lawrys
Originally uploaded by renfield.
The Shadow passed her level one financial qualifications exam, so as promised I took her to lunch at Lawry's for some proper meat, and of course she had a lunch beer.
back in the dojo
First practice of the year, and my first practice in what must be over a month. My left ankle still feels a bit wonky since I did something to it a couple of days ago (not sure what) but other than that it was nice to get back swinging.
Took plenty of time today to warm up and work on basics slowly. Focused on, as always, keeping some semblance of balance and coordination between the upper and lower halves of the body. Always tough, because it's so easy to step quickly with the feet, but the arms can't move the sword as quickly, and it ends up being a whip-like motion with the feet and legs planting and then the upper body swinging forward and the arms snapping. Strong, but no good against someone who's also trying to kill you. As has been stressed from day one: if you step you are in range to hit and therefore in range to be hit. If you step into range, your sword best be buried in the other guy's head. If it's not, and it's still somewhere above your head, then his sword will surely be buried in your head.
So we worked on basics 1 and 2, then did the first kata shin for the rest of the time. Gotta love the word kata. It means shape or form, referring to the pattern of movements, but not the same as odori, a set pattern of movements i.e. a dance. Kata is concerned with transmitting some essence of the art through the repetition of certain physical strategies. The desired end result is some level of proficiency in using the techniques to achieve given goals: kill him before he kills you, evade and counter before he has time to mount a second attack, etc. Interestingly, the end result can be achieved, superficially (and wrongly) by ignoring the exactness of the kata itself.
For example it's easy to cut a straw target: any adult can swing a sword like a bat and chop straw in two. But to do so without using unnecessary arm strength, driving from the hips effortlessly requires serious practice.
Before the end can be achieved, the kata must be obeyed. Since it is impossible for a beginner to understand a kata, he must first take it on faith that the kata is correct, even though he is unable to do it correctly. So the beginner makes every effort to simply copy what he sees, to make his kata look correct. First get the moves in their proper order; left foot, right hand, etc. Then attempt to make them look right; lean this far, sword angled just so, hand and foot timed like this. Ironically, it is only by first striving to make the kata look good that one can begin to understand the essence of the kata; correct action forces the desired result -- it is not possible to do the wrong thing when the kata is done correctly, and it is not possible to make the kata look correct without doing it correctly.
Superficially at first, it is easy to mimic the various poses of the kata, to copy frame by frame. The key is the movement between frames, the timing and balance, the poise and speed moving from one frame to the next. Ultimately the body learns how to move in ways originally thought not possible or at the least impractical. Then begins an understanding of the strategy, the actual art. At this point one can start ignoring the kata in and of itself and focus on the underlying goal and the principals to achievement. Interestingly, this is why many senior practitioners are not too concerned with getting a kata "wrong"; they are perfectly capable of going left instead of right, slow instead of fast, because they understand the essence, the strategy of the art. Gosoke sometimes demonstrates this by starting one kata and then finishing as another. For him, as he says, all the kata are merely one kata, there is only one Mugairyu. As the first line of the poem from which Mugairyu got its name says: "ippo jitsu mugai" -- "There is nothing but the one truth."
Took plenty of time today to warm up and work on basics slowly. Focused on, as always, keeping some semblance of balance and coordination between the upper and lower halves of the body. Always tough, because it's so easy to step quickly with the feet, but the arms can't move the sword as quickly, and it ends up being a whip-like motion with the feet and legs planting and then the upper body swinging forward and the arms snapping. Strong, but no good against someone who's also trying to kill you. As has been stressed from day one: if you step you are in range to hit and therefore in range to be hit. If you step into range, your sword best be buried in the other guy's head. If it's not, and it's still somewhere above your head, then his sword will surely be buried in your head.
So we worked on basics 1 and 2, then did the first kata shin for the rest of the time. Gotta love the word kata. It means shape or form, referring to the pattern of movements, but not the same as odori, a set pattern of movements i.e. a dance. Kata is concerned with transmitting some essence of the art through the repetition of certain physical strategies. The desired end result is some level of proficiency in using the techniques to achieve given goals: kill him before he kills you, evade and counter before he has time to mount a second attack, etc. Interestingly, the end result can be achieved, superficially (and wrongly) by ignoring the exactness of the kata itself.
For example it's easy to cut a straw target: any adult can swing a sword like a bat and chop straw in two. But to do so without using unnecessary arm strength, driving from the hips effortlessly requires serious practice.
