3/27/10
Class was great today! I didn’t cough at all, so I must be better.
We went over our forms, low block, high block, front kick and the self defense maneuver for the white belt level. She also talked a bit about the “philosophy” that we are to learn for the next belt. While we were reviewing our form, she pointed out that one reason to practice forms is to put all the moves together in a natural progression.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Aikido Training
3/22/10
I ordered my gi (training uniform) a couple of days ago. I was delighted that it was $35. It is much heavier than the dobok and the jacket opens like a robe. So, I am forced to wear some kind of tank top under it. I am already predicting that when the weather heats up, so will I. It doesn’t help that I already have hot flashes (thanks to perimenopause).
3/24/10
Today was the first Aikido class. The first thing that was very striking about this particular martial art is the extreme formality. To begin the class we are taught a bowing ceremony. After that, we are informed that we bow to the instructor, our classmates before working on our training, our classmates after switching techniques, our instructor after every instruction and then a bowing ceremony at the end of the class and then another exit ceremony where we bow to the instructor and (I assume) the top two people in the class. It made the first class pretty confusing.
We learned some footwork, wrist stretching exercises and the beginnings to one move. It was difficult learning the complicated moves. I can see that after practicing the moves, they will be effective. So, my advice for anyone wanting to get into Aikido; make sure to practice!
I ordered my gi (training uniform) a couple of days ago. I was delighted that it was $35. It is much heavier than the dobok and the jacket opens like a robe. So, I am forced to wear some kind of tank top under it. I am already predicting that when the weather heats up, so will I. It doesn’t help that I already have hot flashes (thanks to perimenopause).
3/24/10
Today was the first Aikido class. The first thing that was very striking about this particular martial art is the extreme formality. To begin the class we are taught a bowing ceremony. After that, we are informed that we bow to the instructor, our classmates before working on our training, our classmates after switching techniques, our instructor after every instruction and then a bowing ceremony at the end of the class and then another exit ceremony where we bow to the instructor and (I assume) the top two people in the class. It made the first class pretty confusing.
We learned some footwork, wrist stretching exercises and the beginnings to one move. It was difficult learning the complicated moves. I can see that after practicing the moves, they will be effective. So, my advice for anyone wanting to get into Aikido; make sure to practice!
Taekwondo Training
3/6/10
We have not had class the past two weeks due to illness and other life events. Here we are missing class and wanting to learn more. So, what do we do with our time? We practice all the moves that we are not so sure about. I made sure to practice the form and the kicks. I know the more I practice the more balance I will get. I would like to get to the point where I don’t feel like I am going to fall over every time I learn a new kick.
At this point in my training, I still feel like the moves are pretty foreign. I am also having trouble wrapping my brain around the principle of pushing your attacker away from you. I want to get close and control my opponent, not push them away. Taekwondo works from the goal of getting your opponent away from you so that you can run away or something else. I am not sure, at this point, what that other thing is.
If you are the kind of person who is uncomfortable with the thought of touching your opponent, then Taekwondo will probably be a great choice.
3/13/10
This class was great! We worked on all the things we have learned so far. We also learned the round kick, a kick that I really like. This kick is going into my “favorite moves” file. I should make a page with my favorite moves… hmm.
Master Sue talked about the forms and I found out that I was doing one of the moves wrong. So, when I practice my form I have to remember to do one of the turns differently.
I just looked back through the Taekwondo entries and noticed that I have not really explained what forms are. Many of the martial arts have some kind of form. It is actually like a dance that you rehearse over and over again until you can demonstrate it to the instructor. There are many reasons to learn forms; discipline, improving muscle memory, improving follow through and lastly to bond with your martial art. I will be writing an article on this for the site and filming the forms that we are required to learn in our trainings. So, make sure to check the site and watch for these.
