gyoza
Too much eating. Hiroko and I started chopping veggies about 1pm, and by 6pm the apartment was packed; one table was a gyoza-stuffing sweatshop, the other table a gyoza-eating contest worthy of primetime television. Chie made crepes, Tomo brought his famous brownies, Amy played with empty plastic bottles, the iPod fed random tunes through the tv speakers...did I mention the gyoza? Pork and cabbage, chicken and mushroom, shrimp and onion, beef and tomato. And then the playstation 2 fired up so that Ollie and Chiori could shoot vampires. Beer and wine was consumed with wild abandon. Gyoza was made. Gyoza was eaten. Gyoza was put into ziplock bags and shoved into people's pockets; no one escaped empty-handed.
timing is everything
Sekido-san just got his sword back from the polishers and he's selling it. If I'd known this earlier, I would have jumped all over the chance. As it is, he's showing it to Takeda-san this weekend, but if I'm lucky Takeda-san won't like it and I'll have a chance to buy it. It's the same length as my sword, only about 80 grams heavier and 400 years older. I think I'll send my sword out to get cleaned up and sell it, using the money to (hopefully) buy Sekido-san's.
The one he has now and the one he's replacing it with were both Niina-gosoke's personal swords, so there's no doubt as to the quality. If only my timing were a bit better, I would never have bought my modern blade in the first place, and would have bought Sekido-san's sword when Niina-gosoke was first selling it.
In other issues of timing, getting that front foot timed correctly with the sword strike is the big issue of the day. Niina-gosoke ran us through several different kata, illuminating the simple fact that they're all basically the same; sword cuts and foot steps at the same time. If only it were that easy.
The one he has now and the one he's replacing it with were both Niina-gosoke's personal swords, so there's no doubt as to the quality. If only my timing were a bit better, I would never have bought my modern blade in the first place, and would have bought Sekido-san's sword when Niina-gosoke was first selling it.
In other issues of timing, getting that front foot timed correctly with the sword strike is the big issue of the day. Niina-gosoke ran us through several different kata, illuminating the simple fact that they're all basically the same; sword cuts and foot steps at the same time. If only it were that easy.
i am an idiot
So I got home from practice last night and realized I didn't have my uniform, which I usually carry around wrapped up in a cool blue furoshiki (big piece of cloth.) After cursing myself for several minutes, I got back on the mightier steed and drove all the way back to Akihabara. Needless to say, it was nowhere to be found, and the building was already closed.
Drove all the way back home with one eye on the curb, wondering if I had left it on the back of the Mightier Steed, forgetting to put it under the seat after taking my helmet out.
This morning I called the Chiyoda Park Plaza and as a matter of fact, they did have a black uniform wrapped up in a blue furoshiki. It was left sitting next to the elevator on the 4th floor.
I emailed Sekido-san about some homepage additions and casually mentioned that I forgot my uniform, and he replies something to the effect of "Yeah, I saw a furoshiki that looked just like the one you always use, and thought to myself 'That looks just like ren's. Uncanny...'" Thanks for mentioning it, buddy.
Anyway I ended up spending all bloody afternoon driving back and to Akihabara to get my uniform. Where in the hell do all these people come from, driving REALLY BADLY in the middle of the day? And how do they not absolutely kill each other when faced with the tremendous stupidity of their fellow drivers? And lastly, what moron decided to replace all the Ginza traffic lights with brand new, ultra-modern super-bright LED lights and pave the street with some magical gray-painted blacktop that is absolutely wonderful to drive on, but decided NOT to change the traffic light software, so even with the new lights and pavement, all twenty lights change to red at exactly the same time? I'm no fluid mechanics engineer, but that has got to be the least effective way to move traffic down a major artery.
Drove all the way back home with one eye on the curb, wondering if I had left it on the back of the Mightier Steed, forgetting to put it under the seat after taking my helmet out.
This morning I called the Chiyoda Park Plaza and as a matter of fact, they did have a black uniform wrapped up in a blue furoshiki. It was left sitting next to the elevator on the 4th floor.
I emailed Sekido-san about some homepage additions and casually mentioned that I forgot my uniform, and he replies something to the effect of "Yeah, I saw a furoshiki that looked just like the one you always use, and thought to myself 'That looks just like ren's. Uncanny...'" Thanks for mentioning it, buddy.
Anyway I ended up spending all bloody afternoon driving back and to Akihabara to get my uniform. Where in the hell do all these people come from, driving REALLY BADLY in the middle of the day? And how do they not absolutely kill each other when faced with the tremendous stupidity of their fellow drivers? And lastly, what moron decided to replace all the Ginza traffic lights with brand new, ultra-modern super-bright LED lights and pave the street with some magical gray-painted blacktop that is absolutely wonderful to drive on, but decided NOT to change the traffic light software, so even with the new lights and pavement, all twenty lights change to red at exactly the same time? I'm no fluid mechanics engineer, but that has got to be the least effective way to move traffic down a major artery.
things my girlfriend and i have argued about
From Ollie: Things My Girlfriend And I Have Argued About.
Laughing in pain (and understanding).
Laughing in pain (and understanding).
rain
Ah, the cold and wetness of autumn rain. Will was giving me crap for not writing about enough interesting things in my blog, so I was forced to remind him that my life is only interesting in short-lived spurts spaced far apart, and also my mom is an avid reader of G.Y.M. (the main reason I started this blog, actually, was because every now and then I'd get a "You might be dead, but would your mother know, the amount of mail she doesn't get from her youngest son..." kinda mails) so I've got to keep it PG-13 at least. So Will bought me some O.J. and we debated OS merits with Todd for a bit before those two digressed off into geekland; I was never a Commodore 64 dork like them (Atari BASIC thank you very much.)
Other than that, it rained alot today.
Other than that, it rained alot today.
all day
It being the national Holiday Sports Day, we had an all seminar today in Toritsudai. Got there a bit before nine and didn't leave until almost five. Niina-gosoke ran us through the fundamentals and various kata, focusing on the simple but alusive point of timing the front foot with the sword; foot to early and you leave yourself open with your sword above your head. Foot too late and you're only cutting with your arms, not your hips. Suffice to say I am now even more confused than I was before.
happy birthday hiroko!
Hiroko's birthday, so to celebrate I let her sleep in while I went to cutting practice in the morning.
Came by about lunch time and showed her the new iMac and iPod. I will now spend all my waking hours ripping our CDs into the iPod so that we never have to change CDs again. One thing Apple definitely got right: this sucker is so simple to use. OS X is a huge improvement over OS 9, and doesn't even compare to Windows. Take it outta the box, set it up, plug it in, turn it on. It just works.
We spent the afternoon in Ginza. Ostensibly we were these to pick up our repaired shoes from Camui, but ended up swinging through Zara and GAP, doing our part to save the economy by being good consumers.
About 7:30 Kevin and Z came by and we had a fabulous dinner a t Piola. Of course, all dinners at Piola are by definition fabulous. Once the owner found out it was Hiroko's birthday, she gave Hiroko a nice plant and we got free dessert and lots of smiles. Gotta love that place.
Came by about lunch time and showed her the new iMac and iPod. I will now spend all my waking hours ripping our CDs into the iPod so that we never have to change CDs again. One thing Apple definitely got right: this sucker is so simple to use. OS X is a huge improvement over OS 9, and doesn't even compare to Windows. Take it outta the box, set it up, plug it in, turn it on. It just works.
We spent the afternoon in Ginza. Ostensibly we were these to pick up our repaired shoes from Camui, but ended up swinging through Zara and GAP, doing our part to save the economy by being good consumers.
About 7:30 Kevin and Z came by and we had a fabulous dinner a t Piola. Of course, all dinners at Piola are by definition fabulous. Once the owner found out it was Hiroko's birthday, she gave Hiroko a nice plant and we got free dessert and lots of smiles. Gotta love that place.
niina-gosoke
Niina-gosoke is the man. Brutal practice, but that's mostly because I suck so badly.
After practice we went and got sushi and talked about the organization. Ohtsuka-san is now in charge of dealing with new members and those who want to become members, so he bought a Clie in order to check his email all the time. Niina-gosoke bought an eBook, and so did Ohtsuka-san, so Sekido-san has been spending all his time setting up their computers for them.
After practice we went and got sushi and talked about the organization. Ohtsuka-san is now in charge of dealing with new members and those who want to become members, so he bought a Clie in order to check his email all the time. Niina-gosoke bought an eBook, and so did Ohtsuka-san, so Sekido-san has been spending all his time setting up their computers for them.
new schedule
So I'm no longer teaching the Tuesday night student's practice, and as of next week I'll be teaching the regular practice on Thursday in Iidabashi.
So basically I help teach on Monday in Shibuya, have Tuesday off for work-related conference calls, run the warmup and basics on Wednesday, and usually end up teaching any beginners (at least the last extra hour I can practice with everyone else who stays late), Thursday teaching Iidabashi, Friday Niina-gosoke's practice in Shinbashi, Saturday mornings cutting practice in Akabane once a month, and Sunday there's usually a seminar or something a couple times a month in Shinbashi or Toritsudai.
So basically I help teach on Monday in Shibuya, have Tuesday off for work-related conference calls, run the warmup and basics on Wednesday, and usually end up teaching any beginners (at least the last extra hour I can practice with everyone else who stays late), Thursday teaching Iidabashi, Friday Niina-gosoke's practice in Shinbashi, Saturday mornings cutting practice in Akabane once a month, and Sunday there's usually a seminar or something a couple times a month in Shinbashi or Toritsudai.
lily calvert
Jeff & Ericka's little Lily packs some attitude. She got mom's nose and dad's goofy expressions!
You talkin' to me?!
You talkin' to me?!
stealth disco
Who says we geeks don't got the moves? It's all about a video phone and the will to get down:Stealth Disco!
we're all newbies
Helped instruct for the beginner's seminar. We had three young Japanese women in the class -- nice to see young females doing traditional martial arts. And I don't mean that in a sexist way. Truth is there aren't enough young people in Japan interested in the traditions and history of their own country enough to bother with martial arts and other traditional endeavours. And for women, even if they are interested they tend to be lead to tea or calligraphy or flower arranging. So it was cool to see these young chicks swinging swords, and then after class they donned their Sunday styles, which for some reason included bell bottom (sorry I mean 'boot cut') cords and frumpy hats.
miracles part 2
This morning, three (count 'em!) repairmen showed up. One guy fixed the moldy wallpaper, another replaced the old parts on the closet doors, and the third sealed up the cracks in the bathroom.
yatta
The crazy folks at Very Low Sodium made a brilliant animation for the Happatai Yatta song. I can't tell if they understood the Japanese lyrics and purposefuly used slightly-to-totally wrong words and images, or if they just did their best with what it sounds like in English. Probably the latter. Either way it's brilliant in that way the only goofy flash animation can be.
Hundreds of years from now, no matter what happens to Macromedia, it will be known as the company that brought to the web Flash animations, and all the insanity implied therein.
The revolution will be animated.
Hundreds of years from now, no matter what happens to Macromedia, it will be known as the company that brought to the web Flash animations, and all the insanity implied therein.
The revolution will be animated.
hero
Saw Hero with Hiroko and Kev and Z and Z's friend Belinda.
Stupendously good. Visually stunning, along the lines of Croutching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Lots of cool flying-fighting, great slow-motion effects, wonderful music, excellent use of color. Basically impossible for a U.S. studio to make such a movie, and I'm glad that in Tokyo we get a chance to see these types of films, because I know that back in the states it would be tough.
Stupendously good. Visually stunning, along the lines of Croutching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Lots of cool flying-fighting, great slow-motion effects, wonderful music, excellent use of color. Basically impossible for a U.S. studio to make such a movie, and I'm glad that in Tokyo we get a chance to see these types of films, because I know that back in the states it would be tough.
nice try
I love drugstore.com for the simple fact that I need to buy stuff; eyedrops, q-tips, etc. and it's really easy and reasonably priced.
