I've decided to get ready for my 3rd degree test. I'm only a bit overdue (7/31/2009 was my eligibility date) so maybe I should think about getting ready.
The first step I took was joining the local gym - which I've been attending regularly. The workouts have been mostly cardio, though my brother has helped me with some minor weight training. He does a system of opposition: when he works one set of muscles, he then works the muscles that pull in the opposite direction. It feels balanced & it seems I'm not so sore the next day.
The second step is learning the two forms I need to promote to 3rd Degree: Choong-Jang & Juche. If you watch these, the former doesn't seem too bad to me. The latter is a bit more involved & I think it'll take a lot more time to put together (much less make it look good).
Next, I have to design 5 one-step sparring techniques (basically, punch defense) which are mostly complete. I'm centering this around punching combinations from an attacker. This came from the idea that an aggressor won't just stop after the first punch & the attacks will keep coming. It seems to flow well & I've even incorporated some good HKD concepts into them.
When all this comes together, I'll do a video of my forms, self-defense & one steps to send to my instructor. If he's satisfied with my performance, hopefully I'll be able to test for 3rd Degree after I do a refresher on all the terminology...
Showing posts with label Martial Arts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martial Arts. Show all posts
1/11/10
11/20/09
Honorary Belting
This article was passed to me by Harvey of Bad Example. President Obama, during his recent visit to South Korea - as part of his apparent world tour (take that global warming believers!) - was awarded an honorary black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Since I'm a black belt in TKD, it's well within my authority to comment on this "achievement".
First, I assume he's 1st degree. Being a second degree, I outrank him.
Second, I'm not offended at the award even though it wasn't earned. It's an honorary belt, just like an honorary doctorate from a university. In fact, this is an apt reference since one may actually get a degree in TKD in some South Korean universities.
Many of the comments on the article are just waaaaay too sensitive on the subject of an honorary award. No, it's not like the Nobel Peace prize. While both are political awards in my mind, the Peace prize denotes some form of accomplishment while the black belt, in reality, is just a piece of cloth around one's waist - the perceived value is put there by the observer.
Also, and let's be honest, there are black belts available for the asking out there. If you want to look at any martial arts website out there, you can order the belt & an official-looking certificate and *BOOM*, you're a black belt. It's a symbol, not a determination of actual competence in an art.
Now, it would be inappropriate for the president to claim status as a black belt since it was given & not earned AND the fact everyone will know it's honorary from the start of class. Accomplishment allows for character building, not the other way around.
Here's what a black belt means in my opinion. Yes, I wrote an essay for my 1st degree (AND got my cool tagline from Harvey as a result!).
First, I assume he's 1st degree. Being a second degree, I outrank him.
Second, I'm not offended at the award even though it wasn't earned. It's an honorary belt, just like an honorary doctorate from a university. In fact, this is an apt reference since one may actually get a degree in TKD in some South Korean universities.
Many of the comments on the article are just waaaaay too sensitive on the subject of an honorary award. No, it's not like the Nobel Peace prize. While both are political awards in my mind, the Peace prize denotes some form of accomplishment while the black belt, in reality, is just a piece of cloth around one's waist - the perceived value is put there by the observer.
Also, and let's be honest, there are black belts available for the asking out there. If you want to look at any martial arts website out there, you can order the belt & an official-looking certificate and *BOOM*, you're a black belt. It's a symbol, not a determination of actual competence in an art.
Now, it would be inappropriate for the president to claim status as a black belt since it was given & not earned AND the fact everyone will know it's honorary from the start of class. Accomplishment allows for character building, not the other way around.
Here's what a black belt means in my opinion. Yes, I wrote an essay for my 1st degree (AND got my cool tagline from Harvey as a result!).
5/25/09
Martial Law
Patti of Good Googledy Moogledies commented on a recent post where she asked:
Choosing a martial arts school can seem complicated: Tuition costs, uniforms, extra equipment, etc. are only a few of the thoughts that will run through your head when trying to choose a school. Honestly, though, the above concerns aren't the most important. Ultimately, the concern is finding a martial art & school you enjoy.
With that in mind, here are Hap's recommendations for finding a martial arts school:
1) Style: What does the school teach? This is what the student will study & it needs to match what you want out of a martial art. Do you want self-defense? Jeet Kun Do or Hap Ki Do are great...Tae Kwon Do or Karate aren't for you in this case. I'll offer more suggestions at the end of the post.
2) Location/Facility: Try to find a close school with clean, organized facilities. Traveling for an hour, unless the student is exceptionally dedicated to the art, is not practical. Facilities should be appropriate for the art (i.e. - clean, spacious mats for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or high ceilings with clean, smooth floors for Tae Kwon Do). Fancy equipment is often expensive & schools generally are in this for profit. That means the students are paying for what you see. That's not necessarily a bad thing...just keep it in mind.
3) Contracts: This also includes tuition costs. There is ZERO need to sign a contract, in my opinion. The school should either bill by the lesson or by the month. Just because "you get what you pay for" is a popular adage doesn't mean it's entirely true. A good school won't break the bank. In fact, I'd be suspect of any school that charges over $80/month (major cities may cost more). My instructor charges far less, though teaching is not how he earns his living.
Any school worth your time will let a prospective student try out a lesson or two for free AND will answer all questions honestly.
4) Equipment: Can you purchase your own or must you buy from the school? The latter often means marked-up prices. Depending on the art, there may be a lot of equipment to purchase & purchasing from a distributor such as Century can often be less expensive than buying from the school. A school can determine the dress code of students & the students should be allowed to obtain that equipment by the most cost-effective means.
With those basics out of the way, here are some questions I'd ask based on experience:
(If you don't get a straight answer on any of the below, just leave the school)
1) How many years have you practiced AND taught in [martial art]?
2) What is the core philosophy of the school (sparring, self-defense, discipline, competition, etc.)?
3) How much is tuition? Are testing fees included in this price? If not, what are the testing fees for each level & for what (exactly) does the testing fee pay (boards, new belt, certificate, instructor time)? I'm personally against the instructor charging a large test fee for his/her "time". That should be part of the tuition, not test. The testing is the student's time!
4) Are there any age restrictions for rank? Unfortunately, some schools will promote based only on time-in-rank & not consider age. Remember that rank is a combination of skill, effort, time and maturity. The belt is basically a measuring stick for progress. By itself, the belt keeps your pants up - it does not determine actual ability or dedication to the art.
