Journey to a new style...

[Wing Woo Gar]

Oh wow...did not even know that Flat Earther crap.

See what I mean? Who cares what that guy has done his whole life. Forget him. He's dead weight today, November 2 2023.

Joe Rogan? Jury is out. My metric is Brad Pitt in World War Z. .

Movimiento es vida.

You want a good apocalyptic read? Try Earth Abides. Very good. Starts out in the Trinity Alps Wilderness which is where I am actually headed in 14 hours. My best friend and training brother has an off grid solar/hydro cabin on 220 acres of wild and scenic forest lands on one of the only wild undammed rivers in California. Nearest privately owned land is 6 miles as a crow flies. Going to swim the river at midnight in the rain. It’s Rivendell in real life.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

Oh wow...did not even know that Flat Earther crap.

See what I mean? Who cares what that guy has done his whole life. Forget him. He's dead weight today, November 2 2023.

Joe Rogan? Jury is out. My metric is Brad Pitt in World War Z. .

Movimiento es vida.

You gotta be pretty dumb or just really liking the Kool aid to buy that flat earth er stuff. I explain it like this, ok well we have this thing called math…

 

[_Simon_]

Gasshuku/karate camp this weekend! Very excited, through another group that teach the same style as us, should be exhausting and amazing, 9:30am-4:30pm on both days. Have already arrived at my accommodation, can't wait!

 

[Gyakuto]

Gasshuku/karate camp this weekend! Very excited, through another group that teach the same style as us, should be exhausting and amazing, 9:30am-4:30pm on both days. Have already arrived at my accommodation, can't wait!

Really go for it, _Simon_

 

[_Simon_]

Gasshuku finished!! A wonderful weekend with incredibly friendly and welcoming people each sharing a wealth of knowledge. Met some kindred spirits, and such a variety of people with different backgrounds and experience. Learned heaps!

Lots of fundamentals training, movement drills, structure/alignment focus, even zen walking, power generation, kata and application, and sparring. At least 11 hours of training over the weekend, so veeery sore, tired and shins full of bruises haha (I enjoy kicking alot in sparring so bound to happen haha). Sad that the purpose built space and dojo will be sold soon but honoured to have shared in its last camp.

 

[Gyakuto]

Gasshuku finished!! A wonderful weekend with incredibly friendly and welcoming people each sharing a wealth of knowledge. Met some kindred spirits, and such a variety of people with different backgrounds and experience. Learned heaps!

Lots of fundamentals training, movement drills, structure/alignment focus, even zen walking, power generation, kata and application, and sparring. At least 11 hours of training over the weekend, so veeery sore, tired and shins full of bruises haha (I enjoy kicking alot in sparring so bound to happen haha). Sad that the purpose built space and dojo will be sold soon but honoured to have shared in its last camp.

Sounds like an amazing weekend.

 

[_Simon_]

Been awhile!! Training's going great, finding very much that the level of learning and growth is proportional to the depth and the quality of your inquiry into what you're doing. Asking quality questions of yourself tends to provoke an inquiry, trajectory and deeper study. It's very fascinating, it feels like traditional martial arts is very much a methodology in training and honing your awareness and attention... and the longer you train (with this mindset of honing where your attention is placed and asking quality questions), you notice more, and can gain more control and intimacy of and with the body's movements. You feel more. You no longer overlook things, and can see the obvious more clearly. Like following a thread of curiosity...

Anyway! Preparing for my Shodan grading in 10 weeks time, involves an essay too which I love that idea. Starting to ramp up physical conditioning.. ran up the nearby mountains to the very peak (okay... ran 80% up, my lungs were about to burst at times!), did Sepai kata at the very peak in such a still atmosphere... then ran down. Onwards we travel...