Alas, drugstore.com doesn't ship internationally...but then they partnered with douwantit.com, which allows for international shipping and even billing in native currencies! Oh happy days!
So I filled my shopping cart: listerine, claritin, eyedrops...hit checkout, forwarded to douwantit and..."We're sorry, but some items in your shopping cart are restricted from export to Japan."
And what was restricted? The formerly prescription-only allergy medication Claritin? Nope, the eyedrops. EYEDROPS. Otherwise known as artificial tears, for combatting dry eyes. Basically, really really really clean WATER, in little plastic tubes.
Huh? Oh well, looks like I'll be asking the parentals to send the package to me in Japan. Nice try drugstore.com and douwantit.com. A for effort, F+ for execution.
Alas, drugstore.com doesn't ship internationally...but then they partnered with douwantit.com, which allows for international shipping and even billing in native currencies! Oh happy days!
So I filled my shopping cart: listerine, claritin, eyedrops...hit checkout, forwarded to douwantit and..."We're sorry, but some items in your shopping cart are restricted from export to Japan."
And what was restricted? The formerly prescription-only allergy medication Claritin? Nope, the eyedrops. EYEDROPS. Otherwise known as artificial tears, for combatting dry eyes. Basically, really really really clean WATER, in little plastic tubes.
Huh? Oh well, looks like I'll be asking the parentals to send the package to me in Japan. Nice try drugstore.com and douwantit.com. A for effort, F+ for execution.
stuffy nose
A magical discovery: nose stuffed all day, dripping steadily like a broken faucet. But for the three hours of practice, my nasal passages were as clear as glass.
And as soon as practice ended, stuff city.
Is there some physiological explanation? Or did the allergy medicine and Claritin speedball I did this afternoon finally kick in?
All I know is, last week someone flipped the season switch and we went from summer to fall in one weekend. The temperature dropped ten degrees centigrade, the humidity dropped 50%, the wind kicked up, and my nose faucet spewed what I can only imagine is my liquified brain, dripping at an unstoppable pace down to my upper lip.
And as soon as practice ended, stuff city.
Is there some physiological explanation? Or did the allergy medicine and Claritin speedball I did this afternoon finally kick in?
All I know is, last week someone flipped the season switch and we went from summer to fall in one weekend. The temperature dropped ten degrees centigrade, the humidity dropped 50%, the wind kicked up, and my nose faucet spewed what I can only imagine is my liquified brain, dripping at an unstoppable pace down to my upper lip.
last
Taught what will most likely be my last regular student's class as official instructor. Starting from October, the Tuesday Shibuya practice will be completely up to the students themselves to run as they see fit. If they want, we can send instructors on a regular basis, so I imagine I'll be teaching about once a month, but the students have to motivate and organize to make it happen.
I teach so much on Mondays and Wednesdays now anyway, and I always have a conference call on Tuesday night, so maybe I'll skip Tuesdays and go to practice on Thursdays from now on. That means I'll also swith my wear-a-suit day from Thursday to Tuesday...we'll see what happens next week.
I teach so much on Mondays and Wednesdays now anyway, and I always have a conference call on Tuesday night, so maybe I'll skip Tuesdays and go to practice on Thursdays from now on. That means I'll also swith my wear-a-suit day from Thursday to Tuesday...we'll see what happens next week.
miracles never cease
Now I'm truly dumbfounded. Different repairguy shows up, fiddles with and fixes the closet doors, and says he'll come back next week to replace the broken and worn out parts. Actual service: I could get used to this.
miracles do happen
Amazing what happens when people actually do their job. Repairman shows up and replaces the broken door on the dryer. Took all of five minutes.
To celebrate this miracle of achievement, Hiroko and I went shopping. Bus to Shibuya, walked in the fabulous weather to Harajuku where Hiroko got some action-kickin' pants at Uniqlo. Then we grabbed some excellent gyoza, relaxed at Starbucks, and finally walked up to Omotesando and through Aoyama, checking out the cool furniture at Idee before cabbing home.
To celebrate this miracle of achievement, Hiroko and I went shopping. Bus to Shibuya, walked in the fabulous weather to Harajuku where Hiroko got some action-kickin' pants at Uniqlo. Then we grabbed some excellent gyoza, relaxed at Starbucks, and finally walked up to Omotesando and through Aoyama, checking out the cool furniture at Idee before cabbing home.
sushi
Fine weather for practice; a bit of wind, not too hot, not too cool. Gosoke ran us through various kata, trying to pound into our heads the importance of timing -- getting the lead foot and the sword to impact at the same time. Usually the foot goes first, leaving you with your sword poised overhead and your opponent thanking you for the opportunity right before he jams his sword into your unprotected chest.
After practice we went to get some sushi and other fine eats, and I tried to convince Gosoke that trading options is much safer than futures on margin.
After practice we went to get some sushi and other fine eats, and I tried to convince Gosoke that trading options is much safer than futures on margin.
world heritage in panorama
Extremely cool: photographing all the UNESCO designated World Heritage sites and posting panoramic 360 photos.
rain rain go away
The typhoon veered east, missing the Japanese mainland, but still there was plenty of rain.
On my way to practice, I basically gave up, parked The Mightier Steed at Shinbashi Station, and took the train four stops up to Akihabara. Packed with commuters going out after work, the train was stuffy and damp and basically nasty, reminding me why I pay so much money to live just down the street from work and why I attempt to drive my scooter everywhere, even in the rain.
Now that the tournament is over, practice was mellow. Some folks are testing for promotion next month, but I'm not testing any time soon, so I'm just taking my time and enjoying things. Working on getting the foot/sword timing right: putting the monouchi into my attacker's head just as the front foot steps out. Tougher than it looks as I always tend to swing with my arms instead of letting my hips and back move the sword out.
Also have to work on drawing with the left foot forward (sa, sha, mawari-gakari), and anything that involves a thrust (munazukushi, tsuigetsu, hibikigaeshi, hazumi).
After practice Tanaka-sensei ran us through the five old ZenIaiRen kata that we do, and there was some confusion as to the exact movements because we hardly ever practice them! Nakagawa-gosoke's old book shows that Kiriage starts with the right foot, but Tanaka-bashocho said Naganuma-sensei said that it starts with the left foot...will have to verify with Niina-gosoke later.
On my way to practice, I basically gave up, parked The Mightier Steed at Shinbashi Station, and took the train four stops up to Akihabara. Packed with commuters going out after work, the train was stuffy and damp and basically nasty, reminding me why I pay so much money to live just down the street from work and why I attempt to drive my scooter everywhere, even in the rain.
Now that the tournament is over, practice was mellow. Some folks are testing for promotion next month, but I'm not testing any time soon, so I'm just taking my time and enjoying things. Working on getting the foot/sword timing right: putting the monouchi into my attacker's head just as the front foot steps out. Tougher than it looks as I always tend to swing with my arms instead of letting my hips and back move the sword out.
Also have to work on drawing with the left foot forward (sa, sha, mawari-gakari), and anything that involves a thrust (munazukushi, tsuigetsu, hibikigaeshi, hazumi).
After practice Tanaka-sensei ran us through the five old ZenIaiRen kata that we do, and there was some confusion as to the exact movements because we hardly ever practice them! Nakagawa-gosoke's old book shows that Kiriage starts with the right foot, but Tanaka-bashocho said Naganuma-sensei said that it starts with the left foot...will have to verify with Niina-gosoke later.
antique
Took delivery of my antique tansu.
It's a meiji-era (late 1800s) two-piece chest: the top has two large drawers, the bottom has a small door with two small drawers, and behind the lowest drawer is a secret compartment. Made of thick but light paulowina wood, it smells great and is perfect for storing our kimono and yukata and my sword stuff.
More photos
It's a meiji-era (late 1800s) two-piece chest: the top has two large drawers, the bottom has a small door with two small drawers, and behind the lowest drawer is a secret compartment. Made of thick but light paulowina wood, it smells great and is perfect for storing our kimono and yukata and my sword stuff.
More photos
kumitachi
We've printed up paired forms manuals in English and Japanese, so Ando-sensei ran a few of us through the 10 kata. Distance is the toughest; hard to judge how far/close to get to make the techniques work, but it was fun to really drill into them for a couple of hours. I need to know them for 5dan testing, but that won't be for a few more years so no hurry.
cutting fun
Had a great cutting practice in Akabane. Was feeling pretty good and even nailed several cuts through a beefy almost-double roll. Had some success with horizontal cuts, too, but still can't quite nail the feeling. Then again even Tanaka-sensei can't nail them every time, so I don't feel to bad. It's just a matter of time and practice.
apartment fun
So after months of getting the run-around from Ken Corporation, the rep Mr. Ryu finally came over to see us. Conversation went something like this:
me: So, yes or no, does Ken Corp have anything to do with the maintenance of my apartment?
ryu: Well, you see, after the maintenance contr-
me: YES or NO, do you have anything to do with the maintenance of my apartment?
ryu: umm...not exactly.
me: Fine, thank you. Here's a pen and some paper. Write down the phone number of the owner, I'll deal directly with her myself since you are both unable and incapable of representing my needs.
ryu: Can I just explain-
me: No. You're excused. Goodbye.
He leaves, I take the number and call Mrs. Hirata:
me: This is ren kuroda from Sky Corp.
her: ??? I've never been called by a tenant before!
me: Well, just wondering what's been going on with the repairs to my apartment. Have they been scheduled yet?
her: Uh...I'm still waiting for the estimate-
me: The SECOND estimate already came, two weeks ago.
her: Well you were on summer vacation all August-
me: I was out for two weeks in JULY, but that was over a month ago anyway. But let's not dwell on the past, let's look to the future. WHEN will these repairs be done?
her: That's up to you and Ken Corp and the repair company?
me: Really? Fascinating. Ken Corp said they were waiting on YOU.
her: Well I don't know that, Ken Corp handles all the mainten-
me: But Ken Corp just told me that the mainteance contract has been cancelled and they don't do the maintenance any more.
her: Well I'll call the agent first thing tomorr-
me: But Ken Corp doesn't have a maintenance contract anymore. But go ahead and call them, and while you're at it why don't you go ahead and schedule the maintenance? It's been several months, we've already have TWO estimates, what are we waiting for?
her: I'll call Ken Corp tomorrow.
And she hangs up on me. SO, Mr. Ryu is going to get a nasty call from Mrs. Hirata I'm sure, so I expect a call from Mr. Ryu tomorrow. And if I don't get one, I'll just go ahead and call Mrs. Hirata again and see how her call with Ken Corp went.
To be honest, I don't actually expect the repairs to ever get done, so now I'm just in it to see how many lies I can catch people in.
me: So, yes or no, does Ken Corp have anything to do with the maintenance of my apartment?
ryu: Well, you see, after the maintenance contr-
me: YES or NO, do you have anything to do with the maintenance of my apartment?
ryu: umm...not exactly.
me: Fine, thank you. Here's a pen and some paper. Write down the phone number of the owner, I'll deal directly with her myself since you are both unable and incapable of representing my needs.
ryu: Can I just explain-
me: No. You're excused. Goodbye.
He leaves, I take the number and call Mrs. Hirata:
me: This is ren kuroda from Sky Corp.
her: ??? I've never been called by a tenant before!
me: Well, just wondering what's been going on with the repairs to my apartment. Have they been scheduled yet?
her: Uh...I'm still waiting for the estimate-
me: The SECOND estimate already came, two weeks ago.
her: Well you were on summer vacation all August-
me: I was out for two weeks in JULY, but that was over a month ago anyway. But let's not dwell on the past, let's look to the future. WHEN will these repairs be done?
her: That's up to you and Ken Corp and the repair company?
me: Really? Fascinating. Ken Corp said they were waiting on YOU.
her: Well I don't know that, Ken Corp handles all the mainten-
me: But Ken Corp just told me that the mainteance contract has been cancelled and they don't do the maintenance any more.
her: Well I'll call the agent first thing tomorr-
me: But Ken Corp doesn't have a maintenance contract anymore. But go ahead and call them, and while you're at it why don't you go ahead and schedule the maintenance? It's been several months, we've already have TWO estimates, what are we waiting for?
her: I'll call Ken Corp tomorrow.