There are plenty of other questions that may be asked. If anyone comes up with any, I am always available to answer them. Please feel free to e-mail me (e-mail link is at the top of the site) if something is on your mind.
Now, for a quick summary of martial arts. These are arts to which I have been exposed but do not necessarily have a rank:
1) Hapkido (2nd Degree): My first martial art & the other love in my life (besides God, Country & Family). Hapkido focuses largely on joint locks, balance disruption & minor striking elements. The main focus is to prevent/deter an attack & strongly discourage the attacker from pursuing another assault. It is a difficult art to learn but exceptionally difficult to counter in its primary application: Self-Defense.
2) Taekwondo (2nd Degree): A striking art that utilizes snapping kicks (70%) & hand strikes (30%). It is an art in the sense of patterns (kata, poomse) to learn & an entire philosophy permeating every aspect of the discipline. This is a very popular art across America for families & children as one major focus for schools is to instill discipline in students. There are also more "acrobatic" kicks & techniques that make for good demonstration, competition & sparring.
3) Arnis (Level 2 of 10): An overly-simplified summary of this art is "stick fighting". More accurately, it is close-quarters self-defense with a combative edge to the art. The stick & knife techniques supplement Hapkido's joint locks with practical weaponry. Still, the art easily stands on its own in terms of self-defense & adaptability.
4) Jeet Kun Do (No Rank): The art founded by the late Bruce Lee, JKD is simplicity in self-defense. It borrows elements from various Chinese styles & offers discipline along with self-confidence. If there were a place to start in martial arts, this would probably be the best. A student can get in shape while learning valuable skills.
5) Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (No Rank): A grappling art, the traditional form founded by the Gracies is renowned for revolutionizing Mixed Martial Arts & gave us organizations such as the UFC. BJJ deals largely with ground fighting applications & utilizes chokes, holds & joint manipulation to submit or render an opponent unconscious. There are "street" applications of this art that focus on self-defense but I am wary of any art that takes an attack to the ground. The focus of self-defense is to get out of the situation, not prolong it on the floor (That is just my opinion).
"Have any advice that might help a mom who'd like to let her boy explore what [martial art] he is interested in, but in an environment that is productive to the boy - not just the instructor's bottom line?"
Choosing a martial arts school can seem complicated: Tuition costs, uniforms, extra equipment, etc. are only a few of the thoughts that will run through your head when trying to choose a school. Honestly, though, the above concerns aren't the most important. Ultimately, the concern is finding a martial art & school you enjoy.
With that in mind, here are Hap's recommendations for finding a martial arts school:
1) Style: What does the school teach? This is what the student will study & it needs to match what you want out of a martial art. Do you want self-defense? Jeet Kun Do or Hap Ki Do are great...Tae Kwon Do or Karate aren't for you in this case. I'll offer more suggestions at the end of the post.
2) Location/Facility: Try to find a close school with clean, organized facilities. Traveling for an hour, unless the student is exceptionally dedicated to the art, is not practical. Facilities should be appropriate for the art (i.e. - clean, spacious mats for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or high ceilings with clean, smooth floors for Tae Kwon Do). Fancy equipment is often expensive & schools generally are in this for profit. That means the students are paying for what you see. That's not necessarily a bad thing...just keep it in mind.
3) Contracts: This also includes tuition costs. There is ZERO need to sign a contract, in my opinion. The school should either bill by the lesson or by the month. Just because "you get what you pay for" is a popular adage doesn't mean it's entirely true. A good school won't break the bank. In fact, I'd be suspect of any school that charges over $80/month (major cities may cost more). My instructor charges far less, though teaching is not how he earns his living.
Any school worth your time will let a prospective student try out a lesson or two for free AND will answer all questions honestly.
4) Equipment: Can you purchase your own or must you buy from the school? The latter often means marked-up prices. Depending on the art, there may be a lot of equipment to purchase & purchasing from a distributor such as Century can often be less expensive than buying from the school. A school can determine the dress code of students & the students should be allowed to obtain that equipment by the most cost-effective means.
With those basics out of the way, here are some questions I'd ask based on experience:
(If you don't get a straight answer on any of the below, just leave the school)
1) How many years have you practiced AND taught in [martial art]?
2) What is the core philosophy of the school (sparring, self-defense, discipline, competition, etc.)?
3) How much is tuition? Are testing fees included in this price? If not, what are the testing fees for each level & for what (exactly) does the testing fee pay (boards, new belt, certificate, instructor time)? I'm personally against the instructor charging a large test fee for his/her "time". That should be part of the tuition, not test. The testing is the student's time!
4) Are there any age restrictions for rank? Unfortunately, some schools will promote based only on time-in-rank & not consider age. Remember that rank is a combination of skill, effort, time and maturity. The belt is basically a measuring stick for progress. By itself, the belt keeps your pants up - it does not determine actual ability or dedication to the art.
There are plenty of other questions that may be asked. If anyone comes up with any, I am always available to answer them. Please feel free to e-mail me (e-mail link is at the top of the site) if something is on your mind.
Now, for a quick summary of martial arts. These are arts to which I have been exposed but do not necessarily have a rank:
1) Hapkido (2nd Degree): My first martial art & the other love in my life (besides God, Country & Family). Hapkido focuses largely on joint locks, balance disruption & minor striking elements. The main focus is to prevent/deter an attack & strongly discourage the attacker from pursuing another assault. It is a difficult art to learn but exceptionally difficult to counter in its primary application: Self-Defense.
2) Taekwondo (2nd Degree): A striking art that utilizes snapping kicks (70%) & hand strikes (30%). It is an art in the sense of patterns (kata, poomse) to learn & an entire philosophy permeating every aspect of the discipline. This is a very popular art across America for families & children as one major focus for schools is to instill discipline in students. There are also more "acrobatic" kicks & techniques that make for good demonstration, competition & sparring.
3) Arnis (Level 2 of 10): An overly-simplified summary of this art is "stick fighting". More accurately, it is close-quarters self-defense with a combative edge to the art. The stick & knife techniques supplement Hapkido's joint locks with practical weaponry. Still, the art easily stands on its own in terms of self-defense & adaptability.
4) Jeet Kun Do (No Rank): The art founded by the late Bruce Lee, JKD is simplicity in self-defense. It borrows elements from various Chinese styles & offers discipline along with self-confidence. If there were a place to start in martial arts, this would probably be the best. A student can get in shape while learning valuable skills.
5) Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (No Rank): A grappling art, the traditional form founded by the Gracies is renowned for revolutionizing Mixed Martial Arts & gave us organizations such as the UFC. BJJ deals largely with ground fighting applications & utilizes chokes, holds & joint manipulation to submit or render an opponent unconscious. There are "street" applications of this art that focus on self-defense but I am wary of any art that takes an attack to the ground. The focus of self-defense is to get out of the situation, not prolong it on the floor (That is just my opinion).
2/11/09
A$$hat #2
Well, we've got another one we can add to the list...
My instructor offered a self-defense class through the local community college & about eight people signed up - including a 6'2", 250lb guy in his upper 40s. Now, anyone can use some knowledge of self-defense, right? Well Too-Tall here doesn't - he knows EVERYTHING!
Yes, this guy, who does his own TKD thing, thinks he wrote the book on self defense. Actually, it's not even a pamphlet. This buster, secure in his size, weight & overly supreme ego, has a philosophy of "might makes right". In other words, he hits with 250lbs of mass behind him, so you should, too.
For those of us lacking that weight, well it's too bad...we just aren't allowed to defend ourselves.
Now, that's bad enough but buster isn't done just yet. He walked a couple of the female students out after class & proceeded to inform them that: 1) he could take them down & there's nothing they could do to stop it; and 2) "don't tell the instructor but none of these techniques will work".
Being an experienced practitioner & one who is well-versed in said useless techniques, I would like to respond, in turn:
1) Really nice, creepfest! Seriously, these women are taking a SELF-DEFENSE CLASS. This means they are there, surprise, to learn. They don't know everything & neither does anyone else. We're all learning, except for you, genius. Threatening women with an attack on their first day of class is the most asinine thing an arrogant moron like you could do.
2) Yeah, because you've done all of the techniques before. I have yet to meet the person who can keep his grip on the simplest of wrist escapes offered in this class. Of the 300+ techniques in my binder, I'd argue 90% are effective (10% are demonstration techniques) & the average student could reasonably employ 75% of them in a self-defense situation (15% or so are either very flashy throws or likely lethal). The self-defense curriculum is a subset of the HKD material & is implemented specifically to provide the opportunity to escape. As such, it is 100% practical self-defense (hence, the course title).
Look, I've met you before, fella. The martial arts world is rife with ego-maniacal jerks who think they know it better than everyone else. First, traditional TKD isn't practical for any self-defense. Second, creeping someone out in an overt attempt to steal students is unethical. Fittingly, your kind is the least useful to the community & knows next to nothing about offering a service besides your lips on your own a$$.
At least your head is up there for easy access.
My instructor offered a self-defense class through the local community college & about eight people signed up - including a 6'2", 250lb guy in his upper 40s. Now, anyone can use some knowledge of self-defense, right? Well Too-Tall here doesn't - he knows EVERYTHING!
Yes, this guy, who does his own TKD thing, thinks he wrote the book on self defense. Actually, it's not even a pamphlet. This buster, secure in his size, weight & overly supreme ego, has a philosophy of "might makes right". In other words, he hits with 250lbs of mass behind him, so you should, too.
For those of us lacking that weight, well it's too bad...we just aren't allowed to defend ourselves.
Now, that's bad enough but buster isn't done just yet. He walked a couple of the female students out after class & proceeded to inform them that: 1) he could take them down & there's nothing they could do to stop it; and 2) "don't tell the instructor but none of these techniques will work".
Being an experienced practitioner & one who is well-versed in said useless techniques, I would like to respond, in turn:
1) Really nice, creepfest! Seriously, these women are taking a SELF-DEFENSE CLASS. This means they are there, surprise, to learn. They don't know everything & neither does anyone else. We're all learning, except for you, genius. Threatening women with an attack on their first day of class is the most asinine thing an arrogant moron like you could do.
2) Yeah, because you've done all of the techniques before. I have yet to meet the person who can keep his grip on the simplest of wrist escapes offered in this class. Of the 300+ techniques in my binder, I'd argue 90% are effective (10% are demonstration techniques) & the average student could reasonably employ 75% of them in a self-defense situation (15% or so are either very flashy throws or likely lethal). The self-defense curriculum is a subset of the HKD material & is implemented specifically to provide the opportunity to escape. As such, it is 100% practical self-defense (hence, the course title).
Look, I've met you before, fella. The martial arts world is rife with ego-maniacal jerks who think they know it better than everyone else. First, traditional TKD isn't practical for any self-defense. Second, creeping someone out in an overt attempt to steal students is unethical. Fittingly, your kind is the least useful to the community & knows next to nothing about offering a service besides your lips on your own a$$.
At least your head is up there for easy access.
2/3/09
The B*tch Is Back!
UGH! Just when you think you're rid of a nuisance...
We started a new term for students who sign up through the local community college. It's a no-credit, continuing-education, self-defense class for them. Initially, I was hopeful because of one of the names on the roster - a young lady who was the 1st self-defense student. She had athletic ability, confidence & a good attitude. I'm not sure if she showed but certainly she gets the most out of the class.
Unfortunately, every so often a margarita catches a fly. Also on the roster was the "don't need the commentary" lady. The one that reminds me of Dolores Umbridge of Harry Potter: OoTP fame. You know the type: she says the most insidious things in the most pleasant tone - as if to disguise her malevolence inside a sugary-sweet wrapper. Happily, I didn't have to try & teach her anything tonight...
What hurts me most is I consider myself a patient instructor. I can work with an easily distracted seven year-old & maintain composure without issue. I reason that my patience as a black belt is required to ensure the students are properly trained in self-defense. It's a point of pride for me to show the utmost courtesy in the capacity of a teacher.
In "Dolores'" case, all I want to do is tell her to clean the stuff out of her ears, listen & get a clue.
To paraphrase Jack Nicholson as Col. Nathan Jessup in "A Few Good Men": I don't want trophies & I don't want "yes, sirs"...What I do want is for you to stand there in your ragetty-ass workout clothes with your holier-than-thou mouth & extend me some f*cking courtesy!
While we're on that subject...if a certain blue belt "reminds" me one more time what happens next in class, I swear he'll get a quick, decisive lesson in showing proper respect to an instructor. As it stands, I quietly brushed him off & handled class.
Geez! All these distractions & no adequate way to express my feelings!!! Pamibe, how's about letting me use some of those great emoticons you have? :-)
We started a new term for students who sign up through the local community college. It's a no-credit, continuing-education, self-defense class for them. Initially, I was hopeful because of one of the names on the roster - a young lady who was the 1st self-defense student. She had athletic ability, confidence & a good attitude. I'm not sure if she showed but certainly she gets the most out of the class.