 

[Gyakuto]

Been awhile!! Training's going great, finding very much that the level of learning and growth is proportional to the depth and the quality of your inquiry into what you're doing. Asking quality questions of yourself tends to provoke an inquiry, trajectory and deeper study. It's very fascinating, it feels like traditional martial arts is very much a methodology in training and honing your awareness and attention... and the longer you train (with this mindset of honing where your attention is placed and asking quality questions), you notice more, and can gain more control and intimacy of and with the body's movements. You feel more. You no longer overlook things, and can see the obvious more clearly. Like following a thread of curiosity...

Anyway! Preparing for my Shodan grading in 10 weeks time, involves an essay too which I love that idea. Starting to ramp up physical conditioning.. ran up the nearby mountains to the very peak (okay... ran 80% up, my lungs were about to burst at times!), did Sepai kata at the very peak in such a still atmosphere... then ran down. Onwards we travel...

Oh I thought you’d already earned your shodan, _Simon_?

What’s your essay topic? I think it’s a great idea too, since gaining solid knowledge of the art is part of the apprenticeship. I have a dear friend who used to exclusively use English terminology in teaching his Japanese art suggesting that ‘we’re not Japanese’ (but really because he can’t pronounce the words). I told him this attitude may stunt the future development of his students as they moved on and being a sage man, he did his best to use the Japanese terminology…although I do cringe when I hear him and his students say ‘Koh-roo’ rather than ‘koryu’ and ‘ook-granash’ rather than ‘uke nagashi’!

Our Dan grading questions are very basic requests for definitions of terminology…information that can easily found online. They simply rotate the same questions each year.

Anyway, best of luck with your continued preparation and subsequent grading success! Qapla’ !

 

[Nachi]

That is awesome, keeping my fingers crossed for you! It sounds like you will be taking your conditioning very seriously. I hope you enjoy

 

[_Simon_]

Oh I thought you’d already earned your shodan, _Simon_?

What’s your essay topic? I think it’s a great idea too, since gaining solid knowledge of the art is part of the apprenticeship. I have a dear friend who used to exclusively use English terminology in teaching his Japanese art suggesting that ‘we’re not Japanese’ (but really because he can’t pronounce the words). I told him this attitude may stunt the future development of his students as they moved on and being a sage man, he did his best to use the Japanese terminology…although I do cringe when I hear him and his students say ‘Koh-roo’ rather than ‘koryu’ and ‘ook-granash’ rather than ‘uke nagashi’!

Our Dan grading questions are very basic requests for definitions of terminology…information that can easily found online. They simply rotate the same questions each year.

Anyway, best of luck with your continued preparation and subsequent grading success! Qapla’ !

Thank you very much! Ahh nice. Nah I'm currently Shodan-ho, remember our ho to sho discussion haha

Essay topic is quite simply the history of Karate, which is good and has a bit of leeway as to what to explore. I prefer more personal essay topics like "What does karate mean to you" or "How has karate impacted your life" etc. But looking forward to it, and I'm determined to not just copy and paste or cheat with AI haha.

 

[_Simon_]

That is awesome, keeping my fingers crossed for you! It sounds like you will be taking your conditioning very seriously. I hope you enjoy

Thanks so much really appreciate it!

 

[Gyakuto]

Thank you very much! Ahh nice. Nah I'm currently Shodan-ho, remember our ho to sho discussion haha

Is that when I suggested you were a ‘ho’?

Essay topic is quite simply the history of Karate, which is good and has a bit of leeway as to what to explore.

That could be quite sticky because of the many versions of it’s history, some more dubious than others.

I prefer more personal essay topics like "What does karate mean to you" or "How has karate impacted your life" etc.

A old Iaido dojo mate of mine practised Kyudo which required grading essays and he told me this story. One question was ‘Why do you practise Kyudo?’ Many well crafted essays were submitted with references made to character building, Zen training, cultivating a societally useful attitude and demeanour etc. Apparently the Japanese teachers who marked the essays were somewhat bewildered by these answers they received because what they meant was ‘Why the hell do you practise [this weird, fringe art of] Kyudo?’

But looking forward to it, and I'm determined to not just copy and paste or cheat with AI haha.

The fact you even said that raises my suspicions

 

[_Simon_]

Is that when I suggested you were a ‘ho’?