And she hangs up on me. SO, Mr. Ryu is going to get a nasty call from Mrs. Hirata I'm sure, so I expect a call from Mr. Ryu tomorrow. And if I don't get one, I'll just go ahead and call Mrs. Hirata again and see how her call with Ken Corp went.
To be honest, I don't actually expect the repairs to ever get done, so now I'm just in it to see how many lies I can catch people in.
packy photos
Put up some photos of Packy and the gang at master's. Ofoto, so requires simple sign-up and login blahblahblah.
tournament
Photos
Quick dip in the onsen again, then breakfast. Everyone piled onto the bus and we headed over to the sports center. Opening ceremony, speeches, then I and Tanaka-sensei and Naganuma-sensei did some cutting demos.
The tournament started and I was judged the lower division with Naganuma-sensei on C court. Ended fairly quickly, and tore through the rest of the divisions until my division started, on D court. I was third up. Second up Nishihara-san, palm sweaty, droppped his sword. Into his right foot. Blood spread in crimson blobs. I threw in my two tenugui (towels) and grabbed the bandage out of my case. His foot was wrapped, leg tourniquated, and we put him on a tatami mat and carried him out to the front door. Awaiting the ambulance, I ran back to tell everyone what was going on and was told "tournament's still going on, waiting on you!" so I grabbed my sword and stepped onto the floor. Right were he had cut his foot. Most of the blood was already cleaned up, but in my mind I could still see that big crimson blob, like to circles joined, thick and dark. Needless to say my concentration was not exactly on, and I lost 2 to 1.
Interesting, as we were in Yamaguchi and the Yamaguchi folks were doing well. The judged was...interesting. Can't really say it was bad, but obviously there are some ways of doing things that need to be more standardized. For example all the non-Tokyo folks start shiho facing straight forward, which means the second cut is done with the back to the judges. We're taught this is a no-no, which is why we do shiho starting on a 45-degree angle to forward left. Also other little things; arm placement, height of the sword tip after cutting...small details which I'm sure all the sensei will be discussing and normalizing. It was a good learning experience, and I'm glad the Yamaguchi folks did well, as they worked hard to put the tournament together for all of us.
Niina-gosoke was judging the final for 5/6dan (highest division), and he actually raised his flag for Tanaka-sensei's opponent, giving Tanaka-sensei 2nd place. Niina-gosoke's comment was that we all have to refocus on basics, as he's been saying all along: when the foot steps down, the blade must be in cutting position, not still back above your head. This is why he didn't give Tanaka-sensei the flag, and why many of us lost. So it's back to practice!
At least my cutting went ok, and in the team division I tied with Sanno-sensei, so that's my major accomplishment for the day.
After the tournament we said good-bye to the bus and got a ride to the Tanaka Hotel. Checked in and hit the onsen before dinner. Nice hot soak and then a glorious dinner in the room. Hiroko and I were both beat so it was time for sleep.
Quick dip in the onsen again, then breakfast. Everyone piled onto the bus and we headed over to the sports center. Opening ceremony, speeches, then I and Tanaka-sensei and Naganuma-sensei did some cutting demos.
The tournament started and I was judged the lower division with Naganuma-sensei on C court. Ended fairly quickly, and tore through the rest of the divisions until my division started, on D court. I was third up. Second up Nishihara-san, palm sweaty, droppped his sword. Into his right foot. Blood spread in crimson blobs. I threw in my two tenugui (towels) and grabbed the bandage out of my case. His foot was wrapped, leg tourniquated, and we put him on a tatami mat and carried him out to the front door. Awaiting the ambulance, I ran back to tell everyone what was going on and was told "tournament's still going on, waiting on you!" so I grabbed my sword and stepped onto the floor. Right were he had cut his foot. Most of the blood was already cleaned up, but in my mind I could still see that big crimson blob, like to circles joined, thick and dark. Needless to say my concentration was not exactly on, and I lost 2 to 1.
Interesting, as we were in Yamaguchi and the Yamaguchi folks were doing well. The judged was...interesting. Can't really say it was bad, but obviously there are some ways of doing things that need to be more standardized. For example all the non-Tokyo folks start shiho facing straight forward, which means the second cut is done with the back to the judges. We're taught this is a no-no, which is why we do shiho starting on a 45-degree angle to forward left. Also other little things; arm placement, height of the sword tip after cutting...small details which I'm sure all the sensei will be discussing and normalizing. It was a good learning experience, and I'm glad the Yamaguchi folks did well, as they worked hard to put the tournament together for all of us.
Niina-gosoke was judging the final for 5/6dan (highest division), and he actually raised his flag for Tanaka-sensei's opponent, giving Tanaka-sensei 2nd place. Niina-gosoke's comment was that we all have to refocus on basics, as he's been saying all along: when the foot steps down, the blade must be in cutting position, not still back above your head. This is why he didn't give Tanaka-sensei the flag, and why many of us lost. So it's back to practice!
At least my cutting went ok, and in the team division I tied with Sanno-sensei, so that's my major accomplishment for the day.
After the tournament we said good-bye to the bus and got a ride to the Tanaka Hotel. Checked in and hit the onsen before dinner. Nice hot soak and then a glorious dinner in the room. Hiroko and I were both beat so it was time for sleep.
to Yamaguchi
Got the bus to Daimon, walked to Hamamatsucho Station, got the monorail to Haneda airport. JAL flight to Ube Airport in south central Yamaguchi, bus to Kogori Station, local train to Yuda Onsen Station, and then walked up to the Nishimura Ryokan. We got there before the bus arrived, so we headed straight for the onsen. Soaked nicely for an hour, and as we came out the gang was arriving.
Dinner was at 6 and we feasted and toasted and did the standard goofing off, then headed to bed fairly early to prep for the tournament the next day.
Dinner was at 6 and we feasted and toasted and did the standard goofing off, then headed to bed fairly early to prep for the tournament the next day.
dinner date
No practice so I went to dinner with Hiroko, Ericka, Haruka, and Aki. Those crazy women of LincMedia were in fine form as we stuffed ourselves on Turkish food at Ankara in Shibuya.
feelin' good
Went to Iidabashi practice tonight for the first time. Naganuma-sensei is the instructor, but it seems like he rarely shows up. It was me and Nakayama-san and a couple of other guys, just practicing on our own, with Nakayama-san and I helping the other guys now and then.
Unlike the miserable practice I had last night, tonight felt pretty good. Still nowhere near what I should be doing, but I've got a reasonable amount of control and speed. As long as I don't get to tense I might be okay. But still, I need to work on keeping the sword tip steady, nailing the cuts, extending, and relaxing my shoulders. Anyway no practice tomorrow and then off we go on Saturday for the tournament on Sunday, so at least I finished practice on a good vibe.
Unlike the miserable practice I had last night, tonight felt pretty good. Still nowhere near what I should be doing, but I've got a reasonable amount of control and speed. As long as I don't get to tense I might be okay. But still, I need to work on keeping the sword tip steady, nailing the cuts, extending, and relaxing my shoulders. Anyway no practice tomorrow and then off we go on Saturday for the tournament on Sunday, so at least I finished practice on a good vibe.
lack of judgement
So I'm cruising down Meiji Dori, the main road to work. As is typical, the idiot in the big black Lexus in front of me decides, for no apparent reason, to put on his hazards and stop, right there in the middle of the road. I mutter a profanity and flip him off as I swerve around him, then pull up to the light waiting to turn left. The driver was not happy to be flipped off, and sticks his head out the window shouting and growling like only a pissed off Japanese guy can. Then he pulls up along side me, really blocking traffic, and lays into me again. The back door opens and out steps another guy; buzzed hair, wide double-breasted suit, stream of profanity.
Backseat Man comes up in my face and is going off. I respond in English, which REALLY pisses him off and he brings it up a notch. Then another Lexus pulls up behind me, completely cutting off both lanes. Another buzzcut double-breasted suit gets out from that back seat, as the first guy is trying to rip the helmet off my head.
The gears in my morning-groggy brain finally click: Lexus. Tinted windows. Shinagawa plates. Double-breasted suits. Buzzcuts. Streams of profanity...Yakuza. Four of them. And one of me. Not wanting this chapter in the book of my life to be the last chapter, titled "Bad Judgement Leads to End of Good Life", I gun the accelerator and rip around the corner. They follow, but I check my mirrors, swerve around traffic, run a red light, and leave them far behind.
First note to self: rich old figure-head company presidents get driven around in Mercedes. But yakuza, by some twisted right-wing nationalist logic, only drive domestic cars.
Second note to self: One yakuza punk is all mouth. Four yakuza punks is sure death. And yakuza never travel alone.
Backseat Man comes up in my face and is going off. I respond in English, which REALLY pisses him off and he brings it up a notch. Then another Lexus pulls up behind me, completely cutting off both lanes. Another buzzcut double-breasted suit gets out from that back seat, as the first guy is trying to rip the helmet off my head.
The gears in my morning-groggy brain finally click: Lexus. Tinted windows. Shinagawa plates. Double-breasted suits. Buzzcuts. Streams of profanity...Yakuza. Four of them. And one of me. Not wanting this chapter in the book of my life to be the last chapter, titled "Bad Judgement Leads to End of Good Life", I gun the accelerator and rip around the corner. They follow, but I check my mirrors, swerve around traffic, run a red light, and leave them far behind.
First note to self: rich old figure-head company presidents get driven around in Mercedes. But yakuza, by some twisted right-wing nationalist logic, only drive domestic cars.
Second note to self: One yakuza punk is all mouth. Four yakuza punks is sure death. And yakuza never travel alone.
it works!
Finally got the Thinkpad 240 working. Had to boot from a floppy with pcmcia drivers for the cdr drive, then install a ghost image of Windows 98SE, then switch to the LAN pcmcia card to get a bunch of Windows updates, get the latest driver for the wireless card, restore a bunch of messed up system files, and finally I got the wireless card to work and the system reasonably stable. It's a shame, but W98 is way faster than RedHat 9 on a similar machine. I guess Linux on the desktop still has a way to go. Anyway, at least Hiroko can now check her email from the comfort of her own desk in the bedroom. Plus it's got an all-day battery, so if she wants to wander about, the battery lasts about seven hours.
God bless technology.
God bless technology.
on-on-one
Kasahara-kun is the only one who showed up to practice, so I schooled him in front of the mirror the whole time. We worked on gyakugesa, first the fundamentals, then a few kata. He's better and more dedicated than most beginners, so working with him and pushing him is fun.
so not helpful
Attempts to get my Linksys WPC54G wireless card to work on Linux haWPC54G PCMCIA have failed, and google tells us that the Broadcom chipsets on the card do not yet have drivers released. So I mailed Linksys, and here was the so not helpful reply:
-----Original Message-----
From: Monica Ford [mailto:mford@broadcom.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 7:55 AM
To: Kuroda, Renfield (IT)
Subject: FW: WPC54G PCMCIA card linux driver?
Dear Renfield,
Thank you for your inquiry and your interest in Broadcom Corporation. We are big supporters of the Linux community, all our APs are written for Linux, but our clients are currently Windows only. We thank you again for your input and hope we can accommodate more clients in the future.
Sincerely,
Monica Ford
Customer Service
Broadcom Corporation
So, they are big supporters of Linux, but all their clients are Windows only...huh?
-----Original Message-----
From: Monica Ford [mailto:mford@broadcom.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 7:55 AM
To: Kuroda, Renfield (IT)
Subject: FW: WPC54G PCMCIA card linux driver?
