Randori - Seizing Chaos

I'm still alive!

2010-02-14T07:27:00.000-08:00

I haven't given up Aikido but I've started to post, er... tweet my activity on Twitter as ScottMGS with the "#Aikido" hashtag.

Katatetori Tenkan Variations and Birthday Rolls

2008-12-11T23:06:00.000-08:00

We worked from katatetori tenkan tai sabaki tonight based on Sensei's observation of the group during aiki taiso. From katatetori tenkan we did kokyunage, iriminage, shihonage, sumi otoshi and some exotic variations. Then we threw Ed L. for his 43 birthday rolls which is always fun. We ended up with some randori practice for those that are getting ready to test.

I pooped out pretty quickly, tonight. Ugh. Good to be there, though.

Yokomenuchi and Test Prep

2008-12-04T22:30:00.000-08:00

Still faded out before the end of class but did okay. We're prepping several people for tests. Tonight we worked from yokomenuchi tai sabaki. We did yokomenuchi sokomen iriminage, yokomenuchi kotegaeshi, yokomenuchi shihonage, and yokomenuchi iriminage. Sensei also interspersed a couple of randori for the people up for testing and some test practice at the end.

Bokken-Dori

2008-11-13T22:08:00.001-08:00

Well, I lasted a lot longer than I have been even though I missed last Thursday. (I worked late, again. T. and I did go to the victory celebration, though.)

We worked on shomenuchi ikkyo variations leading to shomenuchi bokken-dori - ikkyo, ikkyonage, kokyunage, and sumi otoshi and subtle flavors of those. Fun stuff! I really enjoyed class tonight even though I ran out of steam in a little over an hour. From then on I jumped into a group and tried almost every technique, sometimes only getting to be uke or nage but usually both.

Too Far Out of Shape!

2008-10-30T22:30:00.000-07:00

I missed Sensei's birthday on Tuesday. Ah, well.

I got to class on time tonight and ran myself ragged again. I have lost so much stamina! Aargh!

We worked on ushiro attacks tonight. Ushirodori kokyunage, iriminage, sankyo, jujinage, etc. Good stuff but I spent most of the evening watching everyone else work out. Very frustrating. Going once a week is too much and twice is not enough!

After class we took Sensei to Kiku Ya for sushi for his birthday.

Aikido - Test Prep

2008-10-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

Showed up late and quit early - stomach nausea/pain (stress?).

Started with hanmi handachi practice - nage kneeling, uke standing - with shihonage and sankyo. We then did the same techniques standing up. Next, some multi-uke combinations leading toward randori practice.

Aikido - Small Class Tonight

2008-10-16T23:42:00.000-07:00

I arrived late and faded quickly.

Aikido - Yokomenuchi Shihonage

2008-10-07T21:56:00.001-07:00

Ed was promoted to nikkyu so now he's wearing a brown belt. We started with yokomenuchi shihonage, one of my favorites. We then started working on using udefuri choyaku undo as the taisabaki for shinonage, kokyunage, sankyo and more. I'm so far out of shape that I need to work in a group of three or I get winded during the first round! I ended getting so tired that I got sloppy that my hand slipped on a sankyo ura fall and I pushed my right shoulder a little to far. No major pain but it definitely feels like it was slightly dislocated.

Gym

2008-10-06T21:45:00.000-07:00

Elliptical Trainer: 20 minutes, level 6, Pace from mid- to high-40s, HR in the 130s (started at a slower pace to keep it there.

Aikido - Nikkyu Test

2008-10-02T22:18:00.000-07:00

I'm back... but pooped! Ooof!

E.L. tested for Nikkyu tonight.

Gym - 9/1/2008

2008-10-01T07:15:00.000-07:00

Elliptical Trainer: 20 minutes, level 6, Pace from mid- to low-40s to keep HR under 153

Gym - 9/29/2008

2008-09-29T21:30:00.000-07:00

T, A and I went to the gym this evening.

Lifecycle: 9 minutes, level 4, ~80 RPM

Elliptical Trainer: 11 minutes, level 6, Pace from mid- to high-40s to keep HR under 153

Gym - 9/23/2008 - I'm 50.5 today!!!