Hahaha was something along those lines!

That could be quite sticky because of the many versions of it’s history, some more dubious than others.

YES, very true, so I have no idea what source to follow really. I'm thinking just keeping it veeeery general, China/Okinawa trading, learned martial arts, developed further in Okinawa, Funakoshi popularising in Japan... Chojun Miyagi choosing the name for Goju ryu etc etc.. and padding that out for 100 words haha

A old Iaido dojo mate of mine practised Kyudo which required grading essays and he told me this story. One question was ‘Why do you practise Kyudo?’ Many well crafted essays were submitted with references made to character building, Zen training, cultivating a societally useful attitude and demeanour etc. Apparently the Japanese teachers who marked the essays were somewhat bewildered by these answers they received because what they meant was ‘Why the hell do you practise [this weird, fringe art of] Kyudo?’

Haha love that

The fact you even said that raises my suspicions

Tehehe... nup I'm keepin' clean!

 

[Gyakuto]

Hahaha was something along those lines!

I’m so predictable

YES, very true, so I have no idea what source to follow really. I'm thinking just keeping it veeeery general, China/Okinawa trading, learned martial arts, developed further in Okinawa, Funakoshi popularising in Japan... Chojun Miyagi choosing the name for Goju ryu etc etc.. and padding that out for 100 words haha

It there a text that your school of Goju Ryu uses as a reference? It likely has a history which you could paraphrase appropriately and cite too.

Haha love that

Tehehe... nup I'm keepin' clean!

You’re on our radar, Meester _Simon_

 

[_Simon_]

I’m so predictable

It there a text that your school of Goju Ryu uses as a reference? It likely has a history which you could paraphrase appropriately and cite too.

You’re on our radar, Meester _Simon_

Haha...

Yeah we have a few references and lineage documents etc, I shall consult those, good idea sir!

 

[Simfers]

As we share a first name, at least if your user name is any indication, I feel compelled to root for you.

Reach for those stars, for that brass ring, but remember to enjoy the journey. In the end, the real black belt is the friends you made along the way.

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

Haha...

Yeah we have a few references and lineage documents etc, I shall consult those, good idea sir!

Best Wishes Simon!

 

[_Simon_]

As we share a first name, at least if your user name is any indication, I feel compelled to root for you.

Reach for those stars, for that brass ring, but remember to enjoy the journey. In the end, the real black belt is the friends you made along the way.

Ah fancy that!! Much appreciated mate thank you

 

[_Simon_]

Best Wishes Simon!

Thanks heaps

 

[_Simon_]

Attended a 2 hour sparring seminar on the weekend with a full contact Shorinryu group (who knew??), which their 7th Dan instructor came down from Japan to run. In a word... brutal . Was one of the most challenging and intense seminars I've done in a long time.

It was AWESOME haha. Been awhile since I'd done something like that, but like I've mentioned I'd like to keep my full contact roots by doing the odd fight night and seminar etc. This one focused mainly on kumite combos with kicks: spinning kicks, leg kicks, crescent kicks, disrupting stability and deceptive movement and technique.

Also worked on the concept of soft blocking which was utterly fascinating. I even got called up to be his uke, he wanted me to hit him, as hard as I could, he let a few in then did this incredible soft wave-like redirection with his body, I legit could not hit him and was trying hard to. Couldn't get anything in!

Did free sparring rounds near the end, and after a few rounds the main instructor singled me out and wanted to spar with me. Honestly the first word that came to mind was....... well it'd be blocked out on the forum haha. But readjusted my mindset and was such a great opportunity. He beat the crap out of me but in a good way haha. At one point swept me, but swept both legs at the same time and floored me (and he explained to me why that happened). Learned so much (no I really did!).

My bruises are just lovely haha. So all in all am incredibly proud of myself. Always anxiety-provoking going to a new dojo, new environment, group of people etc let alone a sparring seminar where you don't know the lay of the land, but they were the best and incredibly welcoming to me.