Unfortunately, every so often a margarita catches a fly. Also on the roster was the "don't need the commentary" lady. The one that reminds me of Dolores Umbridge of Harry Potter: OoTP fame. You know the type: she says the most insidious things in the most pleasant tone - as if to disguise her malevolence inside a sugary-sweet wrapper. Happily, I didn't have to try & teach her anything tonight...
What hurts me most is I consider myself a patient instructor. I can work with an easily distracted seven year-old & maintain composure without issue. I reason that my patience as a black belt is required to ensure the students are properly trained in self-defense. It's a point of pride for me to show the utmost courtesy in the capacity of a teacher.
In "Dolores'" case, all I want to do is tell her to clean the stuff out of her ears, listen & get a clue.
To paraphrase Jack Nicholson as Col. Nathan Jessup in "A Few Good Men": I don't want trophies & I don't want "yes, sirs"...What I do want is for you to stand there in your ragetty-ass workout clothes with your holier-than-thou mouth & extend me some f*cking courtesy!
While we're on that subject...if a certain blue belt "reminds" me one more time what happens next in class, I swear he'll get a quick, decisive lesson in showing proper respect to an instructor. As it stands, I quietly brushed him off & handled class.
Geez! All these distractions & no adequate way to express my feelings!!! Pamibe, how's about letting me use some of those great emoticons you have? :-)
1/29/09
A Couple Pics...
From my 2nd degree test.
Just to show you it wasn't all fun & games:
And I mean for everyone involved:
There's something cool about taking a big dude down:
My air fall (OK considering it's been 6 months...):
Just to show you it wasn't all fun & games:
And I mean for everyone involved:
There's something cool about taking a big dude down:
My air fall (OK considering it's been 6 months...):
More to come later...
1/28/09
2nd Degree Test
Well, I survived it. If I had to grade it, the grade would be a B-. Not because it was a poor test but because my overall performance should have been closer to personal expectations (As a general rule, we say we don't want to pass a test with a C).
Falling: No real problems here. This was the part that concerned me most as falling on the noggin is a sensitive issue still. My air fall was decent considering that hasn't been done since August 2008. I even did a good air fall over a person. Full credit to Dan for managing to stay still while two black belts jump & flip over him.
The techniques part went well. I can't argue with my performance as even the odd slip or miss on a takedown was recovered quickly & without allowing the "attacker" to fight back. Finishing techniques were largely uninspired yet effective. Hey, if the guy doesn't want to get back up, I delivered the technique well enough!
So then came the situational defense portion...in this we first had to defend ourselves while wearing an ugly pair of pink mittens that wouldn't allow for easy grips. It was nice to see how little individual finger movement affects the techniques I prefer to use. The second part was putting on a "blindfold" with two small (about 1/16" is my guess) holes. These throw off depth perception & forget about peripheral vision. Basically, you have to "feel" your way through the defense. It's freaky but not as frightening as it sounds.
Lastly came the ground fighting...from Hades! I had to go against a former wrestler who was 2 weight classes above me (I'm middleweight, he's heavyweight). We started sitting down, back to back. Now, let me tell you that I'm quick on the ground. 75% of the time I'll get around before the other guy & take his back. That's a huge advantage in a ground fight.
Unfortunately, this was one of those other 25% times...
He prevented my turn & we locked shoulder to shoulder. This is normally a good spot for me when I'm in my weight class. In this case, he walked over me like a welcome mat & I went to my back. "No problem", I thought, "I'll pull guard & work from there". Yeah a great idea except he wasn't so cooperative. He passed my guard on the right & went straight to side control - a horrible position to be in for the guy on bottom.
I worked for a wrist/finger lock but he managed to drop his weight on my hand, blocking it. My left arm was propped under his abdomen to prevent him from smothering. He did manage to get my right hand off of his neck but, fortunately, he didn't know how to manipulate the joint for a shoulder lock. I tried to throw him off me but my hips couldn't generate the force needed to move his mass.
Now, when you're in side control it's important to keep your head facing AWAY from the armpit of the attacker as an elbow to the face (in theory, for class) will make short work of you. I was doing this in textbook form but it didn't prevent him from wrapping that arm around my head & securing it. He pressed me into his gut & hard as I tried, there was no way to breathe or escape.
Yeah, I tapped out as oxygen deprivation isn't on my list of things to enjoy...
Falling: No real problems here. This was the part that concerned me most as falling on the noggin is a sensitive issue still. My air fall was decent considering that hasn't been done since August 2008. I even did a good air fall over a person. Full credit to Dan for managing to stay still while two black belts jump & flip over him.
The techniques part went well. I can't argue with my performance as even the odd slip or miss on a takedown was recovered quickly & without allowing the "attacker" to fight back. Finishing techniques were largely uninspired yet effective. Hey, if the guy doesn't want to get back up, I delivered the technique well enough!
So then came the situational defense portion...in this we first had to defend ourselves while wearing an ugly pair of pink mittens that wouldn't allow for easy grips. It was nice to see how little individual finger movement affects the techniques I prefer to use. The second part was putting on a "blindfold" with two small (about 1/16" is my guess) holes. These throw off depth perception & forget about peripheral vision. Basically, you have to "feel" your way through the defense. It's freaky but not as frightening as it sounds.
Lastly came the ground fighting...from Hades! I had to go against a former wrestler who was 2 weight classes above me (I'm middleweight, he's heavyweight). We started sitting down, back to back. Now, let me tell you that I'm quick on the ground. 75% of the time I'll get around before the other guy & take his back. That's a huge advantage in a ground fight.
Unfortunately, this was one of those other 25% times...
He prevented my turn & we locked shoulder to shoulder. This is normally a good spot for me when I'm in my weight class. In this case, he walked over me like a welcome mat & I went to my back. "No problem", I thought, "I'll pull guard & work from there". Yeah a great idea except he wasn't so cooperative. He passed my guard on the right & went straight to side control - a horrible position to be in for the guy on bottom.
I worked for a wrist/finger lock but he managed to drop his weight on my hand, blocking it. My left arm was propped under his abdomen to prevent him from smothering. He did manage to get my right hand off of his neck but, fortunately, he didn't know how to manipulate the joint for a shoulder lock. I tried to throw him off me but my hips couldn't generate the force needed to move his mass.
