Alooooha Ebreebodeee!
Japan time, I am now 62 years old! Hawaii time it is tomorrow. It coincides with Thanksgiving! A sad but historical note it is the day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. I clearly recall that day when the entire school body was gathered in the auditorium and informed of the tragic incident. That was in American School in Japan at Chofu City, Japan. It has been 49 years! I was only 13 at that time. How the time flies!
At O years old
I am thankful for all the good and bad I have experienced thus far for all of those experiences have brought me to this point in life. I expect it to continue to be the same. I am most thankful for my parents for bringing me into this world.
(@@:) I am in an overload of aches and pains this morning! Not to worry! It is not one of those immobilizing type of pain. It's one of those "feel good" aches and pains, is there is any such thing!
We were very fortunate last night to have mats on the floor. The local Aikido was having a weekend seminar and had asked it they could leave the mats out. Of course we were more than glad to accommodate the request. (^^)
It was a good opportunity for my Pokemons to experience ukemi or the art of breaking a fall. I have always wanted to have a carpet or mat to lay on the floor, but there is no storage room for additional flooring. so we have to practice on the concrete floor. Naturally no ukemi can be practiced. I recall doing a demo on a gym floor (^^). The sound of my body hitting the wooden floor sure had an impact on the audience but I cannot recommend doing it frequently. Gahahahaha
Although proper ukemi protects you from major harm, any contact with a hard surface has its price!
My body had no problem remembering all the Judo warm up exercises and ukemi, but.......when you haven't done them in a decade or so, the body has a major adjustment to do! Gahahahaha. Like anything in life you have to "do it" constantly or the body forgets the toll it takes.
Many people do not equate karate with mat work. But that is far from the truth. Karate includes throws and ground work to include chokes and joint manipulation. Karate would not be complete without it. It was very interesting to see my students challenge themselves to something new.
What may seem simple to any judoka or wrestler is something difficult for someone who has never done it before.
I wanted to make sure my students had an idea of how to protect their heads when pushed or tripped down. We concentrated on Ushiro ukemi. Perhaps when we have another chance with the mats I will teach them Mae ukemi and Yoko Ukemi. Ukemi is an art itself.
Fufufufu. My Mini Pokemons sure have a unique way of "paying attention" (^^) Here I am showing the basic of basics of ukemi. The art of "slapping the mat" Not recommended for concrete floors or pavements. Gahahahahaha! Gravel is also not a good surface to do ukemi. However, ukemi will protect you from any major injuries, especially to your head!
(^^) Judo warm ups (only a partial) is lot more harder than you think! Mommies and Daddies had a big challenge last night. Perhaps they all have the same aches and pains that I have this morning!
Towards the end of practice gave a brief demonstration on the application of Mawashiuke. There are times when the Pokemons copy the movements of a particular waza but have no idea WHY they do it a certain way. It is probably unrealistic to expect them to understand the progression and connection of learning Kihon waza. As I mentioned earlier we normally do not have mats. Therefore we do not practice take downs. It would be too dangerous on a concrete floor, especially for the Mini Pokemons. for that matter the adults. One of the challenges of teaching children is to convey to them the concept of control.
Hmmm. My Mini Pokemons are getting the hang of sitting properly and listening. Thanks to Taylor for checking up on the Minis.....(^^)
Talking about having to practice continuously....need to improve my video editing and uploading skills.
It is taking too much time. Gahahahahaha
I have lost count how many Kyokushin organizations are in the world and that is not counting all the "independent" groups that do not affiliate themselves with a Kyokushin organization.
The strange part of it all is that all these organizations proclaim that they are teaching the true Kyokushin that was taught by Oyama Sosai. So sad that if indeed all of them are teaching the "true'
Kyokushin then why the splits. From my personal standpoint, it is just a bunch of egos and to some greed. The need to be the Honcho.
All the leaders of the groups have paid their "dues" in sweat and blood. No doubt about it. They all have a place in Kyokushin history. They just don't get along with each other, plain and simple.
Somewhere along the line things got sidetracked.
There are others that created their completely new style such as Daido Juku and Ashihara Kaikan. Although they have Kyokushin as its background they are no longer Kyokushin and do not use the Kyokushin "brand name". They made a clean cut. Now I may not be 100% accurate in my analysis, but that is how I see it.
