Class was good last night. Rough because I'm out of practice, but good. We started off working our way through the kata. Hanshi had us make a sqare around the dojo facing inward so that we had to really focus on what we were doing while at the same time being totally aware of what was going on around us. Between each kata, we'd have to switch sides of the square - nobody faced the same direction 2 kata in a row. I did fairly well until we got up to Heian Godan - that one totally escaped my brain. I had to look it up after class before I remembered it was the one with the jump in it. Fortunately, we stopped before Kanku Dai. I'm only confident about the first 1/3 or so of the moves in that one yet.
The last half of class was devoted to bunkai for Tekki Shodan. Very neat stuff.
Hanshi told me last night that he wants me ready to test in August. Um...that's next month. Yeah. I'm terrified. Time to get majorly serious. Maybe this was just the kick in the gi pants I needed.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
I must be out of my mind
8:30 P.M.
Monday, July 16, 2007
The Living Room
Sensei-Hubby: "Wanna go for a walk? Maybe jog a little?"
Why, oh why didn't I see it coming? I put my hair up in a ponytail, pulled on some jogging pants, give myself a few minutes to stretch and warm up, and we head out the door.
And we walk.
And we walk.
And we walk some more.
We walk for AN HOUR!
Monday, July 16, 2007
The Living Room
Sensei-Hubby: "Wanna go for a walk? Maybe jog a little?"
Why, oh why didn't I see it coming? I put my hair up in a ponytail, pulled on some jogging pants, give myself a few minutes to stretch and warm up, and we head out the door.
And we walk.
And we walk.
And we walk some more.
We walk for AN HOUR!
The crazy thing about it? It wasn't that bad...and I'm actually thinking we could make a habit of it.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
I'm still here
I had some minor health-related issues and some major laziness-related issues keeping me from karate lately, but I went back to class last night. I'm very much out of shape, but I'll get there again.
You may have noticed (or you may not have, it's not a huge thing) that I removed my healthy blogger pledge from my sidebar. The reason? I haven't been doing the pushups. We're talking maybe twice since getting back from vacation in May. So there's no sense in advertising something that I'm not delivering.
You may have noticed (or you may not have, it's not a huge thing) that I removed my healthy blogger pledge from my sidebar. The reason? I haven't been doing the pushups. We're talking maybe twice since getting back from vacation in May. So there's no sense in advertising something that I'm not delivering.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
different learning styles
Any Introductory Education textbook will tell you that not everyone learns the same way. Some people are auditory learners - all you have to do is TELL them how something is supposed to be and they've got it. Other people are tactile learners - these are the "learn by DOING" folks. Visual learners need to SEE the message you are trying to convey - these are the people who need to show ever single miniscule step in a math problem in order to get to the right answer. You can explain something until you are blue in the face, but if the person you are teaching is not an auditory learner, you're just wasting your breath.
I say all this to say that it is important for teachers (no matter what you teach) to include teaching methods that will touch base with all types of learners. Otherwise, you are going to end up leaving some very frustrated students behind.
I'm very much a visual learner. That's not to say I can't learn anything at all from someone explaining a technique. I can intellectually understand the concept (as long as you communicate your concept clearly). But until I actually SEE it in action, I don't completely understand. And after that, I become a tactile learner - repetition is my best friend. But if I never SEE it in the first place, there's very little chance that what I'm DOING is actually right.
I feel incredibly incompetent after drills that I never catch on to because I can't see how I'm supposed to get where I'm supposed to be. And it's not the humble "there's always someone better out there" mindset of a good student. It's the "a first kyu should not be this big of a bumbling baffoon" mindset that only compounds the losing momentum issue.
But I will not be defeated. I am going to practice this new thing until I have it down. Even if we never do that drill in class again, I WILL be able to do it. I'm tired of not finishing things.
I say all this to say that it is important for teachers (no matter what you teach) to include teaching methods that will touch base with all types of learners. Otherwise, you are going to end up leaving some very frustrated students behind.
I'm very much a visual learner. That's not to say I can't learn anything at all from someone explaining a technique. I can intellectually understand the concept (as long as you communicate your concept clearly). But until I actually SEE it in action, I don't completely understand. And after that, I become a tactile learner - repetition is my best friend. But if I never SEE it in the first place, there's very little chance that what I'm DOING is actually right.
