Last weekend, I was given a pair of sneakers, some sort of Nike, black with red symbols. They're flat underneath, with no heel to speak of, and I was itching to try them out, see if they were good to run in. Today I did...
I'm fairly happy with the way my iaido is going, I've been able to train that thing that feels the most important to me right now, which is zanshin, awareness, and fighting spirit. The technical matters are as they are, I need a lighter sword to become quicker, and there's little to change this close to the National Championships, but I've felt really disconnected, going through the motions. I need some more space than I am sometimes given, need to be able to go inside myself and find what I need to bring out.
I happened to be the one to lead both Monday's and Wednesday's training, which actually was quite beneficial as I could then change them to suit my needs. And, consequently, train the kata I needed, and leave the participants to theirs for a few moments now and then, doing my own thing. One needs a little time without supervision, to figure things out properly, or so I have found. They said they appreciated it, anyway.
Because our trainer in Kali Sikaran was at the Mandirigma Boot Camp in the Phillippines this week, Tuesday saw, well, me, sort of leading the training. But I've had training in suddenly having to do that before - iaido, anyone? I simply gauged the participants, figured one can always, always use a return to the basics, and off we went. It was very cooperational. It became a little more troublesome when more people showed up - at first it was me and the Two Brothers, then a guy who's had to be away for most of last and this term dropped in, and lastly a young woman, freshly committed to Kali Sikaran. So our skill levels were... uneven. But it worked out all right! After a creative and fun warmup, I took the two less experienced through some basics in double baston (double stick), showing them then some simple applications of that without weapons, the young guy joined the Brothers in kicking, punching and takedowns, and me and the young woman (whose name I cannot for the life of me remember, much less spell - I'll get there eventually, I'm just not very good with names) continued with some really basic defense against a straight punch, and later, a left jab, right cross, left hook (a hit that comes slightly from the outside-side of your head), and the "revenge" part of simply ducking underneath the hook, slamming one fist into the stomach of the attacker and then, once past them, slam your hand into their face just to push them away and make them flinch. She caught on really well!
We ended it with a nice and exhausting piece of workout, that certainly let me know I have some nice back muscles these days...
I was very happy to see on Thursday that Theo, the guy holding the Open Training on Saturdays, guest-starred as the trainer. We went through the oh so important basics of double baston; how to hold, how to hit, how to hit the very spot you need to hit - and that, dear readers, is something one needs to work on. There is a technique to it, as there is to everything, and by the end we'd started weaving it all together into a nice whole. We turned to empty-handed applications after that, which were very enlightening! There are so many good defences, and it is very nice to learn them, one after another, until they are completely internalised. However, with only one and a half hour, we didn't really get through all of his planned program, so, yesterday's Open Training included some repetition. And oh, was it good. I enjoyed it thoroughly!
Those two hours might have been some kind of favourite in a long time. Five enthusiastic participants, one enthusiastic trainer, a lot of good new advice and knowledge, some positively humiliating takedowns, some really good tricks... it was great. My shoulders, and my throat muscles, are sore already (it usually takes a little more than just one day for them to start whining about having been used), despite the precautions I took! I love it, of course.
I had a friend along (let's call him Jax), who's trained karate, kick-boxing and other things, and is a devil at kicking, whether it be standing on the ground or flying through the air. He's dedicated to climbing now, and thus has excellent shoulder and core muscles - gratifying to work with, as there is less danger of hurting him. I've seldom had such a fun and excellent partner to work with for two hours straight. We could help eachother, and thank the powers that be for that! My kicks are absolute rubbish, even if I have the strength, but they are his forte. On the other hand, he's not too used to going in close, whether with attack or defence, but I've become quite familiar with that. So, a lot of fun was had! And I love "fighting" with my friends. Seldom do you see their true nature as then, and seldom can you behave like a young, overenergetic fox pup and still get out of it with a smile, a few bruises and no hard feelings.
It was rounded off with a few minutes of sparring, which was absolutely brilliant. Knife fighting, and finally me and Jax had the chance I've sort of been itching for for years! First round I won decisively, sneaking in under his arm and cutting him across his torso. Second round was quite even, and a lot of fun. No one really won, but no one really lost.