Now, when you're in side control it's important to keep your head facing AWAY from the armpit of the attacker as an elbow to the face (in theory, for class) will make short work of you. I was doing this in textbook form but it didn't prevent him from wrapping that arm around my head & securing it. He pressed me into his gut & hard as I tried, there was no way to breathe or escape.
Yeah, I tapped out as oxygen deprivation isn't on my list of things to enjoy...
12/17/08
Test
We had 3 candidates test for black belts tonight (Catie & JD for 1st degree, Will for recommended black).
Both JD's & Catie's technique were beyond impressive. All things being equal (which they aren't), each could probably take me in sparring. Both caught me once or twice in 1-on-1 but I still landed most of the hits. Still, the talent of these two make me feel like I've lost a step - but that says more to their abilities than anything.
Will has decent technique - he gets frustrated easily at 16 - and it's his power that does the talking. He's taller & stronger than the average 16 year-old...you'll know it when he hits you. Fortunately, for me, that power comes at the price of less speed. Once he starts throwing combos, however, you'd better watch out!
Self-defense was great for all of them. Catie needs to put more "oomph" into it, but she can still make you pay for grabbing her. Will was shown that he can't rely on power to get him out of every situation & adapted quickly. JD stayed cool under fire.
All three passed. We need to work with JD on terminology, Catie on power & Will on sharpening a few techniques. All are in great shape at their respective levels & there's plenty of time to get them dialed in with the above.
Both JD's & Catie's technique were beyond impressive. All things being equal (which they aren't), each could probably take me in sparring. Both caught me once or twice in 1-on-1 but I still landed most of the hits. Still, the talent of these two make me feel like I've lost a step - but that says more to their abilities than anything.
Will has decent technique - he gets frustrated easily at 16 - and it's his power that does the talking. He's taller & stronger than the average 16 year-old...you'll know it when he hits you. Fortunately, for me, that power comes at the price of less speed. Once he starts throwing combos, however, you'd better watch out!
Self-defense was great for all of them. Catie needs to put more "oomph" into it, but she can still make you pay for grabbing her. Will was shown that he can't rely on power to get him out of every situation & adapted quickly. JD stayed cool under fire.
All three passed. We need to work with JD on terminology, Catie on power & Will on sharpening a few techniques. All are in great shape at their respective levels & there's plenty of time to get them dialed in with the above.
12/13/08
CSI: NY
I like the show & Gary Sinise is a top-notch actor. However, the episode I saw this evening - involving martial arts & chess - which should have been one of my favorites of all-time, left me a bit irked.
The chess part was fine. Sad ending, but very well done.
The martial arts part was a hodge-podge of stereotypical crap. It starts with one of the investigators declaring that because one suspect is a 4th degree black belt, he is "capable of murder". Hey, writers, let me tell you that anyone is physically capable of murder. Martial arts training doesn't by definition increase a person's predisposition to violence. People have been killing since Og the caveman first picked up a rock.
The second crappy thing was both Sinise & the 1st investigator trying to talk to a lady at her dojo. She "introduces" herself to a complete stranger by placing a side kick right at his face. Someone tries that at my instructor's school & I'd take them down myself. I've never seen - or even heard - of something like that happening.
Note to the public (potential jurors, in particular): Martial artists are not even mostly like those Cobra Kai jerks from Karate Kid. Black belts are not trained deadly weapons. To date, no state to my knowledge requires that black belts "register" as weapons. A black belt is simply a student who has proven he/she is capable of learning the basics of an art.
For those of you prejudiced into thinking that a black belt on trial for defending his/her person could have completely controlled the situation, do the person a favor & imagine yourself in that person's place. It's not so simple as saying, "I'm a black belt", and all the bad guys go away. Martial artists are simply people who, as a result of training, have a slightly better chance of defending themselves. Don't buy into the urban legend B.S. that they have this magical ability to destroy legions of muggers with a dirty look.
I have a friend who was attacked by two guys in Boston,MA. It was a case of mistaken identity. They pinned him to a brick wall without provocation & threatened him. One had his head introduced to said wall & the other backed off. The police said the two just picked on the wrong guy & let it go. If this had gone to trial, would he have been given a fair shot? I just don't know.
All I'm saying is if you're in a trial with a martial artist as the defendant, please don't let that cloud your judgement. If the person was attacked, consider that maybe - just maybe - the person was scared & defended themselves based on some useful training. Unless the person just went way over the line of reasonable force, there's no reason to judge them as an avaricious miscreant bent on destruction.
The chess part was fine. Sad ending, but very well done.
The martial arts part was a hodge-podge of stereotypical crap. It starts with one of the investigators declaring that because one suspect is a 4th degree black belt, he is "capable of murder". Hey, writers, let me tell you that anyone is physically capable of murder. Martial arts training doesn't by definition increase a person's predisposition to violence. People have been killing since Og the caveman first picked up a rock.
The second crappy thing was both Sinise & the 1st investigator trying to talk to a lady at her dojo. She "introduces" herself to a complete stranger by placing a side kick right at his face. Someone tries that at my instructor's school & I'd take them down myself. I've never seen - or even heard - of something like that happening.
Note to the public (potential jurors, in particular): Martial artists are not even mostly like those Cobra Kai jerks from Karate Kid. Black belts are not trained deadly weapons. To date, no state to my knowledge requires that black belts "register" as weapons. A black belt is simply a student who has proven he/she is capable of learning the basics of an art.
For those of you prejudiced into thinking that a black belt on trial for defending his/her person could have completely controlled the situation, do the person a favor & imagine yourself in that person's place. It's not so simple as saying, "I'm a black belt", and all the bad guys go away. Martial artists are simply people who, as a result of training, have a slightly better chance of defending themselves. Don't buy into the urban legend B.S. that they have this magical ability to destroy legions of muggers with a dirty look.
I have a friend who was attacked by two guys in Boston,MA. It was a case of mistaken identity. They pinned him to a brick wall without provocation & threatened him. One had his head introduced to said wall & the other backed off. The police said the two just picked on the wrong guy & let it go. If this had gone to trial, would he have been given a fair shot? I just don't know.
All I'm saying is if you're in a trial with a martial artist as the defendant, please don't let that cloud your judgement. If the person was attacked, consider that maybe - just maybe - the person was scared & defended themselves based on some useful training. Unless the person just went way over the line of reasonable force, there's no reason to judge them as an avaricious miscreant bent on destruction.