2008-09-23T07:01:00.000-07:00

Elliptical Trainer: 20 minutes, level 6, Pace from mid- to low-40s to keep HR under 153

Gym - 9/16/2008

2008-09-16T23:05:00.000-07:00

Went to the gym with T. early this morning.

Elliptical Trainer: 20 minutes, level 6, to keep HR under 153 my pace dropped from the low 50s to mid 40s

Gym - 9/5/08

2008-09-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

Elliptical Trainer: 16 minutes, level 6, to keep HR under 153 my pace dropped from 50 to low 40s

New Eating Plan - Progress Report

2008-08-22T07:33:00.002-07:00

I'm starting my third no-eating day. I start a bit hungry but after a couple hours it's not so bad. The benefits for the eating days is that I'm already breaking the "I want something to eat even though I'm not hungry" habit. I'm down six pounds after two no-eating and two eating days. It's a start - a good one!

Wt: 315

Gym - 08/22/08

2008-08-22T07:33:00.001-07:00

Elliptical Trainer: 16 minutes, level 6, to keep HR under 153 my pace dropped from 50 to high 30s

I stayed too late at work and didn't go to Aikido last night.

Gym - 08/20/08

2008-08-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

Elliptical Trainer: 15 minutes, level 5, to keep HR under 153 my pace dropped from 50 to low 40s

Gym - 08/19/08

2008-08-19T07:08:00.000-07:00

Elliptical Trainer: 14 minutes, level 5, to keep HR under 153 my pace dropped from 50 to low 40s

Aikido - Weapons

2008-08-18T22:57:00.000-07:00

T. and I went to weapons practice this evening. I was hungry from not eating (see prior post) but I did okay. We worked on jo kata one and two and bokken kata one and two.

New Eating Plan

2008-08-18T07:15:00.000-07:00

In addition to restarting my gym workouts, I'm also going to start going to Aikido on Thursdays to begin with. I'm also going to be getting back to controlling what I eat. I will be recording my protein, fat and carb totals and my weight daily. I am also going to try a "intermittent fast" program to see how it works for me. The fasts are about 24 hours long and run from just after my evening meal to the following day's evening meal. My initial plan is to fast from Sunday evening until Monday evening, Tuesday evening until Wednesday evening and Thursday evening until Friday evening. On the day following each fast I'll be eating extra but I plan on still holding a low-carb line. I will adjust as I see how it works for me.

Today is the first fasting day. I've already been to the gym and am feeling a mite peckish. :-)

Gym - 8/18/08

2008-08-18T07:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, starting again. THIS time for sure, Rocky.

Triceps pull-downs: 3x10 @ 75 lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x10 @ 80 lbs
Leg press: 3x15 @ 90 lbs (45 lbs/side) (knees a little crackly but not painful)
Leg press toe raises: 3x15 @ 90 lbs (45 lbs/side)
13 minutes on the Elliptical, level 6, pace in the mid 40s to keep my HR below 153

Gym - 08/08/08

2008-08-08T19:52:00.000-07:00

My legs were better, today. I still had to hold my pace down to keep my heart rate below the 80% level for people my age (153)

15 minutes on the Elliptical, level 6, pace upper 40s rpm, HR 151
Triceps pull-downs: 3x10 @ 80 lbs
10 minutes on the Lifecycle, level 2 to cool down while waiting for A.C. to finish working out

Gym - 8/7/08

2008-08-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

My legs were more tired today than on Monday. I had to hold my pace down to keep my heart rate below the 80% level for people my age (153)

10 minutes on the Elliptical, level 5, pace low 50s down to low 40s rpm, HR 153

Gym - 8/4

2008-08-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

Restarted my membership, today. I've been feeling pretty out-of-it, physically, so I really need to get back with it. A.C. and I started a year ago. I did about 6 months of pretty good attendance and then petered out.

10 minutes on the Elliptical, level 5, pace 52 rpm
Triceps pull-downs: 3x12 @ 50 lbs
Lat bar rows: 3x10 @ 75 lbs

Cut Short!