So we're both kind of hoping this'll be a recurring event! We had an after-training cup of tea/coffee, which is always great. When it was time to part, most of my mad energy (that always turns up after training) had begun to dissipate, and even though I was determined at first to take a little run when I got home, I eventually just dove into bed and slept for about ten hours. Not straight, I woke up now and then, but, more or less.
It might have something to do with being social, being out amongst people for two days in a row (had to get some art supplies on Friday and therefore had to brave the crowds), and training with great enthusiasm for two hours...
Today, the sun was out from early morning, and I felt the familiar itch in my whole body. I needed to run...
The problem was, I'm a bit hesitant to get out twice in a day (social anxiety and all that), and I did need groceries. I also did not want to waste time. Of course, I eventually wound up getting my trousers on, my new jogging shoes, put in a pair of in-soles that, to my great relief, works perfectly, pulled on my long-sleeved training shirt and grabbed my rucksack and went out. I took a detour, of course, running on the fields behind the house, and only a small distance on asphalt. Bought what I needed, stowed it in the bag, and took a longer detour back, on my favourite gravel and dust road. I ran a wee bit longer than strictly needed to get back home, but, turned as soon as I started feeling fatigue in my legs. I need to be careful, as I've said, now that I'm starting up this running thing again!
The first run in the "new" shoes turned out quite fine. They don't sit as snugly around the foot as I am used to, and their opening is wider than usual for me too. However, I can get used to that. It was nice that they were completely flat, and they gave me a little dampening but not the Mega Über New Technology sort that I really, really can do without... just enough that I can run on unpaved roads. So my running outfit is now complete: long-sleeved Nike training shirt that looks as new from a theatre sale, (probably fake) Adidas used trousers bought from an eBay-spinoff (not really worth the money, but that's auctions for you, and it's all made up by the other parts costing next to nothing) and used shoes. Not a new item in sight, except underwear and socks. I like it that way. Why ditch something that's perfectly useful? I wouldn't use the shoes if they'd been well-walked in, I'm aware of the danger in that, but, they aren't, so, I use them. Carefully, of course, but they do work.
My body is responding well, the shoulder is still painful but seems to like the varied training it is getting these days, and I had a long, admiring look at the lovely muscles on my legs the other day. Really, do take that time to look at yourself and admire all those bodyparts that are so strong, so gorgeous, that carry you through everyday life, trainings and pastimes! Not only are they gorgeous in themselves, but they are strong, and healthy, because you use them!
Yah, spring is here, training's looking up, my goal is now set to be at least a small run every day (ten to fifteen minutes will be quite all right for most days, though Fridays and Sundays might see me run longer) before next winter, and the National Championships is in two weeks time...
How are you doing, readers? Any new goals? Any new equipment to be fond of?
Sunday, 28 April 2013
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
A little on fighting spirit
Again, a late post, and again, with good reason. The weekend was spent away from my little burrow, until very late in the night of Sunday to Monday.
Last Monday, and the one this week, I held the training in iaido, and chose to focus on the ZNKR Seitei gata, that is, the twelve kata that are sort of international and common ground for the majority of iaidoka in the world. The Swedish National Championships are coming up and though I can't be bothered worrying about more than taking at least one flag (it's possible to have zero, one, two or three in a match, as there are a maximum of three in one match), or fighting for a medal in the sandan (third dan) class, I am going to fight for the Fighting Spirit award. That, to me, means more than any medal - a medal means "merely" technical superiority, a good show, a good match... but the Fighting Spirit award, well, that means one beat everyone else, in one's class or the whole competition, depending on how many they hand out. And that one has a good grasp of the technique, and that what is most important, which are, maai, mind of iai and, well, fighting spirit, is something that one has to a greater extent than anything else.
I realised that it means this to me when I won it two years ago.
Nevertheless... I must be proficient in the technicalities of the Seitei Gata, and so I chose to focus on three last week, and three other kata this week. It is good to see the other participants become better during one lesson! Very rewarding, for me and hopefully also for them.
Wednesday saw our sister club in Linköping send three participants to a very rewarding koryu practice, where, although our sensei focused on helping them, I still found useful new knowledge.