Dear Renfield,
Thank you for your inquiry and your interest in Broadcom Corporation. We are big supporters of the Linux community, all our APs are written for Linux, but our clients are currently Windows only. We thank you again for your input and hope we can accommodate more clients in the future.
Sincerely,
Monica Ford
Customer Service
Broadcom Corporation
So, they are big supporters of Linux, but all their clients are Windows only...huh?
i suck
Taught a couple of beginners for the first hour of class, then practiced on my own for the last 20 minutes. I'm screwed for the national tournament: I suck and there's no time to get good enough to win. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll make it through my first match...
tourist time
Met Kevin, Packy and the gang in Omotesando and we did the full tour: antique flea market at the temple, trendy shopping, crazy t-shirt store, rotator sushi, freaks at the park, Meiji shrine.
Kevin then lead us back to his cool neighborhood Shimokitazawa where Z joined us for some stunning French food at his local hangout.
And everywhere we went there were local festivals, so the tourists got plenty of photos of locals carrying omikoshi (portable shrines) and doing the local festival thing.
Inspired by Kevin's recent antique furniture purchases I got it in my head to get me something to keep all of our kimono, so at Oriental Bazaar I saw a sweet piece, Meiji era, including secret hidden drawers, but as I was looking at it the dude came and carted it off, saying they just sold it this morning! Totally bummed I went upstairs and kept looking around, checked out a few others but the didn't inspire. Dejected, I went over to look at other stuff and noticed a low chest. Turns out it was a two piece but they weren't stacked, just sitting low back-to-back. As soon as I pulled open the drawer I was hit with the sweet smeel of paulownia. Paulownia (kiri) is traditionally used for furniture meant to store kimono, something to do with natural bug repellence maybe? Anyway it's a very light, strong wood. The drawers were very thick-walled, dove-tailed joints and all wooden-pegged, not nailed. Simple but burly metalwork on the locks, all the keys included. The face and side had been retreated, but other than that it was all original, Meiji era so probably 100 years old or so. Opened the lower right cabinet, pulled out the lowermost small drawer, and there was the secret drawer! For only 150,000 yen, I checked with Hiroko, and grabbed it. Kevin said if I didn't buy it he would have bought it himself, being a pretty rare paulownia chest.
Kevin then lead us back to his cool neighborhood Shimokitazawa where Z joined us for some stunning French food at his local hangout.
And everywhere we went there were local festivals, so the tourists got plenty of photos of locals carrying omikoshi (portable shrines) and doing the local festival thing.
Inspired by Kevin's recent antique furniture purchases I got it in my head to get me something to keep all of our kimono, so at Oriental Bazaar I saw a sweet piece, Meiji era, including secret hidden drawers, but as I was looking at it the dude came and carted it off, saying they just sold it this morning! Totally bummed I went upstairs and kept looking around, checked out a few others but the didn't inspire. Dejected, I went over to look at other stuff and noticed a low chest. Turns out it was a two piece but they weren't stacked, just sitting low back-to-back. As soon as I pulled open the drawer I was hit with the sweet smeel of paulownia. Paulownia (kiri) is traditionally used for furniture meant to store kimono, something to do with natural bug repellence maybe? Anyway it's a very light, strong wood. The drawers were very thick-walled, dove-tailed joints and all wooden-pegged, not nailed. Simple but burly metalwork on the locks, all the keys included. The face and side had been retreated, but other than that it was all original, Meiji era so probably 100 years old or so. Opened the lower right cabinet, pulled out the lowermost small drawer, and there was the secret drawer! For only 150,000 yen, I checked with Hiroko, and grabbed it. Kevin said if I didn't buy it he would have bought it himself, being a pretty rare paulownia chest.
camui and meat-on-a-stick
After cutting practice Hiroko and I went to Ginza and walked around. They had the main street closed off for foot traffic only, so did the standard wander about. Dropped off some shoes at Camui; fix my and her sandals and resole my boots. Then we checked out Seibu, Gap, J Crew...as suspected most of the girl clothes are made specifically for skinny, curveless Japanese women, so of course Hiroko can't find anything that fits right.
Shopped out we headed over to Ichikawa and hit Master's Kushimasu.
Packy, his wife Kelly and friend Julie are in Japan for a couple weeks, so the old gang got together. Hugh and Mami's three-year old bundle of energy Toshiki was tearing up the street while Steve and Oide's two-year old Cain sat quietly playing with his toy cars. Hugh bought some land and is building a house for about 40 million yen. Which in my neighborhood wouldn't even get you a one-room condo. Ah, Tokyo.
Shopped out we headed over to Ichikawa and hit Master's Kushimasu.
Packy, his wife Kelly and friend Julie are in Japan for a couple weeks, so the old gang got together. Hugh and Mami's three-year old bundle of energy Toshiki was tearing up the street while Steve and Oide's two-year old Cain sat quietly playing with his toy cars. Hugh bought some land and is building a house for about 40 million yen. Which in my neighborhood wouldn't even get you a one-room condo. Ah, Tokyo.
chop chop
Had cutting practice in Ichikawa. Did fairly well so I think I'll be okay for the demo at the national tournament next weekend. Probably do jinrai -- don't want to try anything too tricky. Managed one decent yoko-ichimonji as well, but still can't nail it consistently like I can gyakugesa. Need more practice.
check the schedule
Showed up at Nihonbashi, and the place was strangely dark and empty. Called Sekido-san who reminded me that we keep an updated schedule on the homepage for a reason. There was no class scheduled, I just assumed there was. I do this alot. You'd think I'd learn, but I don't.
outback
The team was rallied and the food was plentiful. After goofing off and chatting it up with the equities boys, I went over to The Outback Steakhouse and met Spike, Alex, Moka, Bystedt, and Hiroko for some serious feeding. Hammer was just finishing up dinner with his family as we were starting. Hammer's kindness knows no bounds: after he left the waiter said he bought us a round of beers. So of course I took a photo of everyone with their beverages and emailed a thank you to The Hammer. Gotta love technology!
redhat
Took an old Thinkpad 240 and built it RedHat 9.0 -- really simple; just made a boot floppy and did an HTTP network install. Of course once I got everything setup I realized there are no linux drivers for the latest and greatest Linksys 54G wireless card I bought. So I guess it's back to Bic Camera for a cheaper older supported wireless card!
small
Just after I got to practice, the skies turned a menacing gray, then black, then thunder and lightening erupted and rain fell in buckets. Then the lights flickered. A nasty storm cloud swept across Tokyo, in and out in less than an hour, but the damage was done: flash flooding. Scores of commuters caught without umbrellas, surface trains delayed.
Took a while for the gym lights to cycle back up to full power, but we started practice anyway. I ran everyone through the basics, then Tanaka-sensei showed up and we did the last 10 kata.
Niina-gosoke also came in about 8pm, worked out in the corner on his own for a bit, then when class was over called us remaining stragglers over for another hour of fun. "Ren, ever since you came back from the states, your cuts are small. Small! Too much cutting whatever's right in front of you. Cut your enemy! A human enemy, with a sword and skills, who retreats and attacks! Not an enemy made of stationary straw, waiting to get cut! Cut big! Chase and cut down your enemy!"
About a week to go to the national tournament, and I've been so worried and focused on the cutting demo that, as expected, my kata is getting small and week. And my shoulder still hurts, because I refuse to rest it until the tournament is over.
Took a while for the gym lights to cycle back up to full power, but we started practice anyway. I ran everyone through the basics, then Tanaka-sensei showed up and we did the last 10 kata.
Niina-gosoke also came in about 8pm, worked out in the corner on his own for a bit, then when class was over called us remaining stragglers over for another hour of fun. "Ren, ever since you came back from the states, your cuts are small. Small! Too much cutting whatever's right in front of you. Cut your enemy! A human enemy, with a sword and skills, who retreats and attacks! Not an enemy made of stationary straw, waiting to get cut! Cut big! Chase and cut down your enemy!"
About a week to go to the national tournament, and I've been so worried and focused on the cutting demo that, as expected, my kata is getting small and week. And my shoulder still hurts, because I refuse to rest it until the tournament is over.
fundamentals
New guy who just started came to practice for the first time. Always looking for an excuse to spend all two hours on nothing but basics, I ran him and the other guys through the serious fundamentals. We started just practicing how to walk up and down the hall, focusing on upper and lower body coordination, keeping the hips steady and the feet moving enough but not too much. When we finally got around to using our swords we took our time doing basic stances, moving in and out of high, mid, and low kamae before actually cutting. We concentrated on hand positioning, blade movement and arm mechanics, as well as timing with the lower body, and of course maintaining total bodily stability while moving and cutting. Also talked a bit about line of sight and the relentless pursuit of eliminating wasted, unnecessary movements. After two hours my right shoulder was twinging in pain, but I've got less that two weeks until the national tournament, so I'm not resting it; plenty of rest when I'm dead.
After class I hurried home only to discover that the 9pm conference call I thought we had, we didn't. So Hiroko and I watched tv while eating a heavy-on-veggies dinner.
After class I hurried home only to discover that the 9pm conference call I thought we had, we didn't. So Hiroko and I watched tv while eating a heavy-on-veggies dinner.
funday monday
Tanaka-sensei is getting bogged down with work at his metal shop, so it was just five of us in practice today. I took Mizuno-san and ran him through the fundamentals for over an hour, paying attention to hand placement, upper body, and extension. Can't overload beginners with all the things they're doing wrong, so I just pick two or three things and focus on those, letting the other pieces come together as they progress.
Last half hour I worked on my own, preparing for the tournament on two weeks. I'm so hosed. My forms are a messy; sloppy and slow and lots of extraneous wobble. Sword won't go where I want it to, won't stop where I want it to, too much tension especially in my arms and not even snap, not enough focus. I also have cut in a couple of weeks and it doesn't look like there will be a cutting practice before the tournament, which makes me kind of nervous to cut in front of everyone at the beginning of the tournament.
Last half hour I worked on my own, preparing for the tournament on two weeks. I'm so hosed. My forms are a messy; sloppy and slow and lots of extraneous wobble. Sword won't go where I want it to, won't stop where I want it to, too much tension especially in my arms and not even snap, not enough focus. I also have cut in a couple of weeks and it doesn't look like there will be a cutting practice before the tournament, which makes me kind of nervous to cut in front of everyone at the beginning of the tournament.
less movement
Niina-gosoke himself ran the seminar. He started with the basics: how to put the sword properly on the hip -- though most of us where only one sword, we train in samurai arts, not as yakuza, so we wear the longsword as if we had two swords. This means the longsword goes over the top belt of the hakama (the belt from the front), then under the top two layers of the obi, and under the middle belt of the hakama (from the back), then over the last belt of the hakama (from the back). The short sword goes in front of the stomach, sideways, under the hakama and first layer of the obi. I don't have a short sword, but have started wearing my tessen (steal-edged fan) to approximate the feel of having a second sword. Having something in that position forces the right hand to properly move under and take the tsuka from below/behind when drawing. It also helps keep the back straight to keep the pressure off the stomach.
For three hours he ran us through all 20 kata, highlighting the general points the pretty much everyone screws up.
After the seminar we went to an izakaya for drinks and snacks and Naganuma-sensei told the story about the first time he cut from a seated draw in front of everyone, and talked to me about his kobudo and karate study, and the importance of taisabaki, which most translate as "body movement" but in this case he meant minimizing movement. The idea is to move from a state of readiness; no wind up, no telegraphing. To move back, you don't push off with the forward foot, resulting in a slight sway before moving. You just move back. You keep the head still, and the body moves effortlessly as one. Very tough to do, but if done right, that slight minimization of unnecessary movement makes your technique that much faster.
For three hours he ran us through all 20 kata, highlighting the general points the pretty much everyone screws up.
