Geoff’s Martial Art Blog

but hey, I’m not complaining

Well first off sorry it’s a day late folks, even after beach training I was a bit busy yesterday.
But anyway I’m here now, so read on.

Well I woke up in the morning and still only half awake remembered that it was beach training. I looked out the window– and it was raining. Perfect. ‘Oh well’ I thought, we’ll be perfectly warm when we’re doing the training.
So anyway after an hour-and-a-bit it was time to set off. We were to meet at the Stour Center.
“But the Tae Kwon Do–”
“It’s KARATE!!” I said for the tenth time “And it isn’t on now, we’re only meeting up. Just let me through please”
“Fine” The Receptionist retorted “That’ll be £1 Please” 
And to put it bluntly, that’s when I got pissed off. Why? The only day I lose my wallet is when I need it. And for something ridiculous. So I walked out back to the car.
I don’t know what I was going to do at the car but it seemed a better idea than staying with the patronizing receptionist–and that’s when I got a phone call…
Not wanting my parent to overhear my discussion I walked round the corner to take it - and there were. the Ashford Jutsu guys.
*
After a quarter of an hour drive we where there.
So the first thing I done was get changed. I went to the toilets and the cubicle seemed to be the smallest I’ve ever seen. Well after about 5 or 10 minutes I somehow managed to get changed.
We then all walked up to the beach. 

Shihan John, 6th Dan, was taking the session.
To be honest there isn’t much to report on the training itself. It was nothing like what I remembered from childhood. It was very tough and there where none of the usual self defense moves (throwing, disarming and sweeping) that I seemed to remember. (Don’t get me wrong however, I still enjoyed it and it was a great day).
We started off with a (rather long) run to the flagpole and back (lol, the first three back where all from Ashford Jutsu…oh and I was the third)
Then We started off going up and down the lines and doing (at times confusing) techniques.
Next we partnered up (I was with Chris) and we done a bit of blocking and striking.
And lastly there was some sparring. I was with Sensei Maxine, Sensei Alan, and a young blue-belt girl. In the fight with Sensei Alan we were both getting dangerously close to the sea  and thankfully I didn’t go in (for now..)
And that’s it with the training itself. It went surprisingly fast too.

We all went into the sea next. About waist-line deep (pretty deep for being in a Gi). Sensei made sure that we where all soaked. It was pretty funny though and for some reason I’m glad we did do something…a little different.
A great end to a great day!

Again this week we were breaking down our katas a bit and got two people with pads to stand in front/either side as a training aid. We also done a bit more open hand techniques and I feel that my open hand (knife hand) techniques have slightly improved; but they’re still pretty crappy to be honest so I’m gonna work hard on ‘em.
hmm..female Sempai came again down from her club too. Maybe she’s gonna join us? (LOL I don’t know why I’m writing about this LOL)

Oh and plus we done some self defense (grappling) at the end too.

Well I’m Pretty happy with my progress. I know as a Martial Artist I should look beyond belts, but I think for a white belt I’m doing fairly modestly so woo-hoo(!)
Anyway I actually can’t wait for beach training this sunday. Even though my knee is still bad (however MUCH better and almost healed) I’m gonna proper go for it. 

Over and Out.
PS. Happy Birthday Mum (Oh and get well soon Natalie, and congrats to Shihan John for obtaining his 6th Dan)

Well I didn’t do Tuesday’s session of Kickboxing (and didn’t even turn up to watch). Didn’t want to damage my knee further for beach training, and also I had to meet some people.
Oh well, I’ll just have to make up for it on Thursday

PS. I done my homework on the Pinan katas that Sensei set us. I think I done pretty good too. I’ll scan it up sometime

Lately, I’ve been finding Martial Arts very hard.
Now BOTH my knees are gone — meaning I can’t do any stances properly. This even leads onto incorrect  hand techniques. I also can’t stretch properly.
It’s annoying because I can never progress as much as I should, and learn a lot less.

Hopefully it will be better in about a week or so because we have BEACH TRAINING! (Apart from Denmark (which I’ve never been to) it’s one of the best events of the year). There’s throwing, tripping, sweeping, disarming…and best of all the sea.
I’ll be sure to keep you all updated when it happens.

Anyway, yesterday’s training - aside from injuries - was pretty good.
Sempai Reg gave me further help with my knee by giving me a few resources. (Which reminds me, I need to buy “The Complete Book of SHIATSU THERAPY” by Toru Namikoshi). It’s also Reg’s last session for 10 weeks as he’s going to Australia.
Also, I feel my blocks have greatly improved; along with my sit-ups and even press-ups perhaps. (My knees don’t allow me to do a lot of the stretching and warm-ups, so I do sit-ups mainly instead. I’ve done so many that my stomach muscles are aching quite badly - which is good)
Oh and Sempai (I don’t know her name :P) came down to train. She trains at a place beginning with ‘D’ which I’ve forgotten.

Well, I know I talk a lot but this is enough blogging for one day. Dunno why anyone would want to read this blog, but thanks anyway

Well this blog hasn’t been updated lately for a few reasons…
The website’s been going through one or two troubles (which are now fixed). Also, to put it bluntly I couldn’t be bothered (and kept forgetting) to write on it.

Anyway, I’m back now and don’t worry you haven’t missed anything much. 
But what you have missed:

• I’m trying to learn Shiatsu now (with the help of Sempai Reg)
• I got a knee injury and have had to sit out of two sessions (and possibly even one or two more)

I’ll be updating the blog a lot more now so thanks for sticking by.
PS. Shout out to Ben from Ashford Jutsu

Well I remembered what Sensei said last week (In my Karate post named ‘Wow’)
Just before I start this post I’d just like to state strongly that Martial Arts isn’t just twice a week for a couple of hours for me to get a bit fitter; Martial Arts is my way of life.

So anyway, straight away we seemed to be working at fitness (since the tournament had just been I thought this was weird, but Sensei explained that we were getting ready for the next tournament!!)
I guess I should expect fitness and speed a bit more since it is Kickboxing anyway.

Well this was a lesson that I put A LOT into (especially into the squats, press ups etc at the beginning).

Well looking back over, time flew. I remember thinking at the beginning how slow the lesson was going, guess I was wrong. (And wrong for thinking of the time when I should be concentrating).

And lastly, I’ve noticed that everyone I’ve been sparing have improved a great lot since when I first came. Just goes to show, a little hard work and you’re on your journey.