Tuesday and Thursday saw Kali practice with different foci. Yet, in that martial art, since everything is linked in different ways, the more time I spend on it, the more it is like a big, multi-layered jigsaw-puzzle coming together. With or without weapons, the movements are similar, for all the right reasons. I'm happy to say that despite heavy use of arms and shoulders, my muscle soreness wasn't too bad!
I've been looking around for a pair of running shoes, so as not to ruin my rather nice pair of sandals. A friend gave me an old pair of fairly battered sneakers (some kind of Nike ones) which I am aching to go out and try. I'm planning on having my first run in them on Friday - I want to step up my training regime to have a run every other day at least, but I know I need to be a little careful, my knee have been acting up as well as my shoulder, and with new shoes and after the forced winter hiatus on running... It pays to be careful.
Am also possibly going to look into the idea of "chi running" or whatever the name was... sounded fairly similar to barefoot style running, but some kind of a variant. I spoke with a friend you see, and, I'll get back to you on that matter...
Regarding what I wrote about earlier, the fighting spirit thing - it is important to have the right mindset, whatever one is training. It will be far less efficient if one is merely slugging on, going through the motions, no matter what one is training! To me, going to the gym is akin to torture. Boring, drab, uninspiring. I have tried using a mindset of "but it will benefit my iaido!" but that has not worked. In martial arts, I can directly link action to result, I know that what I do is useful, or, in the case of iaido, damn cool because I'm waving a flippin' katana around (to speak loosely and rather carelessly here). There's something about martial arts that not only gives my body exercise, but also my mind. Straightens it out, helps me focus. I can see a direct use of what I do.
And with martial arts, well, they are martial, aren't they? Fighting is in their nature, self-defence or what ever you wish to call it. In iaido it is ever so important to have that fighting spirit, not showing it by facial expressions, but by exuding it. You have no (physical) opponent. Yet it must be clearly seen that you are fighting an opponent. You must act at all times as if you were a warrior, not a fighter, and a warrior at ease with their skill and awareness. Zanshin! And when there is violence, you give it your all, without losing focus, poise, control or awareness. Perfect focus. Perfection.
The idea of a Fighting Spirit award is immensely satisfying to me. All too often, that part of iaido falls by the wayside. Mind is important! Mind is even more important than body! With the right mindset, your life will be right. And with the help of said mindset, I walk the streets more safely, I train Kali Sikaran with greater focus and reward, and I live my everyday life a better way.
...I got a bit philosophical there.
So, how do you find that a mindset can affect training? Do you have good examples, bad examples, examples from ordinary gymming, from martial arts? Tell me, I am curious!
Last Monday, and the one this week, I held the training in iaido, and chose to focus on the ZNKR Seitei gata, that is, the twelve kata that are sort of international and common ground for the majority of iaidoka in the world. The Swedish National Championships are coming up and though I can't be bothered worrying about more than taking at least one flag (it's possible to have zero, one, two or three in a match, as there are a maximum of three in one match), or fighting for a medal in the sandan (third dan) class, I am going to fight for the Fighting Spirit award. That, to me, means more than any medal - a medal means "merely" technical superiority, a good show, a good match... but the Fighting Spirit award, well, that means one beat everyone else, in one's class or the whole competition, depending on how many they hand out. And that one has a good grasp of the technique, and that what is most important, which are, maai, mind of iai and, well, fighting spirit, is something that one has to a greater extent than anything else.
I realised that it means this to me when I won it two years ago.
Nevertheless... I must be proficient in the technicalities of the Seitei Gata, and so I chose to focus on three last week, and three other kata this week. It is good to see the other participants become better during one lesson! Very rewarding, for me and hopefully also for them.
Wednesday saw our sister club in Linköping send three participants to a very rewarding koryu practice, where, although our sensei focused on helping them, I still found useful new knowledge.
Tuesday and Thursday saw Kali practice with different foci. Yet, in that martial art, since everything is linked in different ways, the more time I spend on it, the more it is like a big, multi-layered jigsaw-puzzle coming together. With or without weapons, the movements are similar, for all the right reasons. I'm happy to say that despite heavy use of arms and shoulders, my muscle soreness wasn't too bad!