After the seminar we went to an izakaya for drinks and snacks and Naganuma-sensei told the story about the first time he cut from a seated draw in front of everyone, and talked to me about his kobudo and karate study, and the importance of taisabaki, which most translate as "body movement" but in this case he meant minimizing movement. The idea is to move from a state of readiness; no wind up, no telegraphing. To move back, you don't push off with the forward foot, resulting in a slight sway before moving. You just move back. You keep the head still, and the body moves effortlessly as one. Very tough to do, but if done right, that slight minimization of unnecessary movement makes your technique that much faster.
thar be pirates!
Hiroko and I did some shopping at National Azabu, then headed up to Jyuban and Roppongi Hills and got some French Dogs for lunch.
Missed my dentist appointment last week because of this damn cold. So I visited Dr. Suzuki this afternoon.
He has a comfy little pillow on the chair, and when I asked about it he told me his tales of woe as an inventor.
He needed a comfy little pillow, so he asked Tempur if they could make one, but they told him they couldn't make on that small. So he looked all around and ended up making his own little down pillow. And now, Tempur has a little pillow on the market, just like the one he asked them to make!
But wait there's more: Dr. Suzuki loves to eat stinky cheese. But the next day, he smells how bad his own breath is, and he realizes if he can smell his own bad breath, it must really be unpleasant for others. So after some research he discovered that parsley seeds work well to neutralize the stinkiness. He asked his friend who worked at a capsule making company to make a couple of samples, and he shopped them around to convenience stores and whatnot, only to be told he was daft if he thought anyone would buy such a product. Now, 20 years later, no young females would be caught dead without some Breathcare" capsules in her pocketbook.
And his latest sob-story: there's a certain rate at which administering novacaine from a syringe does not hurt; has to do with the pressure exerted on the plunger and therefore the rate and which the novacaine flows into the gums. However, it's very difficult for a dentist to work the plunger with his thumb to maintain just the right amount of pressure to keep the application of novacaine painless. So Dr. Suzuki figured that putting a simple gear/clutch on the syringe could regulate the speed at which the plunger depresses, maintaining a steady flow and therefore keeping the perfect, painless pressure constant. He told a couple of friends, made some mockups...and now the biggest medical supply maker has one on the market!
I told him next time he has a great idea, he should write it down and send it immediately to Hiroko, who will file for a patent and if necessary assemble the necessary funding to establish the business or at least license the patent.
On my way home I swung through Bic Camera in Shibuya and picked up a Linksys wireless DSL router. Marked 22,000 yen, but the guy rang it up as 15,980 yen! Score!
After the dentist we went to Roppongi Hills to see Pirates of The Caribbean. Now this movie was excellent. Everything that a movie should be: Depp was fantastic, the bad, cursed pirates were nasty, the 'good' Brits properly snotty, the sword fighting dynamic, the musical score engaging, the babe stunningly beautiful, the cleavage heaving, the blood minimal, the effects fantastic and seamless, and the plot engaging. Praise Disney for having the sense to make it PG-13, not R (too bloody/sexy/scary) or PG (too tame.)
Missed my dentist appointment last week because of this damn cold. So I visited Dr. Suzuki this afternoon.
He has a comfy little pillow on the chair, and when I asked about it he told me his tales of woe as an inventor.
He needed a comfy little pillow, so he asked Tempur if they could make one, but they told him they couldn't make on that small. So he looked all around and ended up making his own little down pillow. And now, Tempur has a little pillow on the market, just like the one he asked them to make!
But wait there's more: Dr. Suzuki loves to eat stinky cheese. But the next day, he smells how bad his own breath is, and he realizes if he can smell his own bad breath, it must really be unpleasant for others. So after some research he discovered that parsley seeds work well to neutralize the stinkiness. He asked his friend who worked at a capsule making company to make a couple of samples, and he shopped them around to convenience stores and whatnot, only to be told he was daft if he thought anyone would buy such a product. Now, 20 years later, no young females would be caught dead without some Breathcare" capsules in her pocketbook.
And his latest sob-story: there's a certain rate at which administering novacaine from a syringe does not hurt; has to do with the pressure exerted on the plunger and therefore the rate and which the novacaine flows into the gums. However, it's very difficult for a dentist to work the plunger with his thumb to maintain just the right amount of pressure to keep the application of novacaine painless. So Dr. Suzuki figured that putting a simple gear/clutch on the syringe could regulate the speed at which the plunger depresses, maintaining a steady flow and therefore keeping the perfect, painless pressure constant. He told a couple of friends, made some mockups...and now the biggest medical supply maker has one on the market!
I told him next time he has a great idea, he should write it down and send it immediately to Hiroko, who will file for a patent and if necessary assemble the necessary funding to establish the business or at least license the patent.
On my way home I swung through Bic Camera in Shibuya and picked up a Linksys wireless DSL router. Marked 22,000 yen, but the guy rang it up as 15,980 yen! Score!
After the dentist we went to Roppongi Hills to see Pirates of The Caribbean. Now this movie was excellent. Everything that a movie should be: Depp was fantastic, the bad, cursed pirates were nasty, the 'good' Brits properly snotty, the sword fighting dynamic, the musical score engaging, the babe stunningly beautiful, the cleavage heaving, the blood minimal, the effects fantastic and seamless, and the plot engaging. Praise Disney for having the sense to make it PG-13, not R (too bloody/sexy/scary) or PG (too tame.)
the way things are
Had a meeting of instructors, went over plans for the upcoming national tournament and other administrative things. Then Niina-gosoke spoke a bit about The Way Things Are:
I am the 16th Soke of Mugairyu Iaihyodo. I AM Mugairyu Iaihyodo. Hougyoku-kai, the organization, exists because I choose to let you study Mugairyu. Without me, it is nothing. This is not a democracy. If I say crows are white, they are white. You don't like it, you're free to study some other style. This is koryu budo.
That being said, we are a group of friends, students and teachers, come together around our mutual love and respect for budo. You have something to say, say it! That's why we have these meetings, that's why the Board of Hougyoku-kai decides the rules and regulations. That's why we drink, and eat, and practice together. If you have an opinion, a positive contribution to make, say it proudly so that we can all hear you. Maybe we'll use it, maybe we won't. The final decision, as regards Mugairyu Iaihyodo, rests with me. But I am open to hear what you have to say. And maybe you'll learn something.
However, do not cower in the shadows, hide behind anonymity on the Internet, and make negative comments, criticize what I say, what we do. That is cowardly, and it is the lowest form of human behavior.
We all have opinions, we come together and drink and we say things; alcohol loosens the tongue, and what is said over drinks is understood as such. But those opinions don't leave that table. Don't repeat what others said, don't discuss it with those who weren't there, don't spread gossip and rumors, under the cover of shadow, in calculated whispers.
I have been doing Mugairyu Iaihyodo for over 30 years. You think you know something? You know nothing! You think it's a big deal because you teach once a week, because you have 4dan? You teach because I say you can, you get promoted because I promote you. The promotion committee, the shihan instructors, they are irrelevant. I give promotions, ranks, and certificates, and I take them away.
Is this harsh? Cruel? Shooting your mouth off in the shadows, that is cruel and demeaning. You got a problem with me, or the way I run things? We can settle this. Get your sword. All I need is a wakizashi, a tanto even. Then you'll understand why I'm Soke. Nobody forces you to study Mugairyu Iaihyodo. You're free to leave whenever you want. This is the way it is, and if it's not what you want, you need to go do something else, because I won't change things for you.
With any large group of people, groups form. Factions, even. Some people congregate around a certain sensei. Some folks stick together. Some people just don't like each other. That's just the way people are; the larger the group, the less likely it is that we all get along. But know this: you are all, every one of you, under ME. I am watching, and I know what's going on. I know what the shihan are doing, I see the cliques, factions, groups, and friends. I don't care one bit, but if it's an attempt to undermine me, to undermine my authority, to undermine Mugairyu, I won't stand for it. I have 300 years of Mugairyu Iaihyodo supporting me.
Most people don't mean badly, they just get mad, or frustrated, and say things that maybe the regret. But those words persist, snowball, a small comment sets of a thunder of screaming...All I ask is, watch your tongue. As a practitioner of koryu budo, the rules are strict, but even as a modern citizen, as a fellow human being, you should watch what you say. If you have time to comment or complain, shut up and spend that time practicing. Your actions will always speak louder than words. This is how it is. Less flapping tongue, more swinging swords.
He also held up Sekido-san's book of photography as an example of the great things that people can achieve when they just shut up and hunker down. Sekido-san spends months and years hanging out of chartered airplanes and driving around deserts taking amazing photographs of landscapes and horizons. Now he runs his own digital imaging licensing business.
After the meeting, Niina-gosoke, Sekido-san, Ohtsuka-san and I went to eat dinner. We decided to go to the 3000yen all-you-can-eat Korean BBC place, and spent the evening stuffing ourselves on BBC meat and talking about how great it will be when we get a honeybee dock; a place we can call 'home' and where we can practice 24-7. We're looking for a place, maybe an old factory or warehouse. The trick is getting a place with a high enough ceiling. Hope to find a place by the end of the year. Once we get a place, I'll be there every day!
I am the 16th Soke of Mugairyu Iaihyodo. I AM Mugairyu Iaihyodo. Hougyoku-kai, the organization, exists because I choose to let you study Mugairyu. Without me, it is nothing. This is not a democracy. If I say crows are white, they are white. You don't like it, you're free to study some other style. This is koryu budo.
That being said, we are a group of friends, students and teachers, come together around our mutual love and respect for budo. You have something to say, say it! That's why we have these meetings, that's why the Board of Hougyoku-kai decides the rules and regulations. That's why we drink, and eat, and practice together. If you have an opinion, a positive contribution to make, say it proudly so that we can all hear you. Maybe we'll use it, maybe we won't. The final decision, as regards Mugairyu Iaihyodo, rests with me. But I am open to hear what you have to say. And maybe you'll learn something.
However, do not cower in the shadows, hide behind anonymity on the Internet, and make negative comments, criticize what I say, what we do. That is cowardly, and it is the lowest form of human behavior.
We all have opinions, we come together and drink and we say things; alcohol loosens the tongue, and what is said over drinks is understood as such. But those opinions don't leave that table. Don't repeat what others said, don't discuss it with those who weren't there, don't spread gossip and rumors, under the cover of shadow, in calculated whispers.
I have been doing Mugairyu Iaihyodo for over 30 years. You think you know something? You know nothing! You think it's a big deal because you teach once a week, because you have 4dan? You teach because I say you can, you get promoted because I promote you. The promotion committee, the shihan instructors, they are irrelevant. I give promotions, ranks, and certificates, and I take them away.
Is this harsh? Cruel? Shooting your mouth off in the shadows, that is cruel and demeaning. You got a problem with me, or the way I run things? We can settle this. Get your sword. All I need is a wakizashi, a tanto even. Then you'll understand why I'm Soke. Nobody forces you to study Mugairyu Iaihyodo. You're free to leave whenever you want. This is the way it is, and if it's not what you want, you need to go do something else, because I won't change things for you.
With any large group of people, groups form. Factions, even. Some people congregate around a certain sensei. Some folks stick together. Some people just don't like each other. That's just the way people are; the larger the group, the less likely it is that we all get along. But know this: you are all, every one of you, under ME. I am watching, and I know what's going on. I know what the shihan are doing, I see the cliques, factions, groups, and friends. I don't care one bit, but if it's an attempt to undermine me, to undermine my authority, to undermine Mugairyu, I won't stand for it. I have 300 years of Mugairyu Iaihyodo supporting me.
Most people don't mean badly, they just get mad, or frustrated, and say things that maybe the regret. But those words persist, snowball, a small comment sets of a thunder of screaming...All I ask is, watch your tongue. As a practitioner of koryu budo, the rules are strict, but even as a modern citizen, as a fellow human being, you should watch what you say. If you have time to comment or complain, shut up and spend that time practicing. Your actions will always speak louder than words. This is how it is. Less flapping tongue, more swinging swords.