2008-05-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

I got to class a bit late but started warming up with the rest. A.O. sensei was continuing from Tuesday's class (which I missed), teaching extension, foot-work and movement in katatori kokyunage variations. I had to stop about half-way through class because my stomach got upset. *sigh*

Jo Kata No. 1 and Some Kumi Jo Precursors

2008-05-19T21:15:00.000-07:00

T.G. sensei had us work backwards through the last 13 steps of jo kata number 1 in small steps. First we did steps 19 through 22 then added 16, 17 and 18 followed by 16 through 22. We stepped back that way until we were doing 10 through 22 then we put it all together from 1 to 22. We also worked on some of the initial attacks in the kumi jo.

Yokomenuchi Omote

2008-05-15T22:00:00.000-07:00

After warming up we started with the yokomenuchi omote (I think) tai-sabaki, nage mirroring uke's attack, high atemi and all. From this entrance, we finished with everything from kokyunage (several), kaitenage, katamiwaza (pinning throw), and sankyo. We finished with a round of randori for everyone!

Kokyunage and Iriminage Variations

2008-05-13T23:24:00.000-07:00

We warmed up then started with a "sticky hands" variation to teach us to move and blend and redirect. We followed that with several kokyunage responses, directing uke to one side or another. This lead to several iriminage variations and we ended with another kokyunage.

My gi pants gave up the ghost or, rather, I've given up on them. I hope my new gi pants get here on Thursday! T.D. also clued me in to using clear packaging tape to do the repairs. I might try that, too. Then I'd have a backup pair.

Jo Suburi

2008-05-12T21:50:00.000-07:00

T. and I started going to weapons class, again, this evening. Woo-hoo!

Tanto and Jo Dori

2008-05-08T22:00:00.000-07:00

After warming up, we worked on munetsuki kotegaeshi and alternated taijutsu with tanto dori and jo dori. We had a lot of fun. I really like working with weapons. My knees and right shoulder took a bit of a beating with the ukemi but nothing major or debilitating.

Katatetori Variations

2008-05-06T22:12:00.000-07:00

After warming up, we worked on responses to katatori. First was a reversing kokyunage followed by three sokomen iriminage variations; entering in front, entering behind, and stepping under uke's arm with a tenkan turn. Next, we did the same entry into kokyunage followed by kaitenage. Then from the same under-arm entry we did kokyunage without turning which means uke has to swing around nage into a roll along with a variation where nage kneels at the throw.

Great class, tonight! Lots of variety and I had enough energy to make it through class without sitting out.

Birthday Rolls for S.J.

2008-05-01T23:09:00.000-07:00

After warming up we picked up where we left off Tuesday. Tai no henko means - I think - the first body movement in response to an attack. We worked on a tenkan response to katatetori leading to shihonage, iriminage, and kokyunage. Those were fairly involved techniques but we also did some quick kotegaeshi, sumi otoshi and shihonage. We finished with S.J.'s birthday rolls and several rounds of Randori. I only sat out part of two techniques and only then after practicing for quite a while on each.

Full House

2008-04-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

The dojo was packed tonight. We have a new bunch of students which is always great. We did a lot of stretching and warming up which I really need since I missed last Thursday's class. We worked on ryotetori attacks starting off with a tenchinage response and then henkawaza - changing - into kaitenage. Fun stuff (as usual).

Basic Blending

2008-04-22T23:08:00.000-07:00

Tonight, after warming up, we worked on some basic blending skills. We started with a katatetori tenkan turn then used that as the opening for kokyunage. The we went to katateryotetori sokokmen iriminage and then to katateryotetori kokyunage.

Quick Munetsuki Variations

2008-04-17T22:20:00.000-07:00

I arrived late so I missed out on the warm-ups. We worked on techniques straight from the munetsuki taisabaki: kotegaeshi, one that was kinda between kotegaeshi (with one hand) and kokyunage, kaitenage, and a couple weight-underside kokyunage throws from the forearm and one from the shoulder, and sokomen iriminage.

Gym 4/15

2008-04-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

20 minutes on the Elliptical, level 5, heart rate: 145, pace 58 rpm

Food Free Day

2008-04-14T23:00:00.000-07:00

I ate nothing all day. I only drank water and tea (no additives).

Gym 4/12

2008-04-12T16:00:00.000-07:00

A.C. and I went to the gym for cardio.