I've been looking around for a pair of running shoes, so as not to ruin my rather nice pair of sandals. A friend gave me an old pair of fairly battered sneakers (some kind of Nike ones) which I am aching to go out and try. I'm planning on having my first run in them on Friday - I want to step up my training regime to have a run every other day at least, but I know I need to be a little careful, my knee have been acting up as well as my shoulder, and with new shoes and after the forced winter hiatus on running... It pays to be careful.
Am also possibly going to look into the idea of "chi running" or whatever the name was... sounded fairly similar to barefoot style running, but some kind of a variant. I spoke with a friend you see, and, I'll get back to you on that matter...
Regarding what I wrote about earlier, the fighting spirit thing - it is important to have the right mindset, whatever one is training. It will be far less efficient if one is merely slugging on, going through the motions, no matter what one is training! To me, going to the gym is akin to torture. Boring, drab, uninspiring. I have tried using a mindset of "but it will benefit my iaido!" but that has not worked. In martial arts, I can directly link action to result, I know that what I do is useful, or, in the case of iaido, damn cool because I'm waving a flippin' katana around (to speak loosely and rather carelessly here). There's something about martial arts that not only gives my body exercise, but also my mind. Straightens it out, helps me focus. I can see a direct use of what I do.
And with martial arts, well, they are martial, aren't they? Fighting is in their nature, self-defence or what ever you wish to call it. In iaido it is ever so important to have that fighting spirit, not showing it by facial expressions, but by exuding it. You have no (physical) opponent. Yet it must be clearly seen that you are fighting an opponent. You must act at all times as if you were a warrior, not a fighter, and a warrior at ease with their skill and awareness. Zanshin! And when there is violence, you give it your all, without losing focus, poise, control or awareness. Perfect focus. Perfection.
The idea of a Fighting Spirit award is immensely satisfying to me. All too often, that part of iaido falls by the wayside. Mind is important! Mind is even more important than body! With the right mindset, your life will be right. And with the help of said mindset, I walk the streets more safely, I train Kali Sikaran with greater focus and reward, and I live my everyday life a better way.
...I got a bit philosophical there.
So, how do you find that a mindset can affect training? Do you have good examples, bad examples, examples from ordinary gymming, from martial arts? Tell me, I am curious!
Monday, 15 April 2013
Snow and its benefits for my legs
Oh, but I do not feel in the right form at all for the national Iaido Championships in a month's time! My ticket may be booked but I feel as if I've just been going through the motions for so long now... as if there's no fighting spirit in my iaido at all. My body responds, my shoulder aches, but even that is nothing new... It is good, being able to help others, but this is for me one of those flat parts of a learning curve. Still! It will be lovely good fun to see all the others again. I hope. As long as I can take a breather in a quiet secluded spot somewhere, now and then.
I did go through the ZNKR Seitei gata on Wednesday though, and that was just as well. I haven't done so in quite a while. There's not much about them I like, but I need to be able to perform them well, and I daresay I have got a bit smoother action going on in some of them at least. I got a lovely bit of muscle soreness from Monday's practice, too, so that felt kind of good; I did something right, I guess.
Kali Sikaran saw me find out once again that something must be awry with my blood pressure. I'm a bit worried. Father is having is pacemaker "restarted" soon, so it does run in the family, and I don't like at all that I can keep up a good pace, and then, if I stop... suddenly, I go all weak and light-headed and feel faint. It is especially prominent when boxing or something similar. I figured it must be the breathing, so I made sure I breathed correctly.
It wasn't.
I feel very weak and insufficient. It gets me down when my body does not do as I order it to.
But, for all that, I am happy I went to all the four evenings of practice, and my body seemed to like it. I still can't get anything near visible "abs", my body may have them but they don't show, but that's all right... I look hot enough if I look in the mirror anyway.
I feel I need to work more on stretching - I am trying, but it seems so futile. Maybe fifteen minutes of stretching will do me just as much good as fifteen minutes of practice a day?
I also checked the time it takes to get to and from public transport, and I've found that there's not much difference in what route I take, or whether I catch the bus or not, at least not time-wise. So I might just walk a bit more often than I already do, though the road is fairly uninspiring.