12/4/08
Black Belt Humility
Even when you think there's plenty of humility in your martial arts career, someone comes along to remind you...
I was working with a very nice lady in class today, who is also a white belt. She has a good attitude, keeps her mind open & listens to the instructors.
She's pretty & kind of looks like Catherine Bell (of JAG fame) but I digress.
We're working on the "statue" drill & I was showing her the footwork needed to coordinate this activity with both hands. Then, a compliment she gave me went horribly awry!
Her: "You're so graceful with those moves. It shows how much you've done this."
Me: "Actually, I haven't done this drill all that much." (Not false modesty. It's true.)
Her: "Oh, well it's obvious you're a trained dancer."
Me: ...
Her: "I'm a good dancer, myself."
Me: "Well, all I really do is Taekwondo..."
OK, ladies, telling a guy he's a good dancer is a compliment. No question about it. Telling a guy he looks like a trained dancer = telling him you question his masculinity. At this point, any guy worth the arrow on that circle will start talking sports, lower his voice an octave & make various grunting noises.
Of course, I was VERY polite - realizing that she's allowed to hit me in class without fear of retribution - and managed to steer the training conversation away from any accusations of me jumping around all nimbly, bimbly.
I was working with a very nice lady in class today, who is also a white belt. She has a good attitude, keeps her mind open & listens to the instructors.
She's pretty & kind of looks like Catherine Bell (of JAG fame) but I digress.
We're working on the "statue" drill & I was showing her the footwork needed to coordinate this activity with both hands. Then, a compliment she gave me went horribly awry!
Her: "You're so graceful with those moves. It shows how much you've done this."
Me: "Actually, I haven't done this drill all that much." (Not false modesty. It's true.)
Her: "Oh, well it's obvious you're a trained dancer."
Me: ...
Her: "I'm a good dancer, myself."
Me: "Well, all I really do is Taekwondo..."
OK, ladies, telling a guy he's a good dancer is a compliment. No question about it. Telling a guy he looks like a trained dancer = telling him you question his masculinity. At this point, any guy worth the arrow on that circle will start talking sports, lower his voice an octave & make various grunting noises.
Of course, I was VERY polite - realizing that she's allowed to hit me in class without fear of retribution - and managed to steer the training conversation away from any accusations of me jumping around all nimbly, bimbly.
11/27/08
Demo August 2008
Here's pics of a demo the school did at Watermelon Days in Atkins,IA this past summer. It was a great time, despite a couple injuries: One moderate (Mr. Reif's ankle) & one minor (my left thumb).
One thing I can't figure about Iowa is how every bleeping thing grown/raised in the state has a "day" in the summer. It's confusing with all of them. Since everyone drinks to excess at most of them, I propose re-naming them all for various types of alcohol (Sign me up for Big Sky Moose Drool Days!). Everyone will remember them better that way.
Anyway, here's a few of the pics:
(Me with 2 bricks. I've never had the center piece break out like that before.)
(Dylan getting tossed a bit.)
(Poor Dylan again.)
(OK, I must like picking on him...)
(Mr. Reif taking a throw.)
(Taking Mr. Lee down.)
So, by now, a lot of you may be thinking, "Sure, Hap, you can throw people around - you're an adult". Well, allow me to introduce Catie - a young lady (about 14) who is a recommended black belt in TKD & a talented young lady. She's the best proof I have that anyone can defend themselves with good training.
Hey, Some Good News!
My instructor was finally promoted in both Taekwondo AND Hapkido! He's been at the same rank in both (5th/3rd) since I started & the promotions were long overdue.
He's now 6th degree in TKD - by way of opening & maintaining two schools, designing the entire curriculum & promoting several students to black belt (starting at white belt) - myself included. It's a time-consuming task that often goes unrewarded. I make a point to thank him putting in so much effort everyday by volunteering to help whenever possible. It's nothing compared to his efforts, but maybe it helps him out just enough.
He was also promoted to 5th degree (master instructor) in HKD. I can tell you from my time in HKD there aren't too many folks who have earned this rank. To get there, he promoted no less than seven people to black belt (again, starting from white belt). In an art where we've seen over 90% of the people drop out at various points (mostly during the throw-heavy yellow belt set), that's an impressive number of people to make 1st degree.
Additionally, he developed a Practical Self-Defense course for those who want to learn how to protect themselves but don't want the high impact of a martial art. He has also designed his own curriculum (based on experience in a few martial arts) with self-defense - the concept behind HKD - entirely at the forefront.
He's been in TKD for well over 20 years (25 this year, I believe) & HKD for about 15 years, so the time & effort invested in earning these ranks has been considerable. Upon getting promoted, the first thing he told me was, "I don't want to make a big deal in class about these promotions". That's just his way about things - he knows where his experience places him in martial arts & he's never taught any of his students that rank counts for anything in reality.
We are all definitely fortunate at our school to have such a dedicated, responsible instructor.
He's now 6th degree in TKD - by way of opening & maintaining two schools, designing the entire curriculum & promoting several students to black belt (starting at white belt) - myself included. It's a time-consuming task that often goes unrewarded. I make a point to thank him putting in so much effort everyday by volunteering to help whenever possible. It's nothing compared to his efforts, but maybe it helps him out just enough.
He was also promoted to 5th degree (master instructor) in HKD. I can tell you from my time in HKD there aren't too many folks who have earned this rank. To get there, he promoted no less than seven people to black belt (again, starting from white belt). In an art where we've seen over 90% of the people drop out at various points (mostly during the throw-heavy yellow belt set), that's an impressive number of people to make 1st degree.
Additionally, he developed a Practical Self-Defense course for those who want to learn how to protect themselves but don't want the high impact of a martial art. He has also designed his own curriculum (based on experience in a few martial arts) with self-defense - the concept behind HKD - entirely at the forefront.
He's been in TKD for well over 20 years (25 this year, I believe) & HKD for about 15 years, so the time & effort invested in earning these ranks has been considerable. Upon getting promoted, the first thing he told me was, "I don't want to make a big deal in class about these promotions". That's just his way about things - he knows where his experience places him in martial arts & he's never taught any of his students that rank counts for anything in reality.
We are all definitely fortunate at our school to have such a dedicated, responsible instructor.
11/21/08
Another Step
Tonight, I did my first rolling fall since the surgery. OK, that's not a world breaker for news but it's a sign that things are getting back to normal. When you spend a lot of time worrying about bending over because of the hole in the top of your head, doing a controlled somersault is a big deal.