He also held up Sekido-san's book of photography as an example of the great things that people can achieve when they just shut up and hunker down. Sekido-san spends months and years hanging out of chartered airplanes and driving around deserts taking amazing photographs of landscapes and horizons. Now he runs his own digital imaging licensing business.
After the meeting, Niina-gosoke, Sekido-san, Ohtsuka-san and I went to eat dinner. We decided to go to the 3000yen all-you-can-eat Korean BBC place, and spent the evening stuffing ourselves on BBC meat and talking about how great it will be when we get a honeybee dock; a place we can call 'home' and where we can practice 24-7. We're looking for a place, maybe an old factory or warehouse. The trick is getting a place with a high enough ceiling. Hope to find a place by the end of the year. Once we get a place, I'll be there every day!
puttin' the 'ki' in kissaki
Haven't been to practice in over a week. Didn't actually plan on going, but Tanaka-sensei called me and said that he had to work and asked if I could take over for him, so of course I said yes.
Ended up being pretty mellow; ran through the basics and took a couple of guys through the first six kata. Was feeling a bit tight and tired, but soon loosened up.
From 8:30 Niina-gosoke took us through the standing kata, and I was all sloppy. "Ren, you have no energy in your sword! As soon as you stop the cut, all the energy drains out, and there's nothing left! Your ki should flow all the way up through your arm, through the sword to the kissaki!"
After about 15 minutes he finally just said "You're still sick. Stop practicing. Go home and sleep. Summer colds are tough to beat if you're tired." So I packed up and went home.
Ended up being pretty mellow; ran through the basics and took a couple of guys through the first six kata. Was feeling a bit tight and tired, but soon loosened up.
From 8:30 Niina-gosoke took us through the standing kata, and I was all sloppy. "Ren, you have no energy in your sword! As soon as you stop the cut, all the energy drains out, and there's nothing left! Your ki should flow all the way up through your arm, through the sword to the kissaki!"
After about 15 minutes he finally just said "You're still sick. Stop practicing. Go home and sleep. Summer colds are tough to beat if you're tired." So I packed up and went home.
i get what deserve
Too much fun this weekend, playing at the Azabu Jyuban Matsuri (Summer Festival) with little Kaeri and Amy, then shopping at Costo in Makuhari. By Monday I was feeling miserable and I slept for 2 days straight.
Not feeling 100% but at least I'm basically functional.
Not feeling 100% but at least I'm basically functional.
debauchery in roppongi
We meet Kevin right at 10pm at Mogamobo. It's still early and the crowd is thin. Ed and Ako, a cutie he knew from Texas, appears. Eventually a group of people Kev knows shows up. Another group of women shows up, dressed in black cocktail dresses and sporting eyemasks, bubble-guns, party poppers, and baloon art. They each have a button declaring them member's of "Jo's Hen Party", making every guy in the bar desparately wish he was "Jo".
Stevie's girl Eriko brought a friend but, arriving on time and seeing Stevie nowhere, went next door to dance to bad 80's tunes. Finally Stevie and Kyle appear, Stevie going "Where's Eriko?"
By now the place is reasonably packed, the hen party is in full bubble-making/party-popping mode, and the music is loud. Just as we spot Lee's plaque on the wall (second over, second down from the upper right corner) my cell rings: Lee calling from New York. We chat, we toast, we refuse to ring the bell in his honor unless he provides us with a credit card number.
Ed knows another place (there's ALWAYS another place in Roppongi) so we hike around the corner and up the street. Before getting incoherent, Steve calls his wife, and then into the basement we go. The music is better, the air-conditioner is more effectice, the dartboard is crap, and the tvs are playing some bad gangster movie starring Sharon Stone with 80's hair. Kyle gets freaky in the corner. Kevin shows us how the sport of the beer-drinking pot-bellied white man is played. Steve is humbled. Stevie is Stevie. Stevie's girlfriend is also, unfortunately, Stevie.
At some point, several hours after the carriage has turned back into a pumpkin, we emerge to street level. Fighting through waves of offers for massage and other services, we put Steve in a cab pointing vaguely back towards the Hotel Okura, say our good-byes, and I stumble back home, glad I live within walking distance of the armpit that is...Roppongi.
Stevie's girl Eriko brought a friend but, arriving on time and seeing Stevie nowhere, went next door to dance to bad 80's tunes. Finally Stevie and Kyle appear, Stevie going "Where's Eriko?"
By now the place is reasonably packed, the hen party is in full bubble-making/party-popping mode, and the music is loud. Just as we spot Lee's plaque on the wall (second over, second down from the upper right corner) my cell rings: Lee calling from New York. We chat, we toast, we refuse to ring the bell in his honor unless he provides us with a credit card number.
Ed knows another place (there's ALWAYS another place in Roppongi) so we hike around the corner and up the street. Before getting incoherent, Steve calls his wife, and then into the basement we go. The music is better, the air-conditioner is more effectice, the dartboard is crap, and the tvs are playing some bad gangster movie starring Sharon Stone with 80's hair. Kyle gets freaky in the corner. Kevin shows us how the sport of the beer-drinking pot-bellied white man is played. Steve is humbled. Stevie is Stevie. Stevie's girlfriend is also, unfortunately, Stevie.
At some point, several hours after the carriage has turned back into a pumpkin, we emerge to street level. Fighting through waves of offers for massage and other services, we put Steve in a cab pointing vaguely back towards the Hotel Okura, say our good-byes, and I stumble back home, glad I live within walking distance of the armpit that is...Roppongi.
blaster
Friggin' Microsoft and their assinine OS. I've gotten over 100 mails with the virus yesterday and am still getting them today. Virus scrubbers on the firewall have killed them all before the mail gets into my inbox, but it's still annoying. Now what's worse is that some infected machines are using my email address as the from/reply-to, so now I'm getting bouncebacks as well.
Here's a tip: USE VIRUS PROTECTION and KEEP IT UP TO DATE!
Do not assume Microsoft or your ISP or anyone else will keep your PC clean. It's your machine, and it's your responsibility. You don't have to write your own anti-virus software or configure your own firewall, but at least use some industry standard software and keep it in proper working order.
It's kind of like your car. You don't have to change the oil yourself, but you do have to remember to have the oil changed regularly. No one comes over to your house every month to check your oil without even bothering your about it, right?
Here's a tip: USE VIRUS PROTECTION and KEEP IT UP TO DATE!
Do not assume Microsoft or your ISP or anyone else will keep your PC clean. It's your machine, and it's your responsibility. You don't have to write your own anti-virus software or configure your own firewall, but at least use some industry standard software and keep it in proper working order.
It's kind of like your car. You don't have to change the oil yourself, but you do have to remember to have the oil changed regularly. No one comes over to your house every month to check your oil without even bothering your about it, right?
angles
Ran through the fundamentals at practice, and after Tanaka-sensei showed up I took the two beginners and continued to drill on the basics. About 7:30 Niina-gosoke showed up and made everyone do the first kata, shin. Seems that recently there's been some mis-information about this first and most important kata. The first cut is a standard 45 degrees rising diagonal. The second cut is a diagonal into the base of the neck and through the body to the waist, above the hipbone. The angle is most definitely not 45 degrees. Also, the position of the hands after the second cut isn't set in stone. Depending on arm length, sword size, etc. the hands could be in front of the left knee, or above it, or beside it. The key is the angle of the cut; into the base of the neck and down through the body, along the line of the collar of the uniform. Also, the upper body should not be leaning too far forward.
The best thing to do is first try the kata standing. Right foot out rising diagonal. Retract the left and ready the sword, then left foot out and diagonal cut. In that position, drop the right knee to the floor and check the upper body position: should not be leaning too far forward, just slightly.
The best thing to do is first try the kata standing. Right foot out rising diagonal. Retract the left and ready the sword, then left foot out and diagonal cut. In that position, drop the right knee to the floor and check the upper body position: should not be leaning too far forward, just slightly.
my brother got a real job!
To quote:
"I’m the new Web/Marketing designer here at Globus and Cosmos for a real live salary and everything."
Does this mean he'll pay me back all that money I loaned him for those high-risk Florida real estate investments?
"I’m the new Web/Marketing designer here at Globus and Cosmos for a real live salary and everything."
Does this mean he'll pay me back all that money I loaned him for those high-risk Florida real estate investments?
mano-a-mano (again)
By 6:30 no one had shown up for practice, so I got in front of the mirror and starting drilling myself of the fundamentals, and then the kata for the national tournament next month.
A little after 7 Kasahara-kun showed up, so I stood him in front of the mirror and schooled him for an hour until he could draw and cut without making all kinds of clashing clicking noises; drawing smoothly so that his blade completely cleared the saya (scabbard) without chewing it up. I think he was finally starting to get it, and the last couple of times he drew and cut it looked pretty good for a beginner, so there is hope, both for him and for my teaching!
However, every now and then my right shoulder would twinge in pain. Not the usual right shoulder pain I feel; it's just under the collar bone, kind of a stabbing pain, that goes as quickly as it comes. First started feeling it when doing forms, but didn't hurt at all during warmup and basics. A strange thing, the human body is.
A little after 7 Kasahara-kun showed up, so I stood him in front of the mirror and schooled him for an hour until he could draw and cut without making all kinds of clashing clicking noises; drawing smoothly so that his blade completely cleared the saya (scabbard) without chewing it up. I think he was finally starting to get it, and the last couple of times he drew and cut it looked pretty good for a beginner, so there is hope, both for him and for my teaching!
However, every now and then my right shoulder would twinge in pain. Not the usual right shoulder pain I feel; it's just under the collar bone, kind of a stabbing pain, that goes as quickly as it comes. First started feeling it when doing forms, but didn't hurt at all during warmup and basics. A strange thing, the human body is.
zero day
Cousin Dave's first full-length feature film Zero Day is opening at Film Forum in NYC (209 West Houston) on Wednesday September 3.
Buy tix online and see it.
Buy tix online and see it.
inconsistency
Tanaka-sensei took the two new guys and Kanai-bashocho was instructing the two others, leaving me in the back to practice on my own. I went through the five kata for the upcoming national tournament and immediately felt a sharp pain in my right shoulder, just like on Wednesday of last week. So I took it easy and the pain went away, but it made me kind of jumpy, so I was in terrible form all night. In such a situation, I usually just slow down to about one-quarter speed and go through everying in slow motion. I try to exaggerate all the movements, paying attention to one thing like foot position, then repeating again and paying attention to something else like hand movement. Repeating 5-10 times for each form, I slowly speed up to about three-quarters normal speed, now focusing on flow more than individual movements. Doing this I tend to find the parts where I'm doing something unnecessary; hand is out too far, head is bobbing, hips aren't aligned correctly, so I attempt to smooth out the bumps and minimize the extraneous. Out of the corner of my eye I was watching Kanai-bashocho teaching and I realized that I will have a very tough time indeed at the national tournament.
health checkup results
The results are in:
All A's across the board, except for the EKG a B because of supposed sinus bradycardia, most likely because I have a standing heartrate of 45. As a child I was diagnosed with some sort of heart condition (mitral valve prolapse I think it was.)
Anyway, weight and BMI are down: 76.7 kilos, 27.1 (not quite 25, but considered by build, I could only get down to 25BMI by cutting off a leg).
Blood pressure is good: 120/80, despite genetic tendencies on mom's side towards high blood pressure. Low standing heart rate is from my dad's side, FYI.
Lack of drinking and smoking and daily sword-swinging seems to be paying off. I must be an life insurer's dream.
All A's across the board, except for the EKG a B because of supposed sinus bradycardia, most likely because I have a standing heartrate of 45. As a child I was diagnosed with some sort of heart condition (mitral valve prolapse I think it was.)
Anyway, weight and BMI are down: 76.7 kilos, 27.1 (not quite 25, but considered by build, I could only get down to 25BMI by cutting off a leg).