Lastly, I missed Saturday's practice, because I was busy walking, striding, gliding and running around in a forest still miserably full of melting April snow. Now, I love snow. I do NOT love melting April snow that underneath it has branches and twigs, so that, when you step into what would, if the snow wasn't MELTING, perhaps have you sink a few decimetres in but now sees you bury your foot up to the knee or even the thigh, and get to what ought to have been the bottom, your foot just goes through that blasted layer of twigs so that you in fact sink up to your waist.... well...
Anyway. I was away larping, and because of the character, I did not huff, puff, bend or take easy shortcuts body-movement-wise. I strode, straight backed and certain, wherever I walked. Didn't matter if a pile of snow had me slipping down a slope, I was straight-backed, slightly smiling and perfectly balanced anyway. Ice was like a welcoming, red-carpet type of ground, as if made to carry me where I wished without slipping. Snow was merely something that bent to my will and flowed around me. Only at the very end... But those two single times, I ran, and ran, and ran, not being able in any way to care about what the snow hid or how deep it was, and even when once or twice I fell, it didn't stop the momentum forwards at all. I just kept on. It felt incredibly good, to feel the body working, and to be able to just bull rush forwards, not caring one bit. Part larp magic, part muscles is what took me through that.
...and today, I woke up with somewhat sore and stiff legs! In a good way, of course. So, it was a good workout too! Five hours of being straight-backed told me I need to think about my posture in everyday life, too! It all inspired me to find new ways of training that might reach certain muscles that can add to the strength of others that I use in my martial arts!
No questions this week - just a profound hope you've hade a good week and are looking forward to the next week as much as I am - at least when it comes to training!
I did go through the ZNKR Seitei gata on Wednesday though, and that was just as well. I haven't done so in quite a while. There's not much about them I like, but I need to be able to perform them well, and I daresay I have got a bit smoother action going on in some of them at least. I got a lovely bit of muscle soreness from Monday's practice, too, so that felt kind of good; I did something right, I guess.
Kali Sikaran saw me find out once again that something must be awry with my blood pressure. I'm a bit worried. Father is having is pacemaker "restarted" soon, so it does run in the family, and I don't like at all that I can keep up a good pace, and then, if I stop... suddenly, I go all weak and light-headed and feel faint. It is especially prominent when boxing or something similar. I figured it must be the breathing, so I made sure I breathed correctly.
It wasn't.
I feel very weak and insufficient. It gets me down when my body does not do as I order it to.
But, for all that, I am happy I went to all the four evenings of practice, and my body seemed to like it. I still can't get anything near visible "abs", my body may have them but they don't show, but that's all right... I look hot enough if I look in the mirror anyway.
I feel I need to work more on stretching - I am trying, but it seems so futile. Maybe fifteen minutes of stretching will do me just as much good as fifteen minutes of practice a day?
I also checked the time it takes to get to and from public transport, and I've found that there's not much difference in what route I take, or whether I catch the bus or not, at least not time-wise. So I might just walk a bit more often than I already do, though the road is fairly uninspiring.
Lastly, I missed Saturday's practice, because I was busy walking, striding, gliding and running around in a forest still miserably full of melting April snow. Now, I love snow. I do NOT love melting April snow that underneath it has branches and twigs, so that, when you step into what would, if the snow wasn't MELTING, perhaps have you sink a few decimetres in but now sees you bury your foot up to the knee or even the thigh, and get to what ought to have been the bottom, your foot just goes through that blasted layer of twigs so that you in fact sink up to your waist.... well...
Anyway. I was away larping, and because of the character, I did not huff, puff, bend or take easy shortcuts body-movement-wise. I strode, straight backed and certain, wherever I walked. Didn't matter if a pile of snow had me slipping down a slope, I was straight-backed, slightly smiling and perfectly balanced anyway. Ice was like a welcoming, red-carpet type of ground, as if made to carry me where I wished without slipping. Snow was merely something that bent to my will and flowed around me. Only at the very end... But those two single times, I ran, and ran, and ran, not being able in any way to care about what the snow hid or how deep it was, and even when once or twice I fell, it didn't stop the momentum forwards at all. I just kept on. It felt incredibly good, to feel the body working, and to be able to just bull rush forwards, not caring one bit. Part larp magic, part muscles is what took me through that.
