waiting for flight to hiroshima
Originally uploaded by renfield
laputa
laputa
Originally uploaded by renfield
Accompanied the Mighty Ton with Baba Ba-bara and Emi to the land of Totoro; the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. Took the subway to Shinjuku, took the elevator out to the street and walked the long way around to the south exit to get to the Chuo rapid JR line because Ton wanted to go across the street-level train-track crossing.
A short jaunt to Mitaka and then a small bus dropped us off right on time. The museum was packed (Sunday afternoon, whadya expect?) and very cool. Easily more than half the guests had no kids, and many of the exhibits were all about the magic of animation and movie-projection. Ton loved playing on the life-sized nekobasu, and two entire rooms were filled with a Ponyo exhibit. At the end we checked out the 15 minute short movie and Ton managed to make it to the very end before the dark, the movie, the excitement, and naptime had her crying her head off. Got back on the bus and into the stroller and by the time we got upstairs to the Starbucks in the train station she was comatose.
And when we got home, Masa made a huge bowl of yakisoba for dinner.
gasshuku
Past weekend went down to Ajiro (Atami, in Shizuoka Prefecture) for a weekend of sword. Gosoke hosted 25 of us for special instruction in okuden and naiden, the so-called advanced techniques of which there are eight. I was taught these many years ago, when I first got my okuirisho, which is a document from Gosoke basically saying you are allowed to practice these eight kata and you don't have to split your stomach in shame if someone actually observes you practicing.
Several of them are hard, and my nemesis is Sangyo-icchi. For whatever reason I am totally incapable of doing this kata without throwing my sword everywhere except where it needs to be. Does not help that it is one of the simplest kata.
Alternatively, I find Ichijin to be much easier, though most people find it difficult given the cross-step evade and simultaneous draw-cut.
Salty and I spent most of the first day working on Ichijin and after a fantasic dinner of endless seafood, we spent most of the night with Presley and Wake-kun goofing off in our room and nearly knocking down the lights / poking holes in the screens as we debated the various aspects of martial arts in the modern world.
At the shinnenkai a few weeks ago Gosoke reminded me that it has been five years since I got promoted to 6dan. His none-too-subtle way of telling me I should test for 7dan this year. I immediately said no. But upon reflection, I figure I might as well give it a shot. Gives me some motivation to train a bit more this year, and if I'm not ready, he won't pass me, so it doesn't matter all that much.
Besides, the organization could use a 7dan, so from a purely holistic perspective it's not a bad idea for someone to test, and I and Yoshida-sensei are the only two qualified at this time.
Several of them are hard, and my nemesis is Sangyo-icchi. For whatever reason I am totally incapable of doing this kata without throwing my sword everywhere except where it needs to be. Does not help that it is one of the simplest kata.
Alternatively, I find Ichijin to be much easier, though most people find it difficult given the cross-step evade and simultaneous draw-cut.
Salty and I spent most of the first day working on Ichijin and after a fantasic dinner of endless seafood, we spent most of the night with Presley and Wake-kun goofing off in our room and nearly knocking down the lights / poking holes in the screens as we debated the various aspects of martial arts in the modern world.
At the shinnenkai a few weeks ago Gosoke reminded me that it has been five years since I got promoted to 6dan. His none-too-subtle way of telling me I should test for 7dan this year. I immediately said no. But upon reflection, I figure I might as well give it a shot. Gives me some motivation to train a bit more this year, and if I'm not ready, he won't pass me, so it doesn't matter all that much.
Besides, the organization could use a 7dan, so from a purely holistic perspective it's not a bad idea for someone to test, and I and Yoshida-sensei are the only two qualified at this time.
teaching beginners
Managed to get to Honbu Dojo a few days ago and helped teach. Place was PACKED, and all beginners (even the instructors I hardly knew...man I must be OLD), plus another six people observing class.
Fun to teach total beginners again after not having trained nor taught for a while. They simply don't know anything so do EXACTLY what I say, to the point of being ridiculous. Which is good because it really helps me understand how others may think about how they are using their own bodies, and how the words I say and the things I show get interpreted so differently than what I intended to be teaching.
Good class, and it's nice to be a beginner myself again!
Fun to teach total beginners again after not having trained nor taught for a while. They simply don't know anything so do EXACTLY what I say, to the point of being ridiculous. Which is good because it really helps me understand how others may think about how they are using their own bodies, and how the words I say and the things I show get interpreted so differently than what I intended to be teaching.
Good class, and it's nice to be a beginner myself again!
leighton thomas guzofski
The Young Prince
Originally uploaded by Guzilla
It has arrived! Lee & Charity spawned, and it is a boy, and he is soon to take over the world, but first some milk and a nice nap...
grandma hisae
grandma hisae
Originally uploaded by renfield
One-year anniversary of Grandma Hisae's death, so we headed up to Tsukuba on the Tsukuba Express train. Tonchan started the morning well, helping to feed breakfast to her brother. Then she decided that she wanted to bring her entire library with her. When I explained that she could take one book in her bag, she had a proper 3-year old melt down, and I exploded at her. Ultimately I won: she got her princess book in her Kiki bag and was in the stroller.
P wasn't too happy at my handling of the situation, but I'm bigger than Ton and I don't like to be manipulated. Got onto the subway and the train with no issues, and finally I decided to be nice to Ton after she learned her lesson. Met Jiji and Baba at the station and headed up to the house without incident. Ate some sushi and cream cakes and other goodies, then the priest showed up and after being duly impressed by my Japanese and Tonchan's English, we did some quick namu namu for Grandma and headed to the graveyard. Did some more incense burning and namu namu and then headed back to the station and home with Masa.
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