Before the end can be achieved, the kata must be obeyed. Since it is impossible for a beginner to understand a kata, he must first take it on faith that the kata is correct, even though he is unable to do it correctly. So the beginner makes every effort to simply copy what he sees, to make his kata look correct. First get the moves in their proper order; left foot, right hand, etc. Then attempt to make them look right; lean this far, sword angled just so, hand and foot timed like this. Ironically, it is only by first striving to make the kata look good that one can begin to understand the essence of the kata; correct action forces the desired result -- it is not possible to do the wrong thing when the kata is done correctly, and it is not possible to make the kata look correct without doing it correctly.
Superficially at first, it is easy to mimic the various poses of the kata, to copy frame by frame. The key is the movement between frames, the timing and balance, the poise and speed moving from one frame to the next. Ultimately the body learns how to move in ways originally thought not possible or at the least impractical. Then begins an understanding of the strategy, the actual art. At this point one can start ignoring the kata in and of itself and focus on the underlying goal and the principals to achievement. Interestingly, this is why many senior practitioners are not too concerned with getting a kata "wrong"; they are perfectly capable of going left instead of right, slow instead of fast, because they understand the essence, the strategy of the art. Gosoke sometimes demonstrates this by starting one kata and then finishing as another. For him, as he says, all the kata are merely one kata, there is only one Mugairyu. As the first line of the poem from which Mugairyu got its name says: "ippo jitsu mugai" -- "There is nothing but the one truth."
p's night off
P went to her annual junior high school reunion so I was in charge of Tonchan. Fed her a couple of bottles, burped her, put her in the sling and she fell asleep immediately. Had dinner, gave her a bath and another bottle, and by then P came home. All in all a tiring but successful evening.
P's friends couldn't believe that a) she had a baby (we surpised everyone by sending them new year's cards with pictures of Tonchan) and b) she left a one-month old baby with the husband. I guess they're not used to husbands who are even remotely useful when it comes to taking care of kids.
P's friends couldn't believe that a) she had a baby (we surpised everyone by sending them new year's cards with pictures of Tonchan) and b) she left a one-month old baby with the husband. I guess they're not used to husbands who are even remotely useful when it comes to taking care of kids.
rains and trains
Took Mama up to Millie's place to have lunch with her and her parents. We took the subway. Badly. Didn't even realize that Kodenmacho station is not on the Ginza Line, so we ended up taking Nanboku to Ginza to Asakusa to Hibiya. Should have just gotten on the Hibiya Line at Hiroo, so we make a 30 minute ride into a an hour-long slough through the underworld of Tokyo.
After playing with Millie and stuffing ourselves we went to Mitsukoshi to check out the cool traditional crafts sale. Mama got some cool hand-blown glass bead (tombodama) necklaces and I got a hand-carved wooden mu to carry around in my pocket.
And then it was to the basement to load up on grilled fish and chicken balls and black vinegar pork to take home and eat for dinner, but first a fresh squeezed juice to get the blood sugar level back to normal.
After playing with Millie and stuffing ourselves we went to Mitsukoshi to check out the cool traditional crafts sale. Mama got some cool hand-blown glass bead (tombodama) necklaces and I got a hand-carved wooden mu to carry around in my pocket.
And then it was to the basement to load up on grilled fish and chicken balls and black vinegar pork to take home and eat for dinner, but first a fresh squeezed juice to get the blood sugar level back to normal.
1 month checkup
1 month checkup
Originally uploaded by renfield.
Went with Tonchan and P for a checkup. Tonchan is doing well -- gaining lots of weight and her neck is getting strong. Oh yeah, she's also damn cute, thank you.
tonchan hatsumode
Hatsumode = "first shrine visit of the year"
We bundled her up:
Stuffed her in the sling:
(where she promptly fell asleep)
And headed to Hikawa Shrine:
We bundled her up:
Stuffed her in the sling:
(where she promptly fell asleep)
And headed to Hikawa Shrine:
2006
I guess I'm supposed to write something looking back at all the things that happened in 2006, maybe even provide some links back to my favorite or significant posts; you know, like grandpa Kuroda dying and Daisuke, Maya, and Tonchan being born. Friends arriving and friends leaving, eating good food and staying at cool places...
Then again I can also remark that I lost 2 kilos, shrank a quarter centimeter, and shaved my head regularly.
So what's in store for 2007? More sitting (I hope), less training (I suspect), more diapers (I am sure.)
Then again I can also remark that I lost 2 kilos, shrank a quarter centimeter, and shaved my head regularly.
So what's in store for 2007? More sitting (I hope), less training (I suspect), more diapers (I am sure.)
winter?
Been unseasonably warm past couple days, so taking the opportunity to sneak outside (between diaper changes and feedings) and shop for bread, buy/sell used English books, and get my head shaved.