I guess I'll give it a few more weeks before I start doing regular break falls & it'll probably be January before the air fall comes back into the picture...or even March when the meds go bye-bye.
Two months off has really hurt my (already waning) cardio & it's starting to show in class. Even the most efficient breathing routines aren't keeping up with the level of activity. My kingdom for an elliptical!
I guess I'll give it a few more weeks before I start doing regular break falls & it'll probably be January before the air fall comes back into the picture...or even March when the meds go bye-bye.
Two months off has really hurt my (already waning) cardio & it's starting to show in class. Even the most efficient breathing routines aren't keeping up with the level of activity. My kingdom for an elliptical!
8/24/08
Go Home, Commie
Nothing steams me more than seeing a hot-headed, bullying poor sport in martial arts. Add to the mix that it's a person in one of the arts I practice & you have a recipe for full-blown rage.
A Cuban TKD champion kicked a referee in the face after he was disqualified in a Bronze medal match for men's (over 80kg) sparring. The disqualification came because the certified jerk used more time than is allowed by regulation to recover from an injury. International rules allow for 60 seconds.
Look, fella. You were sent to represent not only your crappy, despot-led nation but the sport of TKD as a whole. I'm not saying you can't be upset at the call. I AM saying that kicking the referee in the head for following the rules is a load of crap & you deserve that lifetime ban.
I'm an advocate of pulling TKD out of the Olympics, anyway. It's been made a mockery of its former self by the way you clowns hold your hands down to the side. It's supposed to be mock fighting, guys! There should be at least an implication that a punch might be thrown.
Since I'm not a democrat, I should be expected to offer a reasonable alternative, right? Well, I have one: Traditional Hapkido sparring. Not only does it have the kicks of TKD, it also has takedowns & sweeps. It's not MMA, it's not tag with your feet, it is a more readily enjoyable sport than TKD sparring.
Alternatively, bring back Pankration! It was created by the Greeks (didn't they have something to do with the Olympics), doesn't allow punches to the head, has takedowns, joint locks & is very enjoyable to watch.
Now, the above doesn't eliminate poor sports - they'll always be around in one form or another. It does remove one of the silliest displays in the Olympics, replacing it with a more practical demonstration of human ability, and ensures martial arts will be better represented as a whole.
As for the loser who struck the ref: Hey, pal, have fun in Cuba. I'm sure the Castros won't take it out on you at all...
A Cuban TKD champion kicked a referee in the face after he was disqualified in a Bronze medal match for men's (over 80kg) sparring. The disqualification came because the certified jerk used more time than is allowed by regulation to recover from an injury. International rules allow for 60 seconds.
Look, fella. You were sent to represent not only your crappy, despot-led nation but the sport of TKD as a whole. I'm not saying you can't be upset at the call. I AM saying that kicking the referee in the head for following the rules is a load of crap & you deserve that lifetime ban.
I'm an advocate of pulling TKD out of the Olympics, anyway. It's been made a mockery of its former self by the way you clowns hold your hands down to the side. It's supposed to be mock fighting, guys! There should be at least an implication that a punch might be thrown.
Since I'm not a democrat, I should be expected to offer a reasonable alternative, right? Well, I have one: Traditional Hapkido sparring. Not only does it have the kicks of TKD, it also has takedowns & sweeps. It's not MMA, it's not tag with your feet, it is a more readily enjoyable sport than TKD sparring.
Alternatively, bring back Pankration! It was created by the Greeks (didn't they have something to do with the Olympics), doesn't allow punches to the head, has takedowns, joint locks & is very enjoyable to watch.
Now, the above doesn't eliminate poor sports - they'll always be around in one form or another. It does remove one of the silliest displays in the Olympics, replacing it with a more practical demonstration of human ability, and ensures martial arts will be better represented as a whole.
As for the loser who struck the ref: Hey, pal, have fun in Cuba. I'm sure the Castros won't take it out on you at all...
8/13/08
The Darker Side
Oh, it's not all that "dark", per se. Let's just say that when, in my role as an instructor in TKD, I tell the whole class to keep their hands up or everyone will do push-ups, I. Mean. It.
Of course, I'm going to lead by example & will do them myself - and let's not miss the point:
1) In self-defense, if your hands are down, you're toast. I don't care if a mugger is going to punch you, a drunk is going to tackle you or Mother Superior is trying to smack your face with a ruler. Hands down = lots of pain headed your way.
2) It's expected in the art. Hands up, ready for confrontation and available to use. I understand, little Timmy, that you may have seen a rough day swimming on this beautiful summer afternoon. However, I'm pretty darn sure the parent next to you in class had a rougher one. Suck it up, kid.
3) Show respect for your instructor(s). Most importantly, I mean the Chief Instructor - who is on vacation. If you disrespect anyone in that class, you're disrespecting him. That makes me angry. Much like Bruce Banner, you don't want to see me angry...
So, ten measly push-ups later, the same two kids learned just about squat. I was nice enough not to single them out - after all, 20 people were just disciplined thanks to two recalcitrant young boys. I promise you all this: if I have to do any more push-ups because of some slacker kids, I will be more creative in my methods of correction.
Of course, I'm going to lead by example & will do them myself - and let's not miss the point:
1) In self-defense, if your hands are down, you're toast. I don't care if a mugger is going to punch you, a drunk is going to tackle you or Mother Superior is trying to smack your face with a ruler. Hands down = lots of pain headed your way.
2) It's expected in the art. Hands up, ready for confrontation and available to use. I understand, little Timmy, that you may have seen a rough day swimming on this beautiful summer afternoon. However, I'm pretty darn sure the parent next to you in class had a rougher one. Suck it up, kid.
3) Show respect for your instructor(s). Most importantly, I mean the Chief Instructor - who is on vacation. If you disrespect anyone in that class, you're disrespecting him. That makes me angry. Much like Bruce Banner, you don't want to see me angry...
So, ten measly push-ups later, the same two kids learned just about squat. I was nice enough not to single them out - after all, 20 people were just disciplined thanks to two recalcitrant young boys. I promise you all this: if I have to do any more push-ups because of some slacker kids, I will be more creative in my methods of correction.
6/19/08
2 Out Of 3 Ain't Bad
We had three good students test last night in TKD - all brown belts. It was a long test for that level & I'm confident my instructor threw everything at them that was reasonable.
I'm actually going to say I was impressed by all three. I don't think that's ever happened.