We have not had class the past two weeks due to illness and other life events. Here we are missing class and wanting to learn more. So, what do we do with our time? We practice all the moves that we are not so sure about. I made sure to practice the form and the kicks. I know the more I practice the more balance I will get. I would like to get to the point where I don’t feel like I am going to fall over every time I learn a new kick.
At this point in my training, I still feel like the moves are pretty foreign. I am also having trouble wrapping my brain around the principle of pushing your attacker away from you. I want to get close and control my opponent, not push them away. Taekwondo works from the goal of getting your opponent away from you so that you can run away or something else. I am not sure, at this point, what that other thing is.
If you are the kind of person who is uncomfortable with the thought of touching your opponent, then Taekwondo will probably be a great choice.
3/13/10
This class was great! We worked on all the things we have learned so far. We also learned the round kick, a kick that I really like. This kick is going into my “favorite moves” file. I should make a page with my favorite moves… hmm.
Master Sue talked about the forms and I found out that I was doing one of the moves wrong. So, when I practice my form I have to remember to do one of the turns differently.
I just looked back through the Taekwondo entries and noticed that I have not really explained what forms are. Many of the martial arts have some kind of form. It is actually like a dance that you rehearse over and over again until you can demonstrate it to the instructor. There are many reasons to learn forms; discipline, improving muscle memory, improving follow through and lastly to bond with your martial art. I will be writing an article on this for the site and filming the forms that we are required to learn in our trainings. So, make sure to check the site and watch for these.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Aikido Training
Aikido training starts next week. It will be interesting to see the differences in styles and in training methods. I am looking forward to working with the instructor. I am probably going to say that about all of the instructors.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Taekwondo Training
2/27/10
No class this week. It wasn’t a bad thing since it gave me a chance to practice what I had learned last week.
A funny thing happened in class last week. She was showing us a sparring form. I kept getting too close to the other person and making it difficult to deliver that kick we were working on. When I got in close, I wanted to do a leg sweep, flip or hold on the other person and had to really think about the kicks that we were supposed to be practicing. I guess that this was my first “muddy moment.”
Many of the instructors that I have talked to asked if it was going to be difficult to learn so many forms in such a short time. While we are learning and practicing, it isn’t difficult to keep them separated. I guess when it comes time to spar, it might get a bit more muddy. It will be interesting to see how it develops.
No class this week. It wasn’t a bad thing since it gave me a chance to practice what I had learned last week.
A funny thing happened in class last week. She was showing us a sparring form. I kept getting too close to the other person and making it difficult to deliver that kick we were working on. When I got in close, I wanted to do a leg sweep, flip or hold on the other person and had to really think about the kicks that we were supposed to be practicing. I guess that this was my first “muddy moment.”
Many of the instructors that I have talked to asked if it was going to be difficult to learn so many forms in such a short time. While we are learning and practicing, it isn’t difficult to keep them separated. I guess when it comes time to spar, it might get a bit more muddy. It will be interesting to see how it develops.
Taekwondo Training
2/20/10
This week we learned the side kick and worked on a form. She also talked a little bit about the various stances in TKD (front stance, back stance and horse stance). She also introduced a sparring combination (angled step, front kick, front kick, punch, punch). There was a lot happening in the class today and I do not remember it all very well.
She invited another student to join the class, so we could not film much today. She was also trying to teach the other student (two belts above me) other things for her belt. It made the class a little confusing.
This week we learned the side kick and worked on a form. She also talked a little bit about the various stances in TKD (front stance, back stance and horse stance). She also introduced a sparring combination (angled step, front kick, front kick, punch, punch). There was a lot happening in the class today and I do not remember it all very well.
She invited another student to join the class, so we could not film much today. She was also trying to teach the other student (two belts above me) other things for her belt. It made the class a little confusing.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Aikido Training
This week we found an Aikido instructor. The classes will start in March. I think Aikido will be challenging for me because many of the moves are very complicated. Once I learn the moves, it will be great! Getting there is going to be a lot of practice.
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