20 minutes on the Elliptical, level 5, heart rate: 160, pace 60 rpm

More Kihon Waza

2008-04-10T23:46:00.000-07:00

More of the basics, tonight. We worked on katatori taisabaki to begin with and then moved on to katatori nikkyo and ikkyo (with some variations), and iriminage.

Kihon Waza - The Basic Techniques

2008-04-08T22:00:00.000-07:00

This was the first night of the new session. We had a large class and half a dozen were new people. Sensei took us through the less strenuous - but still necessary - warm-ups and emphasized being relaxed and breathing. He was also teaching, by example, the more advanced students how to teach. There are now three parent/child pairs in our class including T. and me. S'all good.

Aikido - Sensei's Back!

2008-04-03T21:30:00.000-07:00

Sensei was sick on Tuesday, not counter-fooling us! I thought that A.O. sensei, being a young energetic guy, really lead us in a high-energy, exhausting, exhilarating class on Tuesday. This evening, Sensei led us in a moderate-energy class that was even more exhausting and exhilarating! We started with yokoukemi - side fall - practice and then moved to katatecosadori and munetsuki attacks doing short and quick as well as traditional responses - largely iriminage.

Tiring class - lots of hard side-falls but I like those, even if they are a bit hard on my shins and knees (because I'm still working out the kinks).

April Fools - All of Us!

2008-04-01T22:00:00.000-07:00

Sensei got us all, today, for April Fools day. We were going to trick him by all showing up early and paying on time. He fooled us by not showing up! A.O. sensei led the class in his usual, high-energy style. We worked on lots of basics but with variations for some who are testing for higher kyu ranks - lots of variations - on katatetori, munetsuki, shomenuchi, and yokomenuchi. We ended with a quick round of randori for everyone. Tiring but good. I think I only sat out one technique.

Birthday Rolls, Part 2

2008-03-27T23:00:00.000-07:00

California rolls, that is! T. and I arrived just in time for class after spending the day in Anaheim with my cousin and his family. Tonight, Ginny Whitelaw Sensei taught. She spent the first hour showing us the way to Move to Greatness and the second hour showing how Aikido informed her thinking about movement. It was a good class.

After class, we took Whitelaw Sensei out for sushi. Sensei also said it was for my 50th birthday.

Birthday Rolls!!!

2008-03-25T22:58:00.000-07:00

We worked on some quick variations on basic techniques, tonight: Katatori kokyunage, yokomenuchi kokyunage, yokomenuchi iriminage, munetsuki iriminage. We also worked on some tantodori techniques like munetsuki katamewaza and munetsuki sumi otoshi. We also did my birthday rolls. I turned 50 on Sunday so I did 50 rolls with the rest of the class throwing me! I was so tired at the beginning of class I didn't think I would make it but doing it charged me up enough to get through. T. also came to class tonight so she could throw me, too. She might start coming once a week which would be cool.

Gym 3/22

2008-03-22T17:47:00.000-07:00

20 minutes on the Elliptical, Avg heart rate: 151

Aikido - Basics

2008-03-20T21:28:00.000-07:00

After warming up (which nearly wore me down, I've been away so much!) we worked on munetsuki variations (kotegaeshi, ikkyo, nikkyo, sumi otoshi), shomenuchi variations (kotegaeshi, ikkyo), yokomenuchi sokomen iriminage, ryotetori kaitenage, and ryotetori sankyo. I had to sit out a bit toward the end.

Aikido - Kosadori Variations

2008-03-06T22:37:00.000-08:00

After warming up we worked on katate kosadori responding with variations of kokyunage and shihonage. I made it all the way through class, tonight, but I was getting pretty ragged at the end. Afterward, we went to Kikuya to celebrate M.R.'s shodan.

Weight: 296

Aikido - Shodan!

2008-03-04T23:00:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of class Sensei promoted M.R. to shodan following his test on Saturday. Sensei then gave him "professional hakama lesson".

My back didn't hurt too much and I was able to make it all the way through class. We worked on katatetori techniques with ryotetori tenchinage thrown in there.

Weight: 298

Aikido - More Seminar!