One part of the test involved them defending against me touching their head. This was full-speed, open-hand (don't do damage) & they had to successfully block my "attack". Well, the first two did well on the block but forgot the main part of what we teach them: Move. Your. Head. They both got tapped.
The third young man, Alan, DID move his head when he blocked & I never came close to touching him. Bravo! Exactly what he should have done. While I know there are plenty of people faster than me, it's still no small feat for a youth to dodge a full-speed strike from an adult.
As for the rest of test, they're actually ahead of where I was at the same level. Ouch. I'd say forms need a little touching up - OK, cut them some slack, they're still young - and very little else needed work. Self-defense was strong & technique was good for all three.
I'm actually going to say I was impressed by all three. I don't think that's ever happened.
One part of the test involved them defending against me touching their head. This was full-speed, open-hand (don't do damage) & they had to successfully block my "attack". Well, the first two did well on the block but forgot the main part of what we teach them: Move. Your. Head. They both got tapped.
The third young man, Alan, DID move his head when he blocked & I never came close to touching him. Bravo! Exactly what he should have done. While I know there are plenty of people faster than me, it's still no small feat for a youth to dodge a full-speed strike from an adult.
As for the rest of test, they're actually ahead of where I was at the same level. Ouch. I'd say forms need a little touching up - OK, cut them some slack, they're still young - and very little else needed work. Self-defense was strong & technique was good for all three.
4/24/08
Yeah, Yeah
OK, lady, I get it - you didn't like the fact I divided my attention to primarily the adults in Taekwondo today. You also presented your criticism as "constructive" - which it was...until the 4th or 5th time you re-iterated your point.
We can't all be perfect, particularly when we don't have your luxurious view from the sidelines, and know that, oh, twenty or so people have entirely different things going on & may have questions - like the ones I was answering. Oh, & I'm particularly bad because I dedicated my time to a student who needed the help & not to your child & her fellow cajolers. No, I was dumb enough to spend my time on people who take this seriously.
Yeah, I could spend more time working with the kids - I'll grant you that argument. I DID spend more time with one student than I should have - again, other than you, no one's perfect. However, a condescending rhetorical question like "Did you even look at them once?" shows exactly how destructive your criticism really was. You didn't, I noticed, consider that I maybe, just maybe, had sixteen other people - who actually participate in class - to divide my attention.
You were at least courteous enough to direct this criticism towards me after the class was dismissed. With that in mind, I invite you to take lead in the next class & show me exactly how I should run things - because obviously it's easy to get twenty people to do everything you ask & focus on each individual in an orderly fashion.
We can't all be perfect, particularly when we don't have your luxurious view from the sidelines, and know that, oh, twenty or so people have entirely different things going on & may have questions - like the ones I was answering. Oh, & I'm particularly bad because I dedicated my time to a student who needed the help & not to your child & her fellow cajolers. No, I was dumb enough to spend my time on people who take this seriously.
Yeah, I could spend more time working with the kids - I'll grant you that argument. I DID spend more time with one student than I should have - again, other than you, no one's perfect. However, a condescending rhetorical question like "Did you even look at them once?" shows exactly how destructive your criticism really was. You didn't, I noticed, consider that I maybe, just maybe, had sixteen other people - who actually participate in class - to divide my attention.
You were at least courteous enough to direct this criticism towards me after the class was dismissed. With that in mind, I invite you to take lead in the next class & show me exactly how I should run things - because obviously it's easy to get twenty people to do everything you ask & focus on each individual in an orderly fashion.
4/1/08
Yeeooowwchhh!!!
I am sore! Three hours of TKD, HKD & Arnis this Monday, followed by two hours of TKD & HKD today. It's a lot but as much fun as I have, it's worth the after effects.
I was feeling good yesterday - spry, even. Heck, my air falls had good height; my kicks were strong & accurate; and there was a lot of energy in the room. Feeling good, feeling REAL good!
Oh, but what a difference 24 hours can make...
Today, my legs felt like they had lead weights in them. While I did have a good time in class, the energy just wasn't that high. We did some good knife defense drills & it kept interesting the whole time but - MAN! - I just didn't feel as great as the day before.
Of course, I'm not letting that trump me. We have a seminar in Chicago - home of the backwards-a$$ pizza - this weekend on stick, knife & empty hand techniques. It'll be fun, so I'm keeping the energy up for that!
I was feeling good yesterday - spry, even. Heck, my air falls had good height; my kicks were strong & accurate; and there was a lot of energy in the room. Feeling good, feeling REAL good!
Oh, but what a difference 24 hours can make...
Today, my legs felt like they had lead weights in them. While I did have a good time in class, the energy just wasn't that high. We did some good knife defense drills & it kept interesting the whole time but - MAN! - I just didn't feel as great as the day before.
Of course, I'm not letting that trump me. We have a seminar in Chicago - home of the backwards-a$$ pizza - this weekend on stick, knife & empty hand techniques. It'll be fun, so I'm keeping the energy up for that!
2/5/08
Ahhhh! Finally!
I got to class today!
It was an uphill battle, to be sure. The weather was terrible & my instructor, justifiably, was considering canceling. We're supposed to have upwards of 13 inches (must...resist...bad...joke!) by morning & it apparently decided to get an early start on things.
We only had three people show up - all kids - so I was able to work more on technique than would normally happen in class. The kids all behaved well & I'd say a lot was accomplished (yeah, until next time when they forget all of it!).
Considering the weather, Mr. Reif decided toditch err on the side of caution & leave early. OK, I really don't blame him but I figure if you're at class, may as well stay. We, OK, I, had one new student show up for Hapkido & he did a great job. Heck, he's pretty much a natural at this thing & takes instruction well. Hopefully, he'll keep with it.
After class, I came home, ate something & did some push-ups, crunches & leg-lifts. Yeah, not too many but until my gym membership kicks in, they'll have to do.
It was an uphill battle, to be sure. The weather was terrible & my instructor, justifiably, was considering canceling. We're supposed to have upwards of 13 inches (must...resist...bad...joke!) by morning & it apparently decided to get an early start on things.
We only had three people show up - all kids - so I was able to work more on technique than would normally happen in class. The kids all behaved well & I'd say a lot was accomplished (yeah, until next time when they forget all of it!).
Considering the weather, Mr. Reif decided to
After class, I came home, ate something & did some push-ups, crunches & leg-lifts. Yeah, not too many but until my gym membership kicks in, they'll have to do.
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