Training Report

Everything in class is now devoted to polishing me for the cho dan confirmation. The test is close and that’s all I’ll say about that for now.

Forms and self-defense are pretty good. We have 22 one-step sparring techniques (i.e. defense against punches and kicks) and 22 self-defense techniques (i.e. defense against grabs, head locks, etc). I wish they’d just call it all self-defense because explaining it always confuses people.

The fundamentals I’ll keep working on. With my age and varying flexibility some days things are great and some days they’re just a tad off.

My instructor still has to pick three board breaks for me and those testing are always encouraged to do at least one that requires a spin. Groan. Due to an old neck injury from running I do not have full neck rotation. So I do not get my head back on target as fast as others. To compensate I’ve learned to hit from sight memory. In fact, with a human sized target I’m pretty darn good and even sabum fears my reverse side kick.

So I thought that would be the kick I did but my targeting was absolutely horrible at practice. We went through just about every turning and/or jump turning kick I can do. What met with success? My nemesis the spinning hook kick! Physiologically this is one of my slowest kicks. Psychologically I have no confidence in it.  Consequently I rarely use it in sparring. However, I have good power on it and am pretty accurate. In fact I popped two boards with no problem at practice. It’s also one of sabum’s fastest kicks and one that she broke with at her cho dan test. So how’s that for irony?

Needless to say I’ll be a hooker this weekend as I prepare!

I’m also doing some variation of a jump side kick break (either on the move or from stand still). Past she’s still deciding on my third break. My thumb is STILL not right after having been punched there. I was lobbying for a ridge-hand speed break but she’s concerned for the thumb. Also, I have to break a slab of concrete with that same hand too. So I think I’m being overruled. I’ve done a spinning knife edge before so maybe I can convince her…

~BCP

Only in Indiana…

Legend has it this actually happened and someone snapped a photo before they changed the words. It was supposed to read “peonies”.

Photoshop or truth?

I have no idea but I do know that the nursery exists.

~BCP

Make English America’s Official Language?

I’m not going to comment on the politics. I’m not even going to comment on my position.

But I do think this lady might consider brushing up on her spelling before lecturing to the public.

~BCP