Strick's Ramblings » Aikido

Aikido Neglect

James Strickland — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:07:20 +0000

Since that I have been on night shift, I have been missing my Aikido Classes. I feel bad, that is good training which is just as good for your mind and spirit. I'm going to try to get back into going next month. For some reason I feel guilty. I could actually go atleast once a week. Since I work weekend duty, I could go on the Wednesday class. But the problem is, I would never get any time to spend with the kids. Since I work nights (actually swings... we don't have a nite shift), when I leave for work, the kids are not home from school yet, and when I get home the kids are already in bed. In the morning, I'm sleeping while they are getting ready for school. So I don't even see the kids until Wednesdays, my days off are Wednesday and Thursday. I need to get in the gym and practice my ukimi before I get back into the class.

Ukemi

James Strickland — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:56:06 +0000

Last Wednesday I took a pretty good fall... bruised my side... & got my wrist bruised when I was being pinned... wasn't a good night... so I skipped the Friday class. Today was ok, I did more Ukemi practice... did little better today.

Sumo Dojo again…

James Strickland — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 10:39:45 +0000

Today we had a good practice session at the Sumo dojo again. I'm definately improving on my unkemi. Well... atleast when I do ukemi by myself. But, when someone was throwing me, I'm having a hard time. Sensei Matsumoto-san showed me a trick today... I wasn't taking a step... I take a wide step, then roll... I was just trying to roll... and that wasn't working out for me.

I feel like I have improved drastically! I'm sorry I will miss Monday & possible Wednesday's class due to work.

Good workout tonight!

James Strickland — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:03:10 +0000

We had a good session tonight. I'm really sore, but I really need to work on my Ukemi. If I practice my ukemi by myself, I'm fine. However, someone is throwing me, then I mess it all up for some reason. Geez... it's a bit embarrasing. I don't know why. I really need to visit an Onsen... think I'll try to fit that in tomorrow...

Weekend Sessions

James Strickland — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 13:52:18 +0000

Sensei Motsomoto-san offered up his weekends again, so I eagerly accepted. Today was great, I feel like I'm making progress with my ukemi (forward at least). Need more practice with my "Ninja walk."

I asked Matsomoto-san if I was getting better, (lol) he said no... that maybe after 30 years he may tell me that I'm getting better. He said that he's been practicing for 30 years, and he still needs more better...

I have another session in the Morning... I will probably be pretty sore tomorrow... we'll see...

Good session tonight.

James Strickland — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:25:04 +0000

I had a good Aikido session tonight. We had more people there & Sensei offered to teach again on Saturday & Sunday. that's awsome, so that will be 5 sessions a week. I'm sure I'll be sore again, I had quite a good workout tonight.

Sumo Dojo

James Strickland — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 07:55:45 +0000

Today, we a good workout... worked on lots of moves & I practiced my rolls. Sensei said I really needed more practice, and I agreed. Our normal dojo (Misawa Gymnasium) was closed for a basketball tournament so we ended up having our meeting at another Dojo. Sensei said it was a Sumo dojo. Their mats were softer than standard totami mats.

I really must be out of shape, because after this practice and the practice on Friday, my muscles were exausted. Monday is a Japanese Holiday, so they'll be no practice on that day.

another awsome session

James Strickland — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 13:38:34 +0000

had another awesome Aikido session today. I really need more practice & I really need to learn more Japanese. Sensei Motsomoto-san agreed to give us a private lesson tomorrow. That is awesome that he is doing this for us. This is great, because I definitely need more practice. Everyday I leave the dojo, I feel great, a bit tired, but tired in a good way.

What the Average Japanese thinks

James Strickland — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 07:28:51 +0000

I was asking one of the Japanese I work with some questions about Kyuodo, and martial arts in general. I told them that I was taking Aikido downtown, and he started laughing... which made me a bit mad... they said that Aikido wasn't very popular in Japan. That Judo & Kendo was the most popular. I'm not sure why they were laughing.

oh well... Aikido is popular with me. That's all that matters.

2nd Training Session

James Strickland — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 14:00:09 +0000

My 2nd day of Training went well, eventhough today I really felt the language barrier. I will sign up for the next Japanese class that's offered. Plus, there's 2 high school aged kids there (Japanese), one speaks english better than the other, so hopefully they can help. I really will need to practice more than 3 times a week. I will go to the gym and practice either by myself or with one of the other guys in the class.