A New Beginning

Well, it's about 8 months since I tested and passed my shodan test. I thought sensei was never going to let me test. I had my ups and downs and lot of challenges in getting to class and training regular enough to get ready. I also lost about 25 pounds for the test, which helped with my stamina. I was so frustrated I almost did not test, but I'm so glad that I did.

This picture was taken right after my sensei gave me the black belt. I guess he knew I was going to pass. I was so worried about doing a good job. I guess I did since everyone told me that I did a good job. I watch it now and see a few things that I would like to change. I wish I could increase my pace some more, which also means increasing my stamina. I wish my techniques would look more dynamic. I need to incorporate more koshiwaza into my training. The one koshi I did was not the best -- I need to drop my center more. Although I felt centered and strong during the test, on viewing the video of my test, I looked like I was going slow especially on my randori. I kept trying to move on my randori and to approach my attackers and not let them come to me, but my randori seemed "off" some how. Maybe because I was tired at that point. Overall, I do feel good about my test and that I did not majorly mess anything up. I did provide a good variety of techniques. My techniques were clean and my knowledge of the details were demonstrated. I had a couple minor flubs, but nothing that would fail me. I think I would have given myself a B on my test. I wasn't an "A" which is "super-wow and totally amazing!" and I wasn't a "C" which is just getting by.

The testing committee on the left and I bow in to my uke Emmanuel.

Suwariwaza ikkyo and iriminage.

Ude Garuma and Tsuki Iriminage:

My randori on the left and Joe's randori on the right:

Here are a couple of video clips from my test:

Part One of my Shodan Test: Emmanuel Herzog is my uke. The other test takers are Joe Marmol with Sachin Mayi as his uke. And Evelyn from Gold Coast Aikikai. I'm the person closest to you.

Part Two of my Shodan Test:

The celebration afterwards...

Jonathon from North Carolina says congrats:

Andy and I pose with our new black belts:

Sushi lunch after wards lunch with Jack, Tabi's friend from Peru, Tabi, Roger, Gini, Me, Stephan, Mina, Isabel and Jack's friend from Texas. Emmanuel is taking the photo.

At the spaghetti dinner later that night. Isabel and I are pretending to be passed out, although we were both pretty exhausted from classes and testing.

Since testing, I've started teaching my first official class - Wednesday nights from 7:15 - 8:15. Tonight, will be my second class.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008:

Last week, week I had four people show up -- Cory (newbie), Randy (5th), David (5th) and Dean (4th). I could tell that both David and Dean were out of practice, but they usually only come once a week. I wish I could talk them into coming at least twice a week. They are father and son and I know they are on David's work schedule and Dean's school schedule, but they could progress a little bit more if they came at least twice a week. I don't see why they can't work in a Saturday. I'll have to ask sensei about how best to address this. Randy came and he did great. He wants to start getting ready for 4th kyu and Cory did good, too.

I was having a hard time teaching Dean, David and Cory nikkyo. Maybe, I will break it down more tonight from ai hanmi instead of just shomenuchi. I could do Ai Hanmi ikkyo, nikkyo and kotegaesi. If Randy sticks around I can help him with a 4th kyu technique for his test. Tonight I will probably have the new couple that just joined, too and ai hanmi would be a good place for them to start. Hopefully, John and Sarah will come tonight if they are not too busy with their photography training. They came to class last night. Oh, I hope Kim comes, too. She really needs to get back into the swing of things and working with people who are newer than her will help give her the confidence she needs.

Tuesday, July 22, 1008

First Class:

I also took the basics class last night -- and as Silvia always told me -- basics are advanced. Sensei taught kokyunage (hitoe iriminage) from different openings. We did about five different versions:

• irimi -- (suwari waza version): curl your pinky first as you draw your hand in front of your center then circl your arms up around and throw.
• irimi-- (tachi waza version): same as above - you slide in irimi, and as you irimi you pivot your hips and curl your pinky down in front of your center then circle your arms up and step back behind uke and throw.
• tenkan -- you tenkan (with a small irimi step) and as in irimi you will curl your pinky down in front of your center then circle your arms up and around as you step back to throw.
• tenshin -- as with the above versions, you will step back tenshin drawing your hand down towards your center, and as uke comes in you rotate your hips the opposite direction then back again while at the same time you are circling your arm around and down.
• tenkan -- (breaking hand away version) as you tenkan you break uke's hand away while keeping your and uke's hand infront of your center, you then circle your arm then throw
• tenkan zempo nage -- tenkan throw -- enter tenkan raise arm up high and then drop down low
• seated kokyuho

Second Class:

I stayed to take Luis' class, but we had a new woman join up along with her husband who just joined the other day. They were both there. So instead of practicing with Luis, Sensei ask me to teach a brief intro class with them both while Luis taught. Diana and Lissandro are their names. I can tell Diana will have hard time learing to roll, but if she takes it slow and gradual she will get it in no time. I taught them the basic foot work - irimi (ayumi ashi), tenkan and tenshin. Then I showed them a basic backfall (just the one where you roll back and stand up not the double slap version) and we then did the irimi throw and ikkyo omote. They both did very well and the husband bought a book. They asked about the kids classes and camp and I think that they might sign their two girls up for camp or the classes.