fighting fitness kichijoji
Fighting Fitness demo in Kichijoji this afternoon. Hot and crowded.
Everyone thumped well, and then we chowed at a local basement hang before heading home.
shintoryu
Spent some time in Honbu with Nakayama-san. We worked through the Shintoryu kenjutsu kumitachi. I haven't done them in a while (since last summer, really) so I was pretty rusty, and kept confusing the omote and ura (basic and advanced) techniques, but in the end things came together.
Those are some sweet kata; the timing and countering is really critical, and the centerline theory is obvious yet subtle. Most helpful in general partnerwork, and tough to do well at speed. Wish there were more folks who could practice with me, but few members are interested enough and skilled enough to learn them yet.
Ended early and grabbed dinner at Lucky before heading home. Eggplant curry with deep-fried garlic cloves: magical!
Those are some sweet kata; the timing and countering is really critical, and the centerline theory is obvious yet subtle. Most helpful in general partnerwork, and tough to do well at speed. Wish there were more folks who could practice with me, but few members are interested enough and skilled enough to learn them yet.
Ended early and grabbed dinner at Lucky before heading home. Eggplant curry with deep-fried garlic cloves: magical!
breakfast
I have a rule (ok, I have many rules, this is just one of them) about breakfast:
the temperature of the breakfast is reversely proportional to the weather.
So, during the cold, dark winter mornings I eat overly burnt bagels, scrambled eggs with tomato, and occasionally instant oatmeal.
But on a beautiful morning like today; post-rain, not a cloud in the blue sky nor any hints of the Tokyo smog, light wind, bright yellow sun, and already 25°C before 7am, breakfast needs to be cold.
So I had: a blend of foreign granola cereals (something possibly Canadian and another one from Europe, maybe Germany or perhaps Denmark?) with domestic soy milk, and perfectly ripe green kiwi fruit spooned into bite-sized chunks.
For those of you (especially YOU) who do the nosed-turned-up at soy milk, I have two responses:
1) Cow milk tastes like ass. Never liked it. Ask my mom; I'd only drink it when mixed liberally with chocolate or, even better, strawberry.
2) Even if milk didn't taste like ass, I still wouldn't drink it because of the incredibly painful things it does to me. That's right, as you've probably heard before: I am a lactard.
the temperature of the breakfast is reversely proportional to the weather.
So, during the cold, dark winter mornings I eat overly burnt bagels, scrambled eggs with tomato, and occasionally instant oatmeal.
But on a beautiful morning like today; post-rain, not a cloud in the blue sky nor any hints of the Tokyo smog, light wind, bright yellow sun, and already 25°C before 7am, breakfast needs to be cold.
So I had: a blend of foreign granola cereals (something possibly Canadian and another one from Europe, maybe Germany or perhaps Denmark?) with domestic soy milk, and perfectly ripe green kiwi fruit spooned into bite-sized chunks.
For those of you (especially YOU) who do the nosed-turned-up at soy milk, I have two responses:
1) Cow milk tastes like ass. Never liked it. Ask my mom; I'd only drink it when mixed liberally with chocolate or, even better, strawberry.
2) Even if milk didn't taste like ass, I still wouldn't drink it because of the incredibly painful things it does to me. That's right, as you've probably heard before: I am a lactard.
sore
Went with Hiroko to her Fighting Fitness class tonight. 60 minutes of non-stop kicking and punching, lead by a Kyokushin Karate instructor with no body-fat. This ain't no Tai-bo, this was serious cardiovascular pain. As expected I am:
1) Totally out of shape
2) Totally lacking in coordination
1) Totally out of shape
2) Totally lacking in coordination
spring
Spring it is. Perfect walkabout weather, so I went outside to meet hiroko downtown.
Cop cars everywhere at the corner, pool of blood in the street, scooter pulled up onto the sidewalk. Looks like someone tried to run a red light and got smacked and dragged around the corner. Nasty business.
Bussed down to Shibuya, saw the amusing Imperial rightists blathering about Japan's lost military glory (nice hair, guys!), met Hiroko, did some shopping -- new sneaks and sweatpants for the lady -- and walked up through Aoyama and down to Nishiazabu. Had some tea and snacks before cabbing home, getting the old shave-and-a-haircut-and-facial-massage. Then the traditional Japanese Sunday evening feast that we always cook. Damn, I love eating.