2008-03-01T20:42:00.000-08:00

My back started seizing up again a few minutes into the first technique. I went through a couple techniques but, finally, had to bow to reality (if only my back would let me bow!). I took a bunch of pictures of the class and the tests. Very inspiring! Great tests. M.R.'s test went well. Actually, they all did.

Aikido - Seminar, First Night

2008-02-29T23:17:00.000-08:00

We started class by mixing it up running around and avoiding people to warm up. Aikitaiso followed and some rolling. I got dizzy and out of breath. I got up for one technique and sat out the rest of the evening. Drag! I watched the test at the end and I was impressed.

Aikido - Shodan and Seminar Prep

2008-02-28T22:59:00.000-08:00

Still prepping M.R. for his shodan test on Saturday. After warming up, we worked on yokomenuchi iriminage variations. We ended with several rounds of randori (I got to do one and participate in one) and M.'s final pre-test.

Weight: 298

Aikido - B.N. Birthday Rolls!

2008-02-26T21:53:00.000-08:00

Oy! My first class this month and third in a month and a half! I'm back, though, and feeling good.

After stretching and warming up, Sensei worked on seventh kyu test requirements for several of our newer students and two guys from his school Aikido class. We also threw B.N. for his birthday rolls. I got dizzy and tired quite a few times but I felt positive all the way through. It was great!

This coming weekend we are hosting a seminar at Jiai Aikido. So it's going to be a busy week of Aikido after jumping back in.

Wt: 298

Doctor's Appointment

2008-02-26T10:30:00.000-08:00

I had a doctor's appointment, today. It was the fastest I've ever been served - I never even sat down in the waiting room. My blood pressure was 113/78! My feet have stopped hurting from plantar fasciitis, too.

I've set up an appointment for a sigmoidoscopy on March 17. While I won't get the whole 17,000 foot experience, I hope it's good enough to get The Certificate.

Gym 2/26

2008-02-26T07:34:00.000-08:00

A month and a half off!!!

StarTrac Elliptical: 20 minutes, cadence high >100 (different machine!), heart rate: 165+

Weight: 300

Aikido - Test Prep

2008-01-31T22:21:00.000-08:00

M.R. is preparing for his shodan test so we worked on bokken dori tonight. We started with hand arts - shomenuchi kokyunage, shomenuchi kotegaeshi and shomenuchi sokomen iriminage - and the did the same with a bokken. Fun stuff! After M.R. did a couple randori I was uke for randori for someone getting ready for rokkyu test.

Birthday Rolls for P.H.!

2008-01-22T23:28:00.000-08:00

We worked on katatetori kokyunage uchi, tonight. Nage sweeps uke's grabbing hand outward and steps and turns next to uke under his arm. Slide forward and extend arm to throw. There's usually an atemi while stepping under. We did several variations including starting with a tenkan leading to the uchi move and one where nage doesn't turn but takes another step so uke must step around and roll the other direction. Fun stuff! We also did one where instead of sweeping the hand out we pushed it across leading into sokomen iriminage.

Weight: 309

Gym 1/14

2008-01-14T18:55:00.000-08:00

Lifecycle: 15 minutes, level 5, 90 RPM, HR 153 - my right knee was tightening up so I dropped from level 6 to level 5 after two minutes

Gym 1/13

2008-01-13T10:21:00.000-08:00

Lifefitness Elliptical: 20 minutes, level 6, cadence mid-50s, HR mid-160s

Weight: 305

Aikido - Munetsuki Variations

2008-01-08T22:00:00.000-08:00

After warming up Sensei gave P.F. his yonkyu test. He did it early in the night so his son could participate in the test. After that Sensei ran us through munetsuki sokomen iriminage with and without tenkan, munetsuki kokyunage, munetsuki iriminage - the short, direct, downward version and the omote chin thrust versions.

Health

2008-01-08T06:54:00.001-08:00

Weight: 310 - Hmm... this fasting stuff works!

Health

2008-01-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

I am fasting, today. I'll see how far I can get...

Update: I made it all the way through with only water, iced tea (plain) and my vitamins and meds.

