Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
september
summer used to be my favorite season.
back when i was younger and more energetic,
and could stay out deep into the warm summer nights.
going to central park at 1am.
riding bikes until breakfast.
then it got too hot.
and i went to bed earlier.
and then autumn became my favorite season.
warm colored trees and leaf covered streets,
cool playful winds and soft gentle sunlight.
great weather for photographs.
fantastic weather for riding bikes.
in the bay area you can find autumn,
but it may only last for a couple blocks and a couple minutes.
and only in a few spots around the east bay.
you get one, maybe two, good moments.
the next moment it's either too hot again,
or the fog has shown its face, and it's cold and damp.
these micro-climates are like channel-surfing the seasons.
i bet this will be something i'll miss when i move back to new york.
maybe.
back when i was younger and more energetic,
and could stay out deep into the warm summer nights.
going to central park at 1am.
riding bikes until breakfast.
then it got too hot.
and i went to bed earlier.
and then autumn became my favorite season.
warm colored trees and leaf covered streets,
cool playful winds and soft gentle sunlight.
great weather for photographs.
fantastic weather for riding bikes.
in the bay area you can find autumn,
but it may only last for a couple blocks and a couple minutes.
and only in a few spots around the east bay.
you get one, maybe two, good moments.
the next moment it's either too hot again,
or the fog has shown its face, and it's cold and damp.
these micro-climates are like channel-surfing the seasons.
i bet this will be something i'll miss when i move back to new york.
maybe.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
caught off guard
a student of mine recently expressed a significant concern regarding surprise attacks. he could not be certain that he would be ready for an unexpected attack. he imagined being consumed by fear, or not responding appropriately because he was thrown off. here are the thoughts that he provoked.
unexpected attacks are just that: unexpected. normal citizens cannot be expected to have their guard up all the time. even law enforcement officers and security contractors can be caught off guard. what happens in this world are not within our control, and that is something everyone has to come to terms with. martial arts training is not some form of magic that will provide an invisible protective shield around you at all times.
as a person concerned about your personal safety, you have to be satisfied with the level of awareness, of your environment and the people around you, that you maintain at most times. you can't be so wound up that you attack anyone that comes near you, but you can't be so relaxed or distracted that you don't know you're being marked and mugged until you're surrounded by three attackers. you have to do the best you can.
in the same way, you can train responses to types of situations. and you need to be confident and satisfied that the training you are doing is the kind you can count on to keep you defended and safe. on top of that, you have to believe you are training hard enough and realistically enough that you can defend and save yourself in bad situations.
if people attack with fists, know empty-hand tactics. if people attack with weapons, know weapons tactics. if people attack aggressively, know how to handle aggressive energy. just like boxers train for fights by sparring in rings, and brazilian jiujitsu practitioners train for competition by rolling on mats, you can train for the street by doing multiple attacker drills on concrete.
you can also train by running. running is an option! getting away from the attack is the safest thing you can do. but in the case that you are required to strike back, you will be glad you have done some sort of combat training.
you might not know when you'll get attacked unexpectedly, but you have the ability to know that you have done all you can to prepare for those times. train well.
unexpected attacks are just that: unexpected. normal citizens cannot be expected to have their guard up all the time. even law enforcement officers and security contractors can be caught off guard. what happens in this world are not within our control, and that is something everyone has to come to terms with. martial arts training is not some form of magic that will provide an invisible protective shield around you at all times.
as a person concerned about your personal safety, you have to be satisfied with the level of awareness, of your environment and the people around you, that you maintain at most times. you can't be so wound up that you attack anyone that comes near you, but you can't be so relaxed or distracted that you don't know you're being marked and mugged until you're surrounded by three attackers. you have to do the best you can.
in the same way, you can train responses to types of situations. and you need to be confident and satisfied that the training you are doing is the kind you can count on to keep you defended and safe. on top of that, you have to believe you are training hard enough and realistically