Cop cars everywhere at the corner, pool of blood in the street, scooter pulled up onto the sidewalk. Looks like someone tried to run a red light and got smacked and dragged around the corner. Nasty business.
Bussed down to Shibuya, saw the amusing Imperial rightists blathering about Japan's lost military glory (nice hair, guys!), met Hiroko, did some shopping -- new sneaks and sweatpants for the lady -- and walked up through Aoyama and down to Nishiazabu. Had some tea and snacks before cabbing home, getting the old shave-and-a-haircut-and-facial-massage. Then the traditional Japanese Sunday evening feast that we always cook. Damn, I love eating.
practice makes perfect
Or in my case, practice makes me insane, realizing how totally uncoordinated I am. Niina-gosoke has told me I am to take my rokudan (6th dan) shihan exam in December. I have 8 months. I am screwed.
construction noise
The construction down the street has a helpful decibel-display board that shows loudness in realtime. At 7:30 in the AM with no construction going on, background noise from the street is almost 60 decibels. So glad I am not around during the day when they're working. Doubly glad my house has double-pained glass that blocks out an amazing amount of noise.
nora jones
Saw Nora Jones at Tokyo International Hall. My but isn't she a cutie. Most decidedly mellow and enjoyable show. After the concert we walked over to Shinhinomoto for some grubby eats. The food is wonderful, but damn if it isn't a stinky smoke pit. Got home reaking of cigarette smoke and had to fabreeze our clothes and air out the room. Nasty nasty.
coffee & cigarettes
Ever the Jim Jarmusch fans, Hiroko and I went to Shibuya to see Coffee and Cigarettes. Generally entertaining, and Bill Murray is, once again, proven to be a genius of the understated.
Such a beautiful sunny day that after the movie we walked over to Harajuku for some Nathan's hotdogs, then up through Aoyama and down to Nishi-Azabu (our standard treck, which one of these days I shall have to properly measure but it must be at least a few kilometers.)
Such a beautiful sunny day that after the movie we walked over to Harajuku for some Nathan's hotdogs, then up through Aoyama and down to Nishi-Azabu (our standard treck, which one of these days I shall have to properly measure but it must be at least a few kilometers.)
chocolate!
Kairi likes chocolate. We hung out all day at Hiroko's work. As they moved a bunch of new desks in, we tore up the office, drew with crayons, abused Barbie, and ate a giant chocolate egg filled with candy. Like all the women in my life, she loves to boss me around.
one
Slept funny or something, so the right side of my neck was really tweaked and hurt all day. Was taking it easy in class, with Niina-gosoke watching over us as we drilled through the basics. About 10 minutes into class I did one perfect cut. I felt it, I heard it. Just as was thinking "Damn..." Niina-gosoke turned to me and said "That's the one. Do it like that every time."
Now how many years is it gonna take me to do another cut like that? And how many years until I can do it consistently?
After class I took Elvis to eat dinner at Lucky, and we got the Rock Star treatment because they love me there. Free shrimp goyza, too, and damn fine ones at that.
Elvis told his Romeo-and-Juilet story to Niina-gosoke and he fell over laughing. Gosoke's been telling everyone in the dojo; it's such a classic story you can't make up funnier.
We talked smack (do we ever talk anything else?) and finally cruised home late and full.
Now how many years is it gonna take me to do another cut like that? And how many years until I can do it consistently?
After class I took Elvis to eat dinner at Lucky, and we got the Rock Star treatment because they love me there. Free shrimp goyza, too, and damn fine ones at that.
Elvis told his Romeo-and-Juilet story to Niina-gosoke and he fell over laughing. Gosoke's been telling everyone in the dojo; it's such a classic story you can't make up funnier.
We talked smack (do we ever talk anything else?) and finally cruised home late and full.
kumitachi
Nearly full class for kumitachi. We managed to do a couple of the Shintoryu Shitsuhatsu kata as well, but most folks just don't get it. I need someone who can significantly crush me on a regular basis, or I'm just not getting much of a challenge. Not bragging or anything; it's just that no one really practices this stuff as much as I do.
If I can get BuenaVista outta work early enough on Wednesdays, he might be able to give me a run for my money. Supposedly he did some old-school kenjutsu for a while.
If I can get BuenaVista outta work early enough on Wednesdays, he might be able to give me a run for my money. Supposedly he did some old-school kenjutsu for a while.
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