiro tekubitori, yokomenuchi and shomenuchi. The responses ranged throughout the repertoire; ikkyo, nikkyo, sankyo, iriminage, kokyunage, sokomen iriminage, kotegaeshi, etc.

I got pretty tired but managed to put in a small randori at the end. S.J. had two or three randori sessions for her birthday. She's also getting ready for her ikkyu test.

Weight: 304

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Dang Ankle!

T. went tonight, again. Woo hoo! My ankle hurt a bit this afternoon and it flared up in class so I had to sit out a lot tonight. We were doing munetsuki and tantodori variations like iriminage, kokyunage, ikkyo nage, katame nage, and sumi otoshi. I got to do a randori which went pretty well considering my sore ankle.

Weight: 307

Thursday, April 26, 2007

T. Came Back!

T. came back for the first time in about 6 months. She was shaky afterward but was glad to be back. We worked on katatori and munetsuki and related tanto dori variations including ikkyo, ikkyo nage, nikkyo, sankyo, shihonage, and gokyo. I felt tired from the beginning but made it through without sitting out.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Sankyu Test!

Sensei has been prepping several students for testing (including me!?!). Tonight we worked on shomenuchi variations including ikkyo, sankyo and shihonage. We also tried some shomenuchi tanto dori techniques to inform the hand techniques. At the end of class Sensei called for a test for B.A. He tested with E.L. and me for yonkyu last year and he's really progressed well. I got to help in his test and I think it went pretty well.

Weight: ???

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Munetsuki Variations

After stretching a little before class, Sensei asked M.R. to help me prep for my sankyu test (!!!) so we started working on munetsuki kokyunage. After warming up with the rest of class, Sensei picked up there and we worked on several munetsuki kokyunage variations. We used the jo to inform several of the techniques. I had to sit out a bit tonight, unfortunately, but I did okay in randori.

Weight: 302

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Katateryotetori Variations

After warming up we worked on taisabaki for katatetori and katateryotetori. We did katateryotetori sokomen iriminage, kokyunage, kotegaeshi, and ikkyo nage as well as some henkawaza (oyowaza?) variations. Unfortunately for me, my three weeks of non-attendance (half for good reason, half plain laziness!) I got winded and a bit dizzy too quickly and missed out on at least one of the techniques.

Weight: 305

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Katate Kosadori

After S.J. led us in stretching and aikitaiso we started with katate kosadori tai sabaki. That lead to kotegaeshi, ikkyo, several variations on kokyunage and iriminage, and sokomen iriminage. I was so tired that when I went to do randori I had a real hard time moving. I ended up not throwing anyone and got hit (lightly) several times.

Weight: 304

Monday, April 02, 2007

Bokken Dori

M.L. taught tonight. After warming up with bokken suburi and practicing bokken kata one and two we worked on bokken dori - disarming uke armed with a bokken. We did a lot of variations. I had a lot of fun doing it. I'm glad I hauled myself over there!

Weight: 306

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Shared Class

Tonight, Sensei shared class with a fellow student from "the old days". J.S. sensei taught the first half of the class (after warm-ups). He stressed the importance of the role of uke in making a committed attack all the way through practice and not to start expecting the same responses from nage. A large portion of what we did was katatori kokyunage with a little kaitenage thrown in for spice. Sensei picked up with that and we did katatori iriminage and shihonage and ended with kokyudoza and some stretches.

Weight: 300

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Birthday Rolls!

Since my 49th birthday is tomorrow I got to do my birthday rolls tonight. I was Sensei's uke seven times (out of eight) and he threw me seven times each. I also got to work with the other students between demonstrations, as usual. In addition, we ended the night with jiyuwaza practice and I was uke every other time for seven throws each. I did a lot of uke-ing tonight! The techniques we worked on tonight were ushiro tekubitori kokyunage, ikkyo, kaitenage, kotegaeshi, and shihonage as well as henkawaza from ikkyo to sokomen iriminage. We then switched to munetsuki kokyunage and kaitenage. I went through two bottles of water during class and drank another on the way home.

Weight: 300

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Ushiro Dori and Ushiro Tekubitori

After warming up we worked with several variations on grab attacks from behind. Most were variations of kokyunage but quite a few others came up, too. We ended with randori. Because I was so tired I didn't do as well as usual. Ah, well. It was still fun.

Weight: 300

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Yudansha Night

Since Sensei is out of town M.K. sensei and P.H. sensei shared teaching tonight. After warming up, M.K. sensei had us work on side-fall ukemi with kotegaeshi. We also worked on katatori ikkyo. P.H. sensei had us work with munetsuki sumi otoshi, ikkyo, and kokyu nage. I ran out of steam in the last 45 minutes of class.

Weight: 295

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Katatori Ikkyo

After warming up we worked with the katatori tai sabaki. This lead into several variations of katatori ikkyo then oyowaza (henkawaza?) changes to kotegaeshi, sumi otoshi, koshinage, etc.