I feel incredibly incompetent after drills that I never catch on to because I can't see how I'm supposed to get where I'm supposed to be. And it's not the humble "there's always someone better out there" mindset of a good student. It's the "a first kyu should not be this big of a bumbling baffoon" mindset that only compounds the losing momentum issue.
But I will not be defeated. I am going to practice this new thing until I have it down. Even if we never do that drill in class again, I WILL be able to do it. I'm tired of not finishing things.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
losing momentum
It seems the closer I get to shodan testing, the less motivated I become. I really don't understand that at all; I should be more motivated with each passing day. I have to force myself to make it to class at least once a week. What is my deal?
It's not that I'm losing interest - believe me, I'm not. I think I'm just in a bit of a slump. I've been especially lethargic since the weather turned so hot and humid.
The thing is, I know it isn't just the weather. Karate isn't exactly the only endeavor I've ever lost momentum on in my life. I really should have predicted this all along. I'm a great "starter" - I just tend to not finish a lot of the things I start. I get distracted easily.
So I find myself in need of advice. Anybody else ever get like this? How do you keep yourself from losing steam? How do you snap yourself out of a slump?
It's not that I'm losing interest - believe me, I'm not. I think I'm just in a bit of a slump. I've been especially lethargic since the weather turned so hot and humid.
The thing is, I know it isn't just the weather. Karate isn't exactly the only endeavor I've ever lost momentum on in my life. I really should have predicted this all along. I'm a great "starter" - I just tend to not finish a lot of the things I start. I get distracted easily.
So I find myself in need of advice. Anybody else ever get like this? How do you keep yourself from losing steam? How do you snap yourself out of a slump?
Sunday, June 03, 2007
coming clean
It's time to 'fess up. I haven't done a single pushup outside of class since we went on vacation. Until this morning. I just did 50 pushups (which covers comments posted in that time period and then some) and 20 crunches as added penance. Not all in one stream of motion, mind you. It went something like this:
20 pushups, catch my breath,
20 crunches, catch my breath,
15 pushups, lie face down on the floor begging for death,
10 pushups, lie face down on the floor berating myself for insisting on so many after going so long without doing any,
5 pushups, lie flat until the cat climbs on my chest to check for a pulse.
I'm going to do better. No more putting it off. From now on, pushups are a part of my morning routine - get up, check in to see how many I owe, pump 'em out, hit the shower.
* * *
In other news, Becky tagged me for the restaurant meme, but I already did this one on my other blog, so I'll just link to that. As far as tagging is concerned, if you have not done this meme and you want to, consider yourself tagged. There.
* * *
20 pushups, catch my breath,
20 crunches, catch my breath,
15 pushups, lie face down on the floor begging for death,
10 pushups, lie face down on the floor berating myself for insisting on so many after going so long without doing any,
5 pushups, lie flat until the cat climbs on my chest to check for a pulse.
I'm going to do better. No more putting it off. From now on, pushups are a part of my morning routine - get up, check in to see how many I owe, pump 'em out, hit the shower.
* * *
In other news, Becky tagged me for the restaurant meme, but I already did this one on my other blog, so I'll just link to that. As far as tagging is concerned, if you have not done this meme and you want to, consider yourself tagged. There.
* * *
Monday, May 14, 2007
Interview Meme
This meme has been circulating the internet for a while now. Here are the rules if you'd like to play:
1. Leave me a comment saying "Interview Me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the questions and answers.
4. You will include this explanation and offer to interview readers in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
Here are the questions Black Belt Mama asked of me:
1. What's the most important thing you've learned while taking karate?
I think the most important thing I've learned from karate is that I can do it. I am no longer the clumsy bookish 5 year old standing on the sidelines in the gym looking down at my feet and praying that I'm not picked for a team. Now I'm the slightly less clumsy bookish 26 year old standing on the front row in the dojo focusing straight ahead feeling confident that I can handle whatever this class has to offer me. It's a very empowering realization.
2. What's it like being married to your teacher?
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Honestly, I think it's great. Sometimes it's tough - there are times when I have to demonstrate an amazing amount of self-control because whatever he has said or done in class would have elicited a sarcastic comment or slap on the arm if it had happened at home. But he's also a great asset to my practice. If I get lost in a kata at home I don't have to look it up or wait until the next class; I can just ask him to run it with me. If I have a really hard day at work and feel the need to pummel something, I can ask him to take me to the dojo for a private sparring lesson (much better than snapping at work and beating one of the kids - not that I would ever actually do that...fantasize, sure, but never actually act on it). And if I start to get frustrated in class because I'm just not catching on to whatever technique we're working, he's right there to keep me calm, reminding me that we can always work on it later.