Blood pressure is good: 120/80, despite genetic tendencies on mom's side towards high blood pressure. Low standing heart rate is from my dad's side, FYI.
Lack of drinking and smoking and daily sword-swinging seems to be paying off. I must be an life insurer's dream.
the wise words of greg palast
POWER OUTAGE TRACED TO DIM BULB IN WHITE HOUSE --- The Tale of The Brits Who Swiped 800 Jobs From New York, Carted Off $90 Million, Then Tonight, Turned Off Our Lights
And some interesting political use of Flash animation: Grand Theft America.
And some interesting political use of Flash animation: Grand Theft America.
happy fun rightists
This weekend is the anniversary of the end of WWII, a perfect time for the right-wing imperialists to drive big trucks real slow, wave big imperialist Japanese flags, and blare on loudspeakers against the liberalist policies of a weak-willed and unarmed Japan.
The photos aren't great because I took them with my phone, in the rain, but there were at least fifty trucks going down Meiji Dori.
The photos aren't great because I took them with my phone, in the rain, but there were at least fifty trucks going down Meiji Dori.
blackout update
From mom:
I was in the supermarket at 4 pm yesterday, with a cartload of food, when the lights flickered twice and then went black. Only one register was open, so I just left all, got in the car and drove home.
Since it was the very start of the blackout, drivers were courteous and acting like every corner was a 4-way stop. It only took a few extra minutes to get home.
At around 6 Susan (next door) and I decided to find a restaurant open-while Tony and Papa were sneering. We never found one, so between the two freezers were able to barbecue, hot dogs, hamburgers, and corn on the cob. Was even able to gather enough stuff to make a fairly decent salad and have melon and chips on the side. A feast eaten by candlelight.
Emy and I purchased fans from Sharper Image that run on batteries (to use at Quilt Camp). How nice I had mine. Papa and I went to sleep with the fan blowing and somewhat cooling off the bedroom.
The light came back on sometime during the night.
Emy called this morning to say Manhattan still had no electricity. Parts of Brooklyn and Queens did have electricity. And so the saga goes on!
Needless to say my dinner in NYC has be cancelled, my plans to stay at Emy's this weekend has been cancelled, so I'll make some inari and that wonderful fried chicken with sesame seeds for dinner.
I was in the supermarket at 4 pm yesterday, with a cartload of food, when the lights flickered twice and then went black. Only one register was open, so I just left all, got in the car and drove home.
Since it was the very start of the blackout, drivers were courteous and acting like every corner was a 4-way stop. It only took a few extra minutes to get home.
At around 6 Susan (next door) and I decided to find a restaurant open-while Tony and Papa were sneering. We never found one, so between the two freezers were able to barbecue, hot dogs, hamburgers, and corn on the cob. Was even able to gather enough stuff to make a fairly decent salad and have melon and chips on the side. A feast eaten by candlelight.
Emy and I purchased fans from Sharper Image that run on batteries (to use at Quilt Camp). How nice I had mine. Papa and I went to sleep with the fan blowing and somewhat cooling off the bedroom.
The light came back on sometime during the night.
Emy called this morning to say Manhattan still had no electricity. Parts of Brooklyn and Queens did have electricity. And so the saga goes on!
Needless to say my dinner in NYC has be cancelled, my plans to stay at Emy's this weekend has been cancelled, so I'll make some inari and that wonderful fried chicken with sesame seeds for dinner.
still raining
I'm so glad that tsuyu, the rainy season, officially ended two weeks ago according the Japanese Weather Bureau. I guess that fact this it's been pissing rain for three days straight is just some kind of weather anomoly? As well as the 5 degree Celsius drop in temperature?
At practice was not unforgivingly hot and humid! And damn but I was feeling good and doing well if I do say so myself. My grip felt solid and my cuts clean and fast. Still have problems with timing and upper-body positioning, but I actually felt like I've made some progress.
After practice we went for dinner and Ohtsuka-san entertained us with his tails of "home remform": he's going to remodel the second floor of his house into a dojo. He's taken out all the furniture and rented an apartment to store it/live in while the carpenters knock down internal walls, put in wall-to-wall flooring and cover the walls in mirrors. He and the group in Kichijoji want to start regular cutting practices, too, so Niina-gosoke has told me to oversee them, just like I'm doing with the cutting practices in Ichikawa. More cutting!
At practice was not unforgivingly hot and humid! And damn but I was feeling good and doing well if I do say so myself. My grip felt solid and my cuts clean and fast. Still have problems with timing and upper-body positioning, but I actually felt like I've made some progress.
After practice we went for dinner and Ohtsuka-san entertained us with his tails of "home remform": he's going to remodel the second floor of his house into a dojo. He's taken out all the furniture and rented an apartment to store it/live in while the carpenters knock down internal walls, put in wall-to-wall flooring and cover the walls in mirrors. He and the group in Kichijoji want to start regular cutting practices, too, so Niina-gosoke has told me to oversee them, just like I'm doing with the cutting practices in Ichikawa. More cutting!
black|rain
Well, I was all prepared to whine about the horrendous rain and cold, fall-like temps, but since half the eastern seaboard is without power, I'll just remind folks how glad I am that I bought myself a surefire e2e flashlight.
connected at the...shoulder?
For the first time in what seems like a long time, no beginners showed up to practice last night, so I got to train instead of teach for the whole two hours. Tanaka-sensei ran us through all 20 kata, and I was feeling ok, though a bit cludgy. Near the end, though, I felt a pinching/tweaking in my right shoulder, and my right elbow was a bit sore from over-extending, so I decided not to keep practicing for the last hour even though Niina-gosoke himself was watching over practice. No point in doing permanent damage, especially with the tricky state my right shoulder is in.
Then this morning I was trying to email BigTony in LA, but the mails kept bouncing back, so I called him. Turns out he thrashed his shoulder, too (surfing). So maybe we've got a psycho-sympathetic thing going on?
Then this morning I was trying to email BigTony in LA, but the mails kept bouncing back, so I called him. Turns out he thrashed his shoulder, too (surfing). So maybe we've got a psycho-sympathetic thing going on?
one-on-one
Mano-a-mano. Nakatani-kun and I squared off for two hours of intense practice. Actually, it being the middle of summer vacation, he's the only one who showed up to practice. So, I worked him hard, drilling the finer points of upper- and lower-body timing; trying to get the legs and arms to move in unison, drive the power from the hips, keep balanced and stable. We ran through fundamentals for most of the time. First basic cuts, checking angles, grip, and the timing of foot and hand movement. Then we did the basic renzoku waza; the two series of draw, cut, sheath that are aptly named #1 (horizontal cut) and #2 (rising diagonal cut). I stood him in front of the mirror to check angles and point out the timing of stepping versus drawing back the left hand to get the sword tip to clear quickly and cut powerfully.
Teaching in such detail is a great way to work on my own technique, too. I have to show proper examples, and as I'm explaining and demonstrating I'm realizing what I need to work on as well.
And yeah, it wasn't exactly cool and refreshing.
After practice I jammed back to work to jump on the Tuesday night conference call.
Couldn't do it at home because I'm in the process of switching my second phone line from the company to my own name; company no longer sponsors phone lines, so I have to have it in my own name and then submit an expense report every month for it. And since the owner of the line, and therefore the number, is changing, I have to cancel my Yahoo! BB 12 meg DSL account, send the rental modem back, and then sign up again and get a new modem sent out.
Of course, yesterday when I sent the modem back, I forgot to include the power supply...wonder if they'll notice?
Teaching in such detail is a great way to work on my own technique, too. I have to show proper examples, and as I'm explaining and demonstrating I'm realizing what I need to work on as well.
And yeah, it wasn't exactly cool and refreshing.
After practice I jammed back to work to jump on the Tuesday night conference call.
Couldn't do it at home because I'm in the process of switching my second phone line from the company to my own name; company no longer sponsors phone lines, so I have to have it in my own name and then submit an expense report every month for it. And since the owner of the line, and therefore the number, is changing, I have to cancel my Yahoo! BB 12 meg DSL account, send the rental modem back, and then sign up again and get a new modem sent out.
Of course, yesterday when I sent the modem back, I forgot to include the power supply...wonder if they'll notice?
beware of disgruntled tattoo artists
Make sure you know what ink you're getting! Or you could be in trouble.
back to basics
Tanaka-sensei didn't come to practice, so Kanai-bashocho had me run the two beginners through the basics as she took the other two and did forms. Always nice to get back to fundamentals; grip, stance, focus. Good to work with beginners, because it makes me focus on my own technique; have to demonstrate properly, of course, but also as I correct them I notice the same mistakes I make myself. We are all beginners.
strict
Nine people tested for rank promotion. Those testing for 1dan and 2dan passed, but the four testing for 4dan all failed. They all did okay cutting, but the kata part of the testing is really strict, and none of them made it. I don't plan on testing for 5dan for a while; no chance I'd pass any time soon. But no hurry, either.
Gosoke also told me that from now on, 5dan testing will include kumitachi (paired forms.)
Gosoke also told me that from now on, 5dan testing will include kumitachi (paired forms.)
more whining
I really thought I'd stop whining about the heat and humidity during practice, honest. But this was just brutal. Niina-gosoke's practice in the small gym of the elementary school in Nihonbashi is usually hot, but damn the mosquitoes we just open up all the windows and side-doors and at least get some airflow. However the inner courtyard has recently been repaved, so we had to keep all the door closed. Stuffy does not begin to describe it. Besides the fact that typhoon #10 was pummelling southern Japan, and pushing up tons of moisture so that the humid was around %90, it was hot. Hot like stop every 20 minutes hot. Hot like someone almost passed out and had to sit out half of practice hot. Hot like so drenched in sweat it looks like we practiced outside in the middle of the typhoon's pouring rain hot.
Gosoke took pity on us, giving us frequent breaks. Also as a few people are testing on Sunday, we spent most of the time going over the four "Shiho" kata: Mugairyu, Zenkenren, and Zeniren (Suio-ryu's.) Note that we don't do 'real' seitei; we learn just enough to know the moves, and how they differentiate from Mugairyu. Plus we study the forms as they were done back in the 1960's by Shiokawa-gosoke, so I'm sure they're totally different than what everyone does now.
After practice we were all dying to so we went to get some refreshments and talked about how cool it would be to have a permanent dojo. Nothing fancy, just a place we could practice 24/7. Of course, half the college students would drop out of school, bring sleeping bags, and live there!
Gosoke took pity on us, giving us frequent breaks. Also as a few people are testing on Sunday, we spent most of the time going over the four "Shiho" kata: Mugairyu, Zenkenren, and Zeniren (Suio-ryu's.) Note that we don't do 'real' seitei; we learn just enough to know the moves, and how they differentiate from Mugairyu. Plus we study the forms as they were done back in the 1960's by Shiokawa-gosoke, so I'm sure they're totally different than what everyone does now.
After practice we were all dying to so we went to get some refreshments and talked about how cool it would be to have a permanent dojo. Nothing fancy, just a place we could practice 24/7. Of course, half the college students would drop out of school, bring sleeping bags, and live there!
911
Joel in town for the week to do some consulting, and JETAA had a get together, so after chatting with Ollie about some DVD stuff for iai, headed over to 911 in Roppongi to see the gang. Ed was in fine form as usual. Beck showed up a bit later looking good with his Tiffany cufflinks. By 10pm, Nanshii and Z -- well on their way to drunk anyway -- took full advantage of the free champagne lady's night and all were having a good time. The place started to get crowded just as I was getting hungry, so I stepped out about 10:30 to get home and eat the left over pizza.
ping-pong
People get really creative doing skits on the stupendously entertaining Japanese TV Show Kin-chan's Kaso Taisho.
back to the future
Michael Valdez Moses writes about the The nostalgic yet progressive appeal of wizards, hobbits, and Jedi knights on reasononline.
humidity and a tweaked neck
I know I should stop whining about how hot and humid it is. I choose to stand in an un-air-conditioned gym for three hours, swinging a kilogram of steel. It's hot. It's humid. I get sweaty.