Brain gets a bit toasted sitting inside all day, so it's nice to get out every now and then. Also interesting to see the kinds of people who are out and about during the day. Sitting at work all day I never get a chance to ride the bus and wander about shopping amongst the common folk. Good to mingle with the peasants every now and then; keeps one humble.
Brain gets a bit toasted sitting inside all day, so it's nice to get out every now and then. Also interesting to see the kinds of people who are out and about during the day. Sitting at work all day I never get a chance to ride the bus and wander about shopping amongst the common folk. Good to mingle with the peasants every now and then; keeps one humble.
traditional jewish xmas dinner
traditional jewish xmas dinner
Originally uploaded by renfield.
Sprial ham with honey glaze, potato panckaes with applesauce, carrot soup. Merry Chanukrismas!
little man Kai
The Birth of Our First Baby
Originally uploaded by Cornelius_20D.
Corn's kid is born! Little Man Kai has joined us on Dec 22, so now Tonchan's got someone to date in a few more years.
meimei
P1000284.JPG
Originally uploaded by renfield.
Parentals Kuroda came by this morning to present Tonchan with the traditional girl's hagoita (decorated fan.) Grandma also wrote out this cool birthday announcement.
gifts for tonchan!
P1000274.JPG
Originally uploaded by renfield.
Tonchan is just scoring big time! From all her friends at work and across Japan and the US, and all her family, she got tons of flowers, a bunch of toys, new clothes, towels, stuffed friends, and this cool stocking from Aunt Linda!
She also really, really doesn't like coming out of the bath and being cold. She cries and screams and is generally pissed off with me for a good hour, until I wrap her up and make her warm and let her suck/chew on my finger for a while...but what really makes her happy is when mom comes and feeds her. Meanwhile I have been soaked and nearly pooped on from bathtime. Just think, in a few short years this bundle of screaming joy will be exclaiming "I don't want you I want MOM!"
Ah, fatherhood. 10 days down...24 years to go...
damn straight
city hall and shibuya
Went with mama to Minato City Hall (Ward Office sounds lame) to register Tonchan's birth and start some paperwork. The federal gov't gives us a fair amount of money for a child's birth, plus Minato will kick in some more, for both the birth and for the mom's medical expenses.
The interesting bit, as always, was how they deal with a foreigner dad. Technically, when we got married P came off of her father's family registery, had her own created, and I am on hers (in the section on the bottom where it says "Pets and other notes" there is the comment "married to a foreigner.")
So to register Tonchan's birth my name as father has to be just like it is on P's family registery, which is basically my maiden name. I am curious as to how the US Embassy will react to that, because I don't actually have anything that shows I am me, with my current name and my maiden name. When I got married and changed my name, I simply went to the US Embassy and said "Got married, took my wife's name" and they updated my passport. When I went back to city hall to renew my registration as a resident alien, they used the name in my passport, no longer my maiden name.
So when I go to the US Embassy with a copy of Tonchan's Japanese birth certificate, it will have dad's name as my maiden name...not quite sure I will use that to prove she's mine! This should be interesting...
After that little adventure in Japanese bureaucracy we had a quick/cheap/easy/filling pork bowl at Yoshinoya and took the train to Shibuya. First showed mama the 5-story fabric store across from 109, and then reminded her how to get to Tokyu Hands, so now she's set for shopping. Finally had a warm and refreshing bevvie at the QFront Starbucks before taking the bus home.
The interesting bit, as always, was how they deal with a foreigner dad. Technically, when we got married P came off of her father's family registery, had her own created, and I am on hers (in the section on the bottom where it says "Pets and other notes" there is the comment "married to a foreigner.")
So to register Tonchan's birth my name as father has to be just like it is on P's family registery, which is basically my maiden name. I am curious as to how the US Embassy will react to that, because I don't actually have anything that shows I am me, with my current name and my maiden name. When I got married and changed my name, I simply went to the US Embassy and said "Got married, took my wife's name" and they updated my passport. When I went back to city hall to renew my registration as a resident alien, they used the name in my passport, no longer my maiden name.
So when I go to the US Embassy with a copy of Tonchan's Japanese birth certificate, it will have dad's name as my maiden name...not quite sure I will use that to prove she's mine! This should be interesting...
After that little adventure in Japanese bureaucracy we had a quick/cheap/easy/filling pork bowl at Yoshinoya and took the train to Shibuya. First showed mama the 5-story fabric store across from 109, and then reminded her how to get to Tokyu Hands, so now she's set for shopping. Finally had a warm and refreshing bevvie at the QFront Starbucks before taking the bus home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)