Weight: 299

Friday, March 09, 2007

Jodori and Jonage

We jumped right in with tenchinage tai sabaki, tonight, then quickly proceeded to a deep iriminage to practice a "fan fall" where uke goes to the inside knee and hand and swings around the outside leg to stand up into the iriminage. It's closer to the iwama style of iriminage. Takes a bit of coordination and it's pretty different for those of us who are used to aren't that quick on our feet and those with knee problems. Then we stretched a bit and reviewed some of Tuesday's jodori and related hand techniques. We added the related jonage techniques (where uke attacks with the jo), as well. We ended the evening with some randori. I got to do one. Sensei added a fourth uke at the end to push me a bit. I need to add more irimi! Sensei is starting to prep, E.L., B.A. and I for sankyu testing.

Weight: 300

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Jodori

We warmed up and did some extra ukemi practice. Because the jo serves as an extension, jodori tends toward stronger throws. For several of the exercises, instead of doing six groups across the mat we used three groups lengthwise. As usual with jodori we practice the hand art that informs the jo art. Fun!

Weight: 302

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Gokkyu Test!

We started off with warmups ending with ukemi and shikko around the mat to break in the new mats. They're nice! Grippy when you put weight on them but a little slicker than the old ones if you don't bear down. They're a sage or tatami green and look nice. The velcro is *very* strong.

We worked on yokomenuchi variations tonight; tai sabaki, iriminage, sokomen iriminage, and a couple other variations. At the end of class P. F. tested for gokkyu tonight and did pretty well. I got to take part in his randori.

I felt zapped too often, tonight. I need to avoid simple carbs before class because I think I have a sugar crash.

Weight: 300

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Last Night on Old Mats

We did a lot of katatetori variations tonight; kokyunage, iriminage, ikkyo, etc. I got a bit winded but, as always, a very good class. We're due for new mats this week so this is supposed to be our last night on the old ones.

Weight: 302

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Yudansha night

After warming up we started with katatetori kokyunage with a tenkan entrance. We worked on variations of that for a while. Sensei traded off with the other yudansha teaching a technique at a time. I was well-wrung afterward! It was a good night.

Weight: 299

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Ushirodori Variations

A.O. warmed us up but good, tonight. I was dripping with sweat the whole night and, while I never sat out a whole technique, I did have to take a breather every now and then. We worked on ushirodori variations - several kokyunage, ikkyo, kaitenage and katamenage. We ended with a couple randori.

Weight: 302 (but my BP was 116/76 - woohoo!)

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Munetsuki Variations

After warming up we did the munetsuki tai sabaki then into several techniques including munetsuki iriminage, munetsuki sumi otoshi, and munetsuki katame nage (pinning throw).

Weight: 302

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Building Up to Randori

After warming up, we started with the tenkan and irimi ura versions of the katatetori taisabaki then progressed to doing them in motion. Working in teams of three or four in lanes we started approaching randori. For the last 20 minutes, we had three lanes of nages doing 3-uke mini-randori. I ran out of steam a little. I also had to get a band-aid for my little toe. I got a blister in last night's weapons class and it broke open with all the mat-work.

Weight: 304

Monday, February 05, 2007

Jo!

My first weapons class in weeks! We worked mostly with the jo - suburi, jo kata 1 and 2, the first three kumi-jo, and various other coordination exercises - and ended with bokken suburi.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Munetsuki Variations

We worked on munetsuki iriminage and munetsuki sokomen iriminage, tonight. We had quite a few new people this week: Fresh meat! (And I mean that in the friendliest possible way.) Several people we haven't seen for a month were back tonight, too, so that was good. I was really flagging but I pushed myself hard (within reason, of course) and, except for a couple sips of water, didn't really sit out any techniques tonight.

Weight: 300

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Pooped!

I was dragging before warm-ups were over! I stayed with it, though, and didn't sit down very much. We worked on iriminage and sumi otoshi. Timing.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Confluence and Blending

We worked with ryokatatetori - grabbing both wrists - kokyunage and some henkawaza tonight.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Katatetori Variations

We worked through some basics, tonight, with our new crop of students (some with experience, some without). We used the tenkan entrance to a katatetori attack into ikkyo, iriminage, kaitennage, nikkyo, sankyo, even gokkyo.

Weight: 301

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Basics and Birthday Rolls

We worked on katatekosadori variations, tonight. I don't know if it was the lack of practice because I was sick or the new BP meds that made me woozy but I had to sit down too often. K.S., visiting nidan, took her birthday rolls with us, tonight.

Weight: 300

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

New Session

We had a full mat tonight with lots of newcomers. We worked on extending ki and some simple techniques based on that. It felt good to be back on the mat.

Weight: 300

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Guest Speaker

I worked late, arrived late, started late. We worked on katatetori kokyunage until 7:30 then sensei introduced a friend that teaches the Alexander Technique. He walked us through the basis of A. T. and some exercises to help us feel it. It's hard to describe but it was interesting. Very compatible with Aikido, the way I see it.

Weight: 304