I left Kyokushin when my Sensei broke off and formed his own group. Nothing really changed in the contents. We just cut off the organizational ties. In Japan, I built the Yokohama branch of the organization. When I retired and returned to Hawaii, I found most of the Black Belts gone and no Dojo.
We practiced at Kapiolani Park. Sensei nor anyone else tried to find a site to practice. I finally found a site and all it amounted to were claims by non-practicing Kouhais that I was shouldn't be opening up a Branch. Hmmmm. Long story short, I left the organization. It was hard for Yachiyo as she started with Sensei and felt a loyalty to him. I understood that and recommended she continue under him but being my wife, it had barriers that could not be hurdled. Now she goes to the Hawaii branch of Kyokushinkai as well as helping me out when she can. Although she has already earned a Nidan she is a yellow belt. No problem as far as I am concerned. It is funny that she knows more Kata than some of her Senpais as well having suffered more fractures and concussions than her Senpais along her way to Black Belt. Not a problem as she just wants to practice and keep her roots in Kyokushin.
The important thing is that your believe in your training regardless of affiliation. Train hard, sweat, bleed and bruise along with your commitment. Leave the politics to the honchos.
Just saying. (^^) OSU!
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Kauai's Grand Canyon
Da Boss aka Yachi (Mrs. Kimura) took a mini-vacation to the island of Kauai. Since we have a fifteen year old dog that is blind we have to travel separately as we cannot leave the dog at a pet hotel. The only other option is to have her sister and mother fly in from Japan to take care of the dog. A stranger would have a very difficult time with "Yuta" aka Michael, the Chihuahua. (^^)
Thought I would share the videos and photos she sent from Kauai. Enjoy! Hope the vid works!
Kilauea Point
Kalalau Valley
Kalalau Valley
If any of you visit Hawaii, make sure you plan on visiting the other islands and don't just end you trip on Oahu only! (^^) Aloha-!
(^^) Aloha, y'all!~ I hope everyone is well and fine this beautiful Sunday Morning, rather mid-day, in Hawaii. I have been doing some "cleansing" of stuff that has piled up through the years. A lot of shredding! Important note! Don't just throw away documents (bills, receipts, etc.) in the garbage. Make sure you shred it. Too much information is on those pieces of paper that can be stolen and misused. Alas, All I have is a little shredder so it overheats quite often and the progress is slow. ( - -; )
Well in the process of "cleansing" I have come upon some old photos and videos from Yokohama Dojo1 (^^) I though it would be nice to share with all of you.
This is a video of the New Year practice in 2006. Although it was not snowing, it was very cold.
The oshiruko (Japanese sweet bean soup) tasted really good and also warmed us up! (^^) Only the hardy would show up for sunrise practice on New Year's Day! Some of the colored belts are now black belts! Fufu. Here in Hawaii, I am the only one to do New Year's Practice! Ooops! I take that back!
Shuma and Takuma joined me this year along with some onigiri! That tasted very good too!
Shihandai William (yellow belt) in his younger days. (^^) Also a very rare photo of my daughter, Michele, (middle blue belt) in a karate gi. Taken during Friendship Day on Negishi US Navy Housing in July. A very hot time in Japan and the stage floor was HOT! I had the kids wear sneakers so they wouldn't have burns on their soles! Perhaps photos of Yachiyo breaking tiles will turn up!
Hmmm. I'm a bit skinner too.
Another picture of Shihandai and my daughter Michele.
Current Shihandai (^^)
Current Michele (^^)
How fast time goes! Shihandai recently passed his finals and is on his way to becoming a Doctor of Medicine. Michele is pursuing her life as an "Otaku" creating novelettes with her cartoonist friend (female) and partner. No indications of marriage in the near future! ( - -;) But that's OK too! (^^)
Yachiyo aka Da Boss doing Heian 2 along with other lady members of the Dojo at our backyard wedding reception. Even our dog, Michael aka Yuta, joined in! Kyon Kyon Senpai can be seen breaking up in the back. Hmmmm too much Soju????
Makiki Dojo
Welcome to Jaden and Sayo, our newest members!
Jaden in his Spiderman pose. (^^) Another great addition to the Mini Pewee Pokemon Gundan!
Sayo and her brother Shogo. Hmmm Shogo is her Senpai by a few months. I wonder how that will affect sibling relationship. (^^)
November = Thanksgiving! Have a good Thanksgiving Y'all!
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. Marcel Proust
Mahalo to all the members, young and old, for making the Dojo what it is!! OSU!
