The Martial Plan
The best laid plans and all that…
I’ve decided that attending a local martial arts school for weekly lessons is not going to work with my schedule. Right now the tai chi road trip lesson will have to suffice. I did observe that local kenpo karate school that I blogged about earlier. It would definitely be a good experience and worth my time, however, it will be a waste of time if I can’t make it to the lessons regularly.
Putting the “A” in administration
It’s the job, stupid. I was hired to drive a lot of change and I have a fairly tight deadline to do so. Also, it’s a factual statement and a tired cliché that every things takes an inordinate amount of time in education. Typical 9 hour days and some weekends make it hard to commit to regularly scheduled lessons. Seriously: I have six standing meetings each week and another 2-5 that just seem to pop up. I am hoping that once I slog through another semester things will be better and I can reassess the karate plan. Maybe this summer or in the fall…
Other Area Schools
One of the challenges of living in a high desert is the geographic distance. Locally there are a few schools. Including the karate school, there’s only three I’m interested in. If the local aikido instructor ever build his class back up I may consider it. When last I checked in he had just reopened after closing. The only other option is a tae kwon do school that also has a Krav Maga curriculum. I visited the school and what they teach is outstanding. However, while visiting, I witnessed a mid-belt Krav Maga test and it was pretty intense — practically a beating that included both stand-up and ground. 10 years ago with a few less injuries and maybe — now I’m not so sure.
Operation Fatty
Over the past few months I’ve secretly weened myself off the stairmaster and have started to run. So far Mr. Neck is behaving and I have to credit our new Temperpedic mattress and pillow. I worked back up to a two-mile run and there is where I plan to stay. Add that to my twice weekly gym visits and I’m exercising 3-5 times a week.
I stretch a few times a week to maintain kicking flexibility and once weekly I review martial arts stuff. Each weekend is different and I try to focus on fundamentals from the past arts:
- Mook jong form
- Bag routine (punch/kick)
- Floor drills from tae kwon do (various punch/kick routines moving across the length of the garage)
- Work on tai chi short form
- Self defense as mini katas
That last point bears explanation. When I was studying chin na I stole an idea from tae kwon do and started to treat each technique like a mini kata. This allowed me to practice the techniques at home without a partner. It does have it’s limits but it still helped me to advance and prepare for testing. So I’ve simply taken techniques from tae kwon do, kung, fu, and chin na and folded them into my mini kata plan.
I try to review the tai chi short form weekly. In fact, I’m a long way from having it learned. The rest I rotate in as the spirit moves me. It’s not comparable to weekly lessons with people but, to a certain extent, it puts the brakes on losing certain martial skills.
Blogging
Aside from the occasional martial arts post I’m on a gun toot. For those of you who do not agree with my opinion, or just don’t like the topic, well, I apologize. However, 20 children being mowed down at the Sandy Hook Elementary School is more than ol’ Bob can take.
Something is fundamentally broken and needs to be fixed.
Total aside but in the early days of this blog I used to cover religion and politics a lot. I thought I had reached Zen so I’m surprised to see that I still have some passion left in me!
So, on that note, I leave you with the latest shooting:
A 16-year-old student who blasted a California high school classroom with a shotgun Thursday was targeting two classmates because he felt he’d been bullied, the local sheriff said Thursday night.
-BCP
I with you in spirit, brother. I’m up to 12 hour work days so my morning Kata practice and some lame-push ups are about all I’ve got anymore. Only two or more months of this to go.
I hope Mr. Neck continues to behave for you!
Matt,
So far so good. I had the same surgery as Peyton Manning. Only difference is he had million dollar surgeons, specialists, and a rehab team. Last time I thought I had blown another disc was during the kung fu run. Turned out to be a bad strain/tear from some of the insane “traditional” exercises — walking push-ups in particular.
They x-rayed the sight and I do have some arthritis but it’s the normal amount expected, given the time.
I also do some basic neck stretching throughout the week. So far so good!
Other directors have told me the first year is the worst. However, compounding the challenge is some tight deadlines that revolve around renovations.
I will reassess this summer and if things look workable, sign up for the kenpo karate.