Gym 1/7

2008-01-07T06:48:00.000-08:00

StarTrac Elliptical: 20 minutes, level 6, cadence high ~100 (different machine!), heart rate: 154, avg 148
Triceps pull-downs: 1x15 @ 90 lbs
Lat bar rows: 1x13 @ 75 lbs

Weight: 315

Gym 1/05

2008-01-05T17:00:00.000-08:00

Lifefitness Elliptical: 14 minutes, level 5, (11 minutes in high 50s, 1 minute in the high 60s (sprint), 2 minutes cooling down) heart rate: 154

Gym - 1/04

2008-01-04T19:00:00.000-08:00

Lifefitness Elliptical: 12 minutes, level 5, (9 minutes in high 50s, 1 minute in the high 60s (sprint), 2 minutes cooling down) heart rate: 154

Misc.

2008-01-04T07:59:00.001-08:00

Weight: 314 - some of that water weight is dropping off.

Aikido - Sankyu!

2008-01-03T22:00:00.000-08:00

Sensei promoted me to sankyu tonight after my test on December 22nd. Woo-hoo! Tonight, however, I was completely out of breath the whole night though, somehow, I didn't end up sitting out much. After stretching and warming up did some ukemi practice in the form of ryotetori kokyunage. Then we worked on yokomenuchi variations from the different taisabaki. Sensei also put M.R. (testing this year for shodan) and S.W. (testing next week for nidan) and P.H. (testing this year for nidan) through some paces. We all took turns with mini-randori starting on our feet but spending a portion of our time working from our knees.

Weight: 319

Gym - 1/2/2008

2008-01-02T07:30:00.000-08:00

Slowly restarting!

Lifecycle - 10 minutes - 6 minutes on level 6 at high 80s and 4 minutes on level 5 at low 90s

Weight: 320 (didn't take my little water pills regularly in the last two weeks and ate a lot of carby stuff in the last two months)

Aikido - Test Day!

2007-12-22T14:00:00.000-08:00

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!

Aikido – Katatetori Variations and Test Prep

2007-12-20T21:20:00.000-08:00

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.

Aikido - Tantodori and Gokkyo Variations

2007-12-18T22:00:00.000-08:00

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.

Aikido - Katatetori Variations

2007-12-13T21:44:00.000-08:00

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.

Gym 12/11

2007-12-11T08:03:00.000-08:00

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

Gym 12/7

2007-12-07T08:05:00.000-08:00

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

Aikido - J.B.Test

2007-12-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-06T07:26:00.001-08:00

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

Weight: 308

Gym 12/5

2007-12-05T07:05:00.000-08:00

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

Aikido - Ryotetori Variations

2007-12-04T22:00:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

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

Gym 11/30

2007-11-30T09:18:00.000-08:00

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

Aikido - Munetsuki Variations

2007-11-29T23:05:00.000-08:00

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.

Aikido - Rokkyu Test!

2007-11-27T22:15:00.000-08:00

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!

Aikido - Test Prep and Bokken Tai Sabaki

2007-11-24T14:00:00.000-08:00

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.

Aikido - Munetsuki and Test Prep, Part II

2007-11-15T22:00:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-15T07:34:00.000-08:00

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

Weight: 308

Aikido - Munetsuki and Test Prep

2007-11-13T22:25:00.000-08:00

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.

Gym 11/7

2007-11-07T08:16:00.000-08:00

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)

Gym - 11/5

2007-11-05T07:01:00.002-08:00

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

Gym 10/30

2007-10-30T07:33:00.000-07:00

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

Fire Week

2007-10-24T07:30:00.001-07:00

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

Gym 10/19

2007-10-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

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

Aikido - Movement and Ukemi

2007-10-18T21:30:00.000-07:00

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!

Gym 10/17

2007-10-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

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

Weight: 301

Gym - 10/16

2007-10-16T07:13:00.000-07:00

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

Gym 10/15

2007-10-15T07:12:00.000-07:00

Life Fitness Elliptical: 10 minutes!, level 4

Aikido - Katatori Ikkyo

2007-10-11T21:58:00.000-07:00

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.

Gym - 10/10

2007-10-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

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

Aikido - Pretest

2007-10-09T21:30:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-09T07:15:00.000-07:00

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

Gym 10/6

2007-10-06T10:15:00.000-07:00

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