3. What's the most difficult kata you've had to learn?
I'm currently learning Kanku Dai, and I can honestly say it's the hardest one to date. Simply because of the sheer number of techniques and length and the fact that it's really just a culmination of all the other katas - a piece of this one and a section of that one. It's really easy to get lost. The jump kick is kicking my butt, too.
4. What's one thing in karate that you wish you could do better immediately?
Having that jump kick in Kanku Dai down would be sweet. But my gut reaction to this question is sparring. I just don't think fast enough on my feet to adapt to my opponent. I overthink the situation. I telegraph moves because I think about it too hard. I really wish it was a more natural thing for me than it is.
5. How many kids do you want to have?
In high school I used to tell people that I wanted to be barefoot and pregnant for the rest of my child-bearing days. I have a brother and a sister myself, but they were so much older than me that I practically grew up as an only child. And while I had a very active imagination to compensate for the lack of playmates, I wanted (and still want) my kids to have siblings closer to their age. Working in childcare, I'm not quite in the same mindset as I was in high school. There are days when I am not sure I want any kids of my own anymore. But I remind myself that my kids won't be like those kids (right? Dear God in Heaven, PLEASE tell me I'm right!). Right now I'd say anywhere from 2 to 4, depending on our ability to provide for them. My desire to be able to be a stay-at-home mom will probably keep us on the lower end of that range, but that's ok by me.
1. Leave me a comment saying "Interview Me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the questions and answers.
4. You will include this explanation and offer to interview readers in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
Here are the questions Black Belt Mama asked of me:
1. What's the most important thing you've learned while taking karate?
I think the most important thing I've learned from karate is that I can do it. I am no longer the clumsy bookish 5 year old standing on the sidelines in the gym looking down at my feet and praying that I'm not picked for a team. Now I'm the slightly less clumsy bookish 26 year old standing on the front row in the dojo focusing straight ahead feeling confident that I can handle whatever this class has to offer me. It's a very empowering realization.
2. What's it like being married to your teacher?
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Honestly, I think it's great. Sometimes it's tough - there are times when I have to demonstrate an amazing amount of self-control because whatever he has said or done in class would have elicited a sarcastic comment or slap on the arm if it had happened at home. But he's also a great asset to my practice. If I get lost in a kata at home I don't have to look it up or wait until the next class; I can just ask him to run it with me. If I have a really hard day at work and feel the need to pummel something, I can ask him to take me to the dojo for a private sparring lesson (much better than snapping at work and beating one of the kids - not that I would ever actually do that...fantasize, sure, but never actually act on it). And if I start to get frustrated in class because I'm just not catching on to whatever technique we're working, he's right there to keep me calm, reminding me that we can always work on it later.
3. What's the most difficult kata you've had to learn?
I'm currently learning Kanku Dai, and I can honestly say it's the hardest one to date. Simply because of the sheer number of techniques and length and the fact that it's really just a culmination of all the other katas - a piece of this one and a section of that one. It's really easy to get lost. The jump kick is kicking my butt, too.
4. What's one thing in karate that you wish you could do better immediately?
Having that jump kick in Kanku Dai down would be sweet. But my gut reaction to this question is sparring. I just don't think fast enough on my feet to adapt to my opponent. I overthink the situation. I telegraph moves because I think about it too hard. I really wish it was a more natural thing for me than it is.
5. How many kids do you want to have?
In high school I used to tell people that I wanted to be barefoot and pregnant for the rest of my child-bearing days. I have a brother and a sister myself, but they were so much older than me that I practically grew up as an only child. And while I had a very active imagination to compensate for the lack of playmates, I wanted (and still want) my kids to have siblings closer to their age. Working in childcare, I'm not quite in the same mindset as I was in high school. There are days when I am not sure I want any kids of my own anymore. But I remind myself that my kids won't be like those kids (right? Dear God in Heaven, PLEASE tell me I'm right!). Right now I'd say anywhere from 2 to 4, depending on our ability to provide for them. My desire to be able to be a stay-at-home mom will probably keep us on the lower end of that range, but that's ok by me.
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