Spent the first couple hours working with one of the beginners; she was picking up the basics fairly quickly so I could steal a couple of minutes now and then to do my own thing. My neck was really killing me, though. I tweaked it on Sunday during cutting practice and it's still bugging me, so I'm switching to a big, fluffy pillow. Last hour Tanaka-sensei gave us pointers as we ran through our individual kata for the national tournament. Wow, I suck.
Spent the first couple hours working with one of the beginners; she was picking up the basics fairly quickly so I could steal a couple of minutes now and then to do my own thing. My neck was really killing me, though. I tweaked it on Sunday during cutting practice and it's still bugging me, so I'm switching to a big, fluffy pillow. Last hour Tanaka-sensei gave us pointers as we ran through our individual kata for the national tournament. Wow, I suck.
rain!
I thought the rainy season ended last week! Just as I was about to leave work for practice, the skies turned gray and dumped rain by the bucketful. I had to grab a cab and ended up being late for practice. Nakatani-kun and Chihara-kun were waiting for me when I arrived. We quickly started practice, running through the basics (watching the left-hand grip) and then doing a few kata, being careful of the points Niina-gosoke made over the weekend. Namely: moving the body as one (keeping the upper- and lower-body coordinated), blade angle, and targeting/distance.
After practice I cabbed home in time to get on the conference call with NY and London, and Hiroko made a bowl of Thai noodles for me to slurp while on the call.
After practice I cabbed home in time to get on the conference call with NY and London, and Hiroko made a bowl of Thai noodles for me to slurp while on the call.
aircon?
Shibuya practice and it was surprisingly cool down in the kendo practice room in the basement of Hachiyama Junior High. There was a machine-like hum and the vents in the ceiling seemed to be putting out cool air...
There were only five of us, so Kanai-bashocho took the two beginners and I got Shirata-kun and Matsuo-kun. We ran through the basics and halfway through Niina-gosoke showed up to watch practice. Took our time on basics so only did three forms after that; shin, ren, and munazukushi. Kind of stressful teaching with Niina-gosoke watching (not really watching, but you know he is!)
When I was teaching the second kata 'ren', Niina-gosoke suddenly goes "Freeze!", gets up, and pushes over Shirata-kun and Matsuo-kun: "Watch that right foot!" Have to make sure that when you turn around to cut down the opponent behind you, turn on the ball of the left foot and kick that right foot over so that you clear the centerline and are balanced on both feet and the right knee. If you leave the right foot where it is, the right leg is bent behind you too much, making you unable to cut deeply and unstable.
There were only five of us, so Kanai-bashocho took the two beginners and I got Shirata-kun and Matsuo-kun. We ran through the basics and halfway through Niina-gosoke showed up to watch practice. Took our time on basics so only did three forms after that; shin, ren, and munazukushi. Kind of stressful teaching with Niina-gosoke watching (not really watching, but you know he is!)
When I was teaching the second kata 'ren', Niina-gosoke suddenly goes "Freeze!", gets up, and pushes over Shirata-kun and Matsuo-kun: "Watch that right foot!" Have to make sure that when you turn around to cut down the opponent behind you, turn on the ball of the left foot and kick that right foot over so that you clear the centerline and are balanced on both feet and the right knee. If you leave the right foot where it is, the right leg is bent behind you too much, making you unable to cut deeply and unstable.
lost
So first I was trying to go to the instructors' seminar, and got to Toritsudai before I realized that I was the only person around. The receptionist at the gym said "No iai this afternoon. Footsal." So I called Sekido-san and he said "Where are you? Toritsudai? Nihonbashi, dude, Nihonbashi!"
Other side of Tokyo. Oops. So I went to Nihonbashi. I should have actually gone to Kanda station, not Nihonbashi station, and I got totally lost coming out the wrong side of the station, finally showing up half an hour late. Gosoke was running through all the kata; 20 basic and 8 advanced, pointing out all the critical parts to pay attention to when teaching and/or practicing ourselves.
When the seminar was over I got on the Hanzomon subway and jammed down to Sangenjaya, called Hiroko to get direction's to Todd's house, and got totally, completely, stupendously lost. Ended up wandering for an hour and finding my way back to the station. Finally Todd just came out to meet me and it turns out I was so close, but when the building was right in front of me, for some inexplicable reason I turned left and ended up taking a 5 kilometer detour.
Anyway finally made it to his place and scared Amy a little bit before eating the left over BBQ burger, sausage, and other food scraps. Hiroko was busy showing Narumi and Etsuko what she learns at Fighting Fitness while I blinded Will with my surefire light, and bitched about work with Todd and Bull.
Other side of Tokyo. Oops. So I went to Nihonbashi. I should have actually gone to Kanda station, not Nihonbashi station, and I got totally lost coming out the wrong side of the station, finally showing up half an hour late. Gosoke was running through all the kata; 20 basic and 8 advanced, pointing out all the critical parts to pay attention to when teaching and/or practicing ourselves.
When the seminar was over I got on the Hanzomon subway and jammed down to Sangenjaya, called Hiroko to get direction's to Todd's house, and got totally, completely, stupendously lost. Ended up wandering for an hour and finding my way back to the station. Finally Todd just came out to meet me and it turns out I was so close, but when the building was right in front of me, for some inexplicable reason I turned left and ended up taking a 5 kilometer detour.
Anyway finally made it to his place and scared Amy a little bit before eating the left over BBQ burger, sausage, and other food scraps. Hiroko was busy showing Narumi and Etsuko what she learns at Fighting Fitness while I blinded Will with my surefire light, and bitched about work with Todd and Bull.
tokyu hands
Went to the practice at Akabane this morning for some cutting. There were lots of people, but plenty of space so we had four stands -- two pegged and two balanced. I was on the far right (no peg), and just couldn't get into it. I guess I was stressing a bit because on Thursday Gosoke announced that I was going to cut in front of everyone at the national tournament next month, with Tanaka-sensei and Naganuma-sensei. So on my third or so cut, my brain froze, and so did my finger, and I flung and dropped my sword. Akama-san standing way behind me was pretty surprised, and I felt like an ass. So I stopped for a bit, sat and chilled out. I went over to apologize to Naganuma-sensei and said I was done for the day and he replied "What? If one of your finger doesn't work, use the rest. Don't do that again. Dangerous. Now get back over there and cut. Stop worrying about it." So I gave it another go. Had many failures attempting zagi nukiuchi (yoko-ichi monji; horizontal cut from a seated draw) but I nailed one perfectly. The target was barely balanced, and the bottom half hardly fell after I cut it. Of course no one was watching, but then I noticed Yokoshima-san looking at me and as I picked up the top half of the roll to make sure I actually cut it completely (as opposed to cutting into an existing failed cut) I asked "You buyin' it?" and he smiles his magical smile and goes "I'll give you that one!" So I felt better. Couldn't nail it any more, though I a couple of close cuts (hanging by a last thread.) Gyakugesa (rising diagonal) is no problem; I nail that one about 80-90 percent, and yoko-ichi is 10-20 percent, so put them together and I get 100%!
After practice I went to Tokyu Hands in Shibuya to do some birthday shopping for myself. I bought myself the killer GoodGrips can opener, plus a really slick Surefire flashlight.
Also bought some supplies (A-B epoxy, aluminum tape, rubber tape) to help with my various home improvement projects: fixing the two saya I split, putting the basil on the balcony on a little shelf hanging off the wall, and protecting the floor from the feet of our new chairs.
After practice I went to Tokyu Hands in Shibuya to do some birthday shopping for myself. I bought myself the killer GoodGrips can opener, plus a really slick Surefire flashlight.
Also bought some supplies (A-B epoxy, aluminum tape, rubber tape) to help with my various home improvement projects: fixing the two saya I split, putting the basil on the balcony on a little shelf hanging off the wall, and protecting the floor from the feet of our new chairs.
sushi
2 hours of stunningly humid practice. Only four of us so at least we had room. Gosoke was in a great mood, too. We ran through several different kata, and he actually interspersed some comments in between exclamations of our lack of talent and ability. He was also a mosquito-killing machine. He'd sit on there, thumbing away an email on his cell phone, watching us without looking at us (don't be fooled: he sees EVERYTHING) and fanning himself, when all of a sudden *WHAP* "Heh!" The bugs don't have a chance again him.
After practice Gosoke treated us to sushi for my birthday, and we talked about someday having enough money in the organization to get our own, permanent home dojo. Nothing big or fancy, just a place we could train 24-7. We'd invariably have a couple of live-in student-teachers, and maybe enough money on the side to pay the treasurer Yoshida-sensei for all the time she spends minding our books.
After practice Gosoke treated us to sushi for my birthday, and we talked about someday having enough money in the organization to get our own, permanent home dojo. Nothing big or fancy, just a place we could train 24-7. We'd invariably have a couple of live-in student-teachers, and maybe enough money on the side to pay the treasurer Yoshida-sensei for all the time she spends minding our books.
happy birthday
To me.
Lee told me to call him, so I dialed Charity's cell. Was having a fairly hectic morning at work because of some early morning problems, but as soon as I got Charity on the phone, everyone in the bar at the top of the Gramercy Hotel sang Happy Birthday to me. Gotta love them!
Lee told me to call him, so I dialed Charity's cell. Was having a fairly hectic morning at work because of some early morning problems, but as soon as I got Charity on the phone, everyone in the bar at the top of the Gramercy Hotel sang Happy Birthday to me. Gotta love them!
ghosts and aliens
Had an instructors meeting at which I gave everyone the low-down on the seminars in the US and Canada. After the meeting we all went to the regular underground feeding hole, and somehow got into a discussion about ghosts and aliens. Seems Sekido-san and Naganuma-sensei have all had creepy experiences, but Tanaka-sensei wins. He said when he was a little kid he'd see wierd people all the time. He'd be riding his bike late at night and there'd be an old woman walking on the side of the road. He'd steer clear of her thinking "that's a dangerous place to walk" and then after passing her he'd look back...and there was no one there. He saw goblins and strange people, and every time he'd go "You see that guy?" and his friends would all go "There's no one there, dude!"
He also saw a UFO, which got us started on talking about aliens. I did my best Japanese translation of "Any significantly advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" and we debated the possibilities of alien life, and why they'd bother to visit us. Then Niina-gosoke somehow tied that into iai, talking about the infinite expandability of the universe inside yourself. He said "You can't watch yourself in a mirror to see yourself. That's looking from the inside out. You have to expand your mind (heart/spirit) infinitely, so that you can see yourself from the outside." I guess that's what he means by mushin, the detachment one gets from seeing ones' self from a 3rd person perspective. Also helps put your own relative smallness in the universe in perspective; expand your mind to fill the universe and your 'self' is insignificantly small.
Plus, the friend onions were really good.
He also saw a UFO, which got us started on talking about aliens. I did my best Japanese translation of "Any significantly advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" and we debated the possibilities of alien life, and why they'd bother to visit us. Then Niina-gosoke somehow tied that into iai, talking about the infinite expandability of the universe inside yourself. He said "You can't watch yourself in a mirror to see yourself. That's looking from the inside out. You have to expand your mind (heart/spirit) infinitely, so that you can see yourself from the outside." I guess that's what he means by mushin, the detachment one gets from seeing ones' self from a 3rd person perspective. Also helps put your own relative smallness in the universe in perspective; expand your mind to fill the universe and your 'self' is insignificantly small.
Plus, the friend onions were really good.
mh-unit design shop
There's a cool design store just around the corner from my apartment. Lots of neat things (furniture, kitchenstuff, etc.) and an office for designers. Jorge would love it.
planet japan
Time article about Japanese politeness.
Also some good articles in the sidebar about Japan.
Also some good articles in the sidebar about Japan.
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