Shugyo, or austere practice, is a distinctive feature of martial arts practice. I do my best to train in an austere way as often as my old body will let me.
Our chief instructor taught the first hour of class yesterday. Every technique we worked on began with a tenshin step. It was a great learning experience to see how many different things we could do from that first step. Today my knees are killing me, because, while I only worked with two different partners, I left everything I had on the mat. As uke, I attacked quickly again, and again. I'd go in as soon as I could get up off the mat. As nage, I was throwing with as much intensity as I could muster. I worked as hard as I could until I went into oxygen debt, then I'd have to slow down, or even stop. This was no looked upon well by the instructor.
But here's the thing: Before I got back into Aikido, I did a whole lot of bicycling. I was riding to the tune of over 100 miles each week, with 50 mile rides on Saturdays. I rode with a group made up of a bunch of Cat-3 and even some Cat-2 riders. I remember riding down the road at 30 mph, with some sprints up to 40 mph. More than most (if not all) Aikidoka I know, I know how to manage my oxygen. I know the process of cellular respiration. I know what VO2-Max is, and how to manage mine. I know that I go anaerobic at about 164 heartbeats per minutes - although now that I'm older it's probably less. All my rides meant going on the road with a heart rate monitor strapped to my chest. When it comes to my endurance, I know what I'm doing, and I've learned to listen to my body and hear what it's trying to tell me. I also know that in order to raise my VO2-max, I need to push myself beyond the point where I'm ready to stop when I come to the end of being anaerobic. When my cells run out of fuel, I have to stop. It's only by pushing beyond that point again and again, can our bodies learn to go beyond. Granted, we are only able to push beyond just a little, but if we keep pushing, that limit goes up little by little. But that means that there are going to be times like yesterday when I've pushed myself past the limit, and once I've done that, I'll have to pull way back.
We'll see how that goes. Otherwise, I'm going to have to pull back my practice to a lower level. It's just that when I feel that spirit move me, I want to go all out.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
A Bit More Progress
The snow started falling on Tuesday. The school district cancelled all activities as of the end of the school day. The dojo cancelled class. We had a snow day on Wednesday. My wife and I were out for three hours working together to clear snow. We got about two hours help from our neighbor, who has a big snow thrower. We really couldn't have done it without him. We had another snow day Thursday, and again, the dojo cancelled class.
Saturday was the first regular class in a week, and I've been really feeling it. I'm sore, but it that really good way that says 'I had a really good Aikido class.' Our chief instructor was back after getting a muscle tear in his calf while teaching at Midwest Aikido Center. We had an open hand class instead of weapons, which is alright, considering I really like when our chief instructor teaches. Those always seem to be really great classes.
The dojo's other 3rd kyu and I have ben debating on how to line up. She tested in October '09. I tested in March of '10. She's been lining up before me ever since I joined the dojo. Over the summer, she took time off, while I came to every class. I now have six more hours of practice at rank, so we thought I should line up first. Our chief instructor said that hours don't matter as much as date of testing. Since she tested five months before me, she'll always line up first, even though I have more hours. At least we settled that.
One of our members spent the last month in Tokyo, and was able to visit Hombu Dojo for a few classes. He demonstrated a technique he learned there, which we all got to practice. We also worked on an ushiro technique that ended in a kaiten nage. We lined up in two groups. Our group included one 1st, two 3rd, and a fourth kyu. We were really working it, and our chief instructor noticed my intensity. I was glad. I am really hoping to be ready to test in the fall. I want a brown belt. My instructors also want me in a brown belt, first, because they believe I deserve it, and second, it's better for me and the dojo since I'll be an instructor. I know it's "just" a kids class, but I'll still be an instructor.
Finally, we had another of our beginners classes this Saturday. While everyone else went on to the second hour of class with weapons, I worked with our regular instructor and helped teach the beginners. He used me as uke throughout, I demonstrated, and I worked one-on-one with the three students helping them position their hands and bodies properly. I'll keep doing this for the next three weeks.
Saturday was the first regular class in a week, and I've been really feeling it. I'm sore, but it that really good way that says 'I had a really good Aikido class.' Our chief instructor was back after getting a muscle tear in his calf while teaching at Midwest Aikido Center. We had an open hand class instead of weapons, which is alright, considering I really like when our chief instructor teaches. Those always seem to be really great classes.
The dojo's other 3rd kyu and I have ben debating on how to line up. She tested in October '09. I tested in March of '10. She's been lining up before me ever since I joined the dojo. Over the summer, she took time off, while I came to every class. I now have six more hours of practice at rank, so we thought I should line up first. Our chief instructor said that hours don't matter as much as date of testing. Since she tested five months before me, she'll always line up first, even though I have more hours. At least we settled that.
One of our members spent the last month in Tokyo, and was able to visit Hombu Dojo for a few classes. He demonstrated a technique he learned there, which we all got to practice. We also worked on an ushiro technique that ended in a kaiten nage. We lined up in two groups. Our group included one 1st, two 3rd, and a fourth kyu. We were really working it, and our chief instructor noticed my intensity. I was glad. I am really hoping to be ready to test in the fall. I want a brown belt. My instructors also want me in a brown belt, first, because they believe I deserve it, and second, it's better for me and the dojo since I'll be an instructor. I know it's "just" a kids class, but I'll still be an instructor.
Finally, we had another of our beginners classes this Saturday. While everyone else went on to the second hour of class with weapons, I worked with our regular instructor and helped teach the beginners. He used me as uke throughout, I demonstrated, and I worked one-on-one with the three students helping them position their hands and bodies properly. I'll keep doing this for the next three weeks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)