...and today, I woke up with somewhat sore and stiff legs! In a good way, of course. So, it was a good workout too! Five hours of being straight-backed told me I need to think about my posture in everyday life, too! It all inspired me to find new ways of training that might reach certain muscles that can add to the strength of others that I use in my martial arts!
No questions this week - just a profound hope you've hade a good week and are looking forward to the next week as much as I am - at least when it comes to training!
Monday, 8 April 2013
Finding new muscles to be sore in
Ah, late again! But for a good reason, of course; I had one hand-in and one home exam/test, both of which were due yesternight, the one between Sunday and Monday.
I had a surprising amount of muscle soreness after my little forest jaunt, or then again, perhaps not so surprising. I forewent any more training that week, apart from the everyday things like chosing the stairs instead of the elevators and suchlike. My cough has finally eased up, and now only breaks out occasionally, once or perhaps twice a day. I was absolutely delighted to prepare my smoothie (made, this time, with two oranges, one apple, a lot of frozen berries, some pumpkin seens and a few hazel nuts and almonds, and two coffee measurements of proteine powder) and set off towards sparring practice on Saturday.
There were only me and the Fighting Furies, plus the trainer, which is a pity because hot damn it's gorgeous, lovely fun! I ended up partnering the trainer, Theo, most of the time, which I don't mind even though I always steel myself - I know how good he is, and how hard he hits.
We took a good look at kicking and hitting, and, again, this is something I really appreciate with these Saturday sessions. Theo knows the importance of going into the most basic of basics, and to build from there. He is good at showing, too, with his body how it is supposed to move. I daresay I finally got some idea of how to properly execute a hook, and uppercut!
Now, one would think that, as an iaidoka, I would have all the leg muscles I need, even after a two-week enforced rest. As my thighs, bum and other leg muscles all attested to when I woke up on Sunday... I do not. Executing a proper kick is tricky. Again, I am happy that I've been doing martial arts for so long, and that my "mitorigeiko", that is, learning by looking/watching, is fairly good these days. Getting the body to do it is another matter, but, hey...
I've had a lot of trouble with kicking, or rather, using my muscles correctly, keeping my stance and not get unbalanced. Now, however, I've felt what it's supposed to feel like, and know what I must strive for.
And that is important, in every physical thing one does - know what it's supposed to feel like, and look like, so that one can strive for it.
"Opening" the hips is a bit of a dodgy description, but it really is the best. Suddenly, I had balance! And lifting the leg correctly, rather than doing a dance-like swipe, as well as doing the quick kick rather than let it hang in the air... aye, it felt a lot better afterwards. Going back to basics is never wrong, no matter how advanced you are.
We donned gloves and did one of Theo's trademark "learn to move your legs, damnit"-exercises, which are always, always useful. Switching around partners was good here, because one of the FF, who is damn fierce and hits like a sledgehammer, nevertheless needs to move her feet a bit more, and when Theo, after explaining patiently, eventually actually puts you through some rather intense practice whether you think you're ready or not, you have to move your feet. ...and it feels a lot better avoiding his punches than standing there, taking them...
The ensuing easy sparring that followed was very enlightening. Distance, closing the distance, moving here and there, ducking, the "oh shit"-block, allowing your opponent to do their stuff, coming up with combinations... very enlightening indeed. It is worth going out of one's comfort zone, always, stop thinking and, well, as they say, "It is essential to let go of the mind". I think it is Mencius saying that. If you let go of the mind, it will be in all directions. If you put your mind in your hands, in one strike in "I must block", it will get stuck there, and you will be undone. (Yes, I have read "The Unfettered Mind" quite a few times and yes, I can almost quote it verbatim by now... still good, though).
We finished with using heavy sticks, and hitting hard. For longsword practice, we call it "tip control", but it is always the same, no matter if you call it "pulling your punches" or "stopping" or whatever. Hit with full force, but keep control so that you can stop within a centimetre from actually connecting.
It was, again, enlightening, to use heavier sticks and hit with full force. It does help, even when you're defending, because you really get something to defend against. And still your partner retains control, so that if you would be too weak, you'd still not get all blooded up.
