Well Now, Isn't this interesting?

So, I happen to stumble across this "Blog" which I started in 2009... four years ago? I vaguely recall even writing that post. A lot has transpired personally, professionally, emotionally, and from a Martial Art's perspective. I think I would like to revisit this "blog" approach to documenting my happenings- my thoughts- my feelings- the events in my life. Therefore, this post will be a catch up post- zooming to the present from that day in 2009. Here we go.

I did finish my Shodan, and have been steadily working to maintain my credibility as a Karateka- which has not been the easiest thing to do. We don't live near any particular Shorinkan Dojo. Our home Dojo is in El Centro, under the instruction of Hachi Nanadan Noujaim Sensei. We're very lucky to be under his tutelage, and when the time is right, we shall progress to Nidan. I am content at the pace in which I am progressing in Karate. I see a much more blended understanding of Martial Arts now than I did those years past. But more on that in future posts.

I did finish my Shodan in Kobudo as well. I feel particularly bad about this one- I used to be so pationate and consumed by Kobudo as it was a hallmark of the Martial Artist- the Yin and Yang- open and closed hand Karate. But again, I see things differently. I will resume my Kobudo, but in time. There are other passions brewing that I must tend to first.

When we moved back to San Diego from the Temecula/Murrieta area, we settled into Eastlake of Chula Vista. It is in the Southeastern corner of the city and we are quit happy. We decided to make our garage into our own home dojo. The floor is 100% matted, wall to wall, all of our training aides and gear is stored there. We use it for Yoga, Karate, Weights and Cardio, as well as Zumba and Jiu Jitsu.

Yep- Jiu Jitsu. I remember I used to have such disdain for the mentality of the Jiu Jitsu practitioner. They were always such a rag-tag bunch, dirty and or ragged gi, patches all over the place, sloppy belts. Roll around on the floor. I would never want to do something like that and get my clean, bright white gi dirty.

Now, nearly three years have passed since I began to actively train Jiu Jitsu. I train with the Gracie Humaita Academy in Eastlake- I love it. Though it has been a physically exhausting experience, one that has taken a significant physical toll on my body- I am very much in love with the Art. Now I have the new Yin and Yang- the stand up and the ground. In that Yang of the Ground, it has it's own Yin and Yang- the guard player or the top player- there are so many facets to so many aspects of so many things. To see things as single dimension is to rob yourself of the beauty that is all around us.

Coming Topics:
Reflections on Jiu Jitsu
Progression and the Martial Artist
Goals in Jiu Jitsu

Test Day Beat Downs

I have to wonder if other systems go through a beat down hazing like process during testing for Kyu. I assume that Shodan and all Dan ranked testing includes some level of physical examination. I am a proponent of the physical side of Karate- it is after all a contact sport. A sport now, but originally it was a system of training for the martial way. With that said, I still have to wonder what the physical demands are for other systems. The other weekend was a pretest for the upcoming test scheduled for August 3rd.

I know this upcoming Kyu test will be significant for two reasons- the honored guest, from Haifa, Israel, Kyoshi Effi Schleyen, 7th Dan at the invitation of Hachi-Dan Noujaim. Kyoshi Noujaim is a very physically fit and strong man that enjoys very demanding work outs, his close friends include Sabella-Sensie who was the personal body guard of the Prince of Jordan. Sabella-Sensie is a monster of man who’s seminars on martial strength are demanding, enlightening and humbling. For this reason, I know Kyoshi is going to flex- and flex hard this coming test. Many of us testing this coming August, may be selected to test in November in front of the Guests of Honor: Buntoku Ifuku-San 9th Dan Karate, 8th Dan Kobudo and Masao Akamine-San, 7th Dan Karate, 7th Dan Kobudo. So it is a test now and pass or die trying mentality.

The pretest the other weekend was a pretty shocking eye opener. It has been a tough year and much of the physical works outs have been cut or shortened- too much going on. So, test opens and five Sensei take the floor and begin 20 minutes of a beat down work out designed to fatigue the test subjects and reveal their character- who will quit and give up on their selves? Who will stick with it and put it all on the floor? Who has “IT” in the muscle memory? How will the test subjects react to physical exhaustion? Nearly three hours later, in a room that was over 90 degrees with no fans or air conditioning- eight students stood at yoi- only one had passed…

From the muscle fatigue, the Yakusoku Kumite were jumbled and too fast. It is preferred to be slow but powerful. Punctuation of each move is preferred, blurred fast and no definition just looks like something that is blurred and with no definition… not Shorinkan.

Pinan bunkai was chalk with giddy-up’s and false starts- if you are in the middle, you need to know which direction your bunkai is moving and you have to be able to execute the take downs. The kata’s were heavy footed and not nimble- the sweating feet did not help on the dojo mat- sticking and ragged.

That about sums up how we looked as a whole- I myself couldn’t keep Yakusoku six straight in my head- too bad, but thankfully this was just a pre-test.

So what did we take from this? As a family of karateka- we have thrashed ourselves nearly daily in preparation for this upcoming test- we know it will be at least twenty minutes of intense, exhausting, hot work out followed by a test of nearly three hours- we will be prepared and ready- mentally, physically and emotionally.

My question is- how do other systems handle and or conduct Kyu and Dan testing? Is it a beat down hazing like experience or is it a gentle warm up and then test? What are you expected to accomplish?

For my Second Kyu I will be required to perform the following:
1. Warm Up
2. Kihon Warm Up Kata
3. Geki sai dai ichi/ni and complex
4. All five Naihanchi kata, on the floor and some on a plank three feet off of the ground
5. Yakusoku Kumite 1 through 6
6. Pinan Kata and Bunkai: Shodan through Sondan (Random Pick)
7. Either Pasai Sho or Pasai Dai (Random Pick)
8. Kusanku Sho or Kusanku Dai (Random Pick)

It is kubudo tonight followed by an open hand class- time to really step it up this month and train hard.