gyoza etc @ 67

gyoza etc @ 67
Originally uploaded by renfield

Picked up Tonchan from school and met P in Hiroo. We went to 67 Gyoza for dinner; Musashimau's restaurant. Tiny little sliver of a place but we went early and it was empty. Gyoza, oden, riceballed wrapped in pork...SO. GOOD.

dinner @ 67

dinner @ 67
Originally uploaded by renfield

no rubberband!

no rubberband!
Originally uploaded by renfield

papa did my hair!

papa did my hair!
Originally uploaded by renfield

tokyo #1

Thanks to a strong yen, Tokyo once again reclaims its rightful place as the most expensive city in the world.

hairclips

hairclips
Originally uploaded by renfield

Somehow, she let mama brush and even put clips in her hair!

morning hair

morning hair
Originally uploaded by renfield

post bath

post bath
Originally uploaded by renfield

kumitachi gasshuku

Headed down to Ajiro (just after Atami, south of Tokyo) for a weekend of beatings.
We did a weekend of kumitachi; paired sword work. This time everyone used kiritampo: basically a PVC tube covered in foam so that you can smack the hell out of each other and do little damage.
Most people took this as an okay to flail all-out at each other, which didn't end up being much of a practice session but was probably lots of fun.
First day I taught the beginners so we went through the basics nice and slow. Didn't bother trying to explain distance and timing, just tried to get them to remember the kata; left foot, right hand, high, low, etc. Seemed to go well enough and a couple of them even have potential if they keep properly focused on their training.
Second day Salty and I took the advanced group whilst Gosoke took the beginners. Salty and I spent most of the time shaking our heads and sighing...everyone knows the moves so they they would just flail out at each other as fast as they could, dancing around in a pre-arranged manner.
A few of them got the idea, slowed down, and tried to react to each other, changing up the tempo and targeting, moving a little more smoothly and economically. But generally there was much flailing...
Using "safe" weapons is a good way to learn the basics without getting hurt, but at some point the realistic possibility of pain and possibly serious injury is what clicks your brain and body into the right mood to really deflact, evade, and counter. Then again not many of them are ready for that, so perhaps it's best to stay safe.

breakfast by the sea

breakfast by the sea
Originally uploaded by renfield

mosaic sisters

mosaic sisters
Originally uploaded by renfield

sashimi

sashimi
Originally uploaded by renfield

dinner!

dinner!
Originally uploaded by renfield

the abalone is still alive...

view from ajiro room

view from ajiro room
Originally uploaded by renfield

mookun

mookun
Originally uploaded by renfield

boy? girl?

dojo sunday

Headed to the Kudan Dojo just after noon to run the promotion exam. Four guys tested for shodan and did ok, one tested for nidan and failed, one tested for sandan and barely passed. Perhaps I am being too strict...nah, screw it. Nothing wrong with failing; it's the best way to learn, and you can always just test again, next month, every month, next year, every year...good to have goals but the goal isn't "to get promoted" it is "to get better than I am now", and therefore in that sense promotions are one of many reasonably useful tools.
But these days far, far too many people take their "rank" way too seriously. Especially in an old art like Mugairyu, the modern invention of dan ranks is totally and completely irrelevant. The only "rank" that matters is a scroll; the first menkyo. Until then we are all just beginners, and it would serve most people well to remember that.

After the testing we had a cutting session. I cut like crap, as always. But that's a good thing. I am much more relaxed about everything, and have more fun trying to figure out how to cut a nice clean hidari kesa then trying to pull off some crazy cuts from-the-draw. Basics are so much more interesting these days.
Also been reading another Japanese book on "nanba"; this one written but a bunch of teachers (elementary through college) and how they applied "nanba" principles of movement to their high school basket ball team, college orchestra, and junior high PE classes. Interesting stuff. Mostly things I already knew, but a few ideas in there that got me thinking more about how to utilize my back and shoulder blades more when walking, especially up and down stairs...good stuff to adapt to iai so I think I will have some fun playing around this weekend at the kumitachi gasshuku.

qtips in the ears

qtips in the ears
Originally uploaded by renfield

How my darling, genius daughter responds to the question: "Can you show papa how you clean your ears?" She jams a q-tip in each ear and makes a variation of The Face.

fish o the day

fish o the day
Originally uploaded by renfield

Her royal P-ness had the fish o' the day whilst Tonchan destroyed an Idaho-sized bowl of fries. I stuck with the ever-so-healthy riette sandwhich. Ah, reconstituted pork fat; thanks for the recommend Beck!

After lunch P went for a massage and I held Tonchan for a couple hours whilst she napped. In the evening Ton and I joined Todd and the girls for dinner at La Boheme in Sanja, and finished the evening with some icecream at BaskinRobbins whilst the pregnant moms relaxed one their couches.

fries with ketchup

fries with ketchup
Originally uploaded by renfield

I am sure there are some parents out there who manage to feed their kids nothing but wholesome vegetables as part of a well-balanced diet high on natural vitamins and minerals, low on sugar, carbohydrates, and starch. Those are the same parents who make their kids wear helmets on the swing and never let them play with scissors.

BORING.

My girl eats french fries. Great big bowls of 'em. With ketchup. Lots and lots of ketchup.

choki choki

choki choki
Originally uploaded by renfield

She has really been into scissors recently.To the point that she cut her finger a few days ago. But that didn't stop her; she stills loves to snip snip snip.