I do have a bit of an advantage when it comes to parts of single-stick training, but I must always apply myself fully to what we are supposed to do. Single stick and katana are not the same, even if similar!
I write about Saturday's practice in detail because it was, as I've said, enlightening, and very rewarding. I may have felt very weak (two weeks, I say, two weeks of a stupid cold!), but I came there in good spirits, and left in even better. Even when it's tricky and hard, it encourages me to try even harder. And to have such an emotional state in relation to your physical exercises is important! It makes it all the better. Of course, you can't have it all the time, but to know that you have it sometimes, or at least feel it sometimes, is a very good spur to keep on, to not stop, and even to keep upping your own game.
I want them muscles, and I want them skillz, as they say.
This week, I wonder a little about what you do after training? When you're full of energy, endorphines and cheer, exhausted or not, mind clear or full of new things, what's your favourite after-training activity?
See you all next week, until then, good luck with your training!
I had a surprising amount of muscle soreness after my little forest jaunt, or then again, perhaps not so surprising. I forewent any more training that week, apart from the everyday things like chosing the stairs instead of the elevators and suchlike. My cough has finally eased up, and now only breaks out occasionally, once or perhaps twice a day. I was absolutely delighted to prepare my smoothie (made, this time, with two oranges, one apple, a lot of frozen berries, some pumpkin seens and a few hazel nuts and almonds, and two coffee measurements of proteine powder) and set off towards sparring practice on Saturday.
There were only me and the Fighting Furies, plus the trainer, which is a pity because hot damn it's gorgeous, lovely fun! I ended up partnering the trainer, Theo, most of the time, which I don't mind even though I always steel myself - I know how good he is, and how hard he hits.
We took a good look at kicking and hitting, and, again, this is something I really appreciate with these Saturday sessions. Theo knows the importance of going into the most basic of basics, and to build from there. He is good at showing, too, with his body how it is supposed to move. I daresay I finally got some idea of how to properly execute a hook, and uppercut!
Now, one would think that, as an iaidoka, I would have all the leg muscles I need, even after a two-week enforced rest. As my thighs, bum and other leg muscles all attested to when I woke up on Sunday... I do not. Executing a proper kick is tricky. Again, I am happy that I've been doing martial arts for so long, and that my "mitorigeiko", that is, learning by looking/watching, is fairly good these days. Getting the body to do it is another matter, but, hey...
I've had a lot of trouble with kicking, or rather, using my muscles correctly, keeping my stance and not get unbalanced. Now, however, I've felt what it's supposed to feel like, and know what I must strive for.
And that is important, in every physical thing one does - know what it's supposed to feel like, and look like, so that one can strive for it.
"Opening" the hips is a bit of a dodgy description, but it really is the best. Suddenly, I had balance! And lifting the leg correctly, rather than doing a dance-like swipe, as well as doing the quick kick rather than let it hang in the air... aye, it felt a lot better afterwards. Going back to basics is never wrong, no matter how advanced you are.
We donned gloves and did one of Theo's trademark "learn to move your legs, damnit"-exercises, which are always, always useful. Switching around partners was good here, because one of the FF, who is damn fierce and hits like a sledgehammer, nevertheless needs to move her feet a bit more, and when Theo, after explaining patiently, eventually actually puts you through some rather intense practice whether you think you're ready or not, you have to move your feet. ...and it feels a lot better avoiding his punches than standing there, taking them...
The ensuing easy sparring that followed was very enlightening. Distance, closing the distance, moving here and there, ducking, the "oh shit"-block, allowing your opponent to do their stuff, coming up with combinations... very enlightening indeed. It is worth going out of one's comfort zone, always, stop thinking and, well, as they say, "It is essential to let go of the mind". I think it is Mencius saying that. If you let go of the mind, it will be in all directions. If you put your mind in your hands, in one strike in "I must block", it will get stuck there, and you will be undone. (Yes, I have read "The Unfettered Mind" quite a few times and yes, I can almost quote it verbatim by now... still good, though).
We finished with using heavy sticks, and hitting hard. For longsword practice, we call it "tip control", but it is always the same, no matter if you call it "pulling your punches" or "stopping" or whatever. Hit with full force, but keep control so that you can stop within a centimetre from actually connecting.
It was, again, enlightening, to use heavier sticks and hit with full force. It does help, even when you're defending, because you really get something to defend against. And still your partner retains control, so that if you would be too weak, you'd still not get all blooded up.
I do have a bit of an advantage when it comes to parts of single-stick training, but I must always apply myself fully to what we are supposed to do. Single stick and katana are not the same, even if similar!
I write about Saturday's practice in detail because it was, as I've said, enlightening, and very rewarding. I may have felt very weak (two weeks, I say, two weeks of a stupid cold!), but I came there in good spirits, and left in even better. Even when it's tricky and hard, it encourages me to try even harder. And to have such an emotional state in relation to your physical exercises is important! It makes it all the better. Of course, you can't have it all the time, but to know that you have it sometimes, or at least feel it sometimes, is a very good spur to keep on, to not stop, and even to keep upping your own game.
I want them muscles, and I want them skillz, as they say.
This week, I wonder a little about what you do after training? When you're full of energy, endorphines and cheer, exhausted or not, mind clear or full of new things, what's your favourite after-training activity?
See you all next week, until then, good luck with your training!
Monday, 1 April 2013
First run of the year
There was no post last Saturday, and that was because I did, indeed, not get well. I had a whiff of fever coming and going, the throat soreness wandered into the lungs and became a rasping cough, my nose blocked up.... and so on. So there was no practice, no physical exertion out of the ordinary, for over a week. I was going crazy and my body, as usual, reacted. It started feeling creaky and painful in some joints, and I had to do a sort of gentle massaging of my lower arms and hands, to prevent it from feeling as if ants were living inside them. That can happen otherwise, too, but it definitely turns up after over three days without some kind of exercise.
So I had to take it easy. Until today, when I had a go at some easy core strengthening exercises, some stretching, some easy kicking and a quick run of no more than ten minutes. It was the first time I could run since winter came, so I took it easy on purpose - quite apart from the fact that I am still coughing. It felt incredible, to be able to move, stretch, use my muscles and... to run. Oh, what a feeling of freedom! On with the sandals and out I went into the bleak late-winter's light, up into the forest and onto paths well travelled. Snow lay in patches, the ground was often waterlogged, and at times rather muddy. I loved every step of it. But I reined myself in - it wouldn't do to go too hard, and take myself out of commission again!
I would have gone to iaido practice instead, had I been where I usually am. But I am not, and so I did something else instead. The same will have to go for most of this week, I'm afraid, but, there you go. At least I can do something, and not just sit still any more! And, I was recommended an Aloe Vera lotion, for muscle pains and other, and to my enormous joy and surprise it kicked the buttocks off the pain in my shoulder! So, I am going to get one for myself, and then let's see if we can't overcome that shoulder injury once and for all!
Now, I'm wondering, some people stay strictly to their training regime, while others take a break during, say, holidays. Have you taken a break during the Easter holiday?
See you in about a week or so, during which I hope we will all be able to enjoy training!
So I had to take it easy. Until today, when I had a go at some easy core strengthening exercises, some stretching, some easy kicking and a quick run of no more than ten minutes. It was the first time I could run since winter came, so I took it easy on purpose - quite apart from the fact that I am still coughing. It felt incredible, to be able to move, stretch, use my muscles and... to run. Oh, what a feeling of freedom! On with the sandals and out I went into the bleak late-winter's light, up into the forest and onto paths well travelled. Snow lay in patches, the ground was often waterlogged, and at times rather muddy. I loved every step of it. But I reined myself in - it wouldn't do to go too hard, and take myself out of commission again!
I would have gone to iaido practice instead, had I been where I usually am. But I am not, and so I did something else instead. The same will have to go for most of this week, I'm afraid, but, there you go. At least I can do something, and not just sit still any more! And, I was recommended an Aloe Vera lotion, for muscle pains and other, and to my enormous joy and surprise it kicked the buttocks off the pain in my shoulder! So, I am going to get one for myself, and then let's see if we can't overcome that shoulder injury once and for all!
Now, I'm wondering, some people stay strictly to their training regime, while others take a break during, say, holidays. Have you taken a break during the Easter holiday?
See you in about a week or so, during which I hope we will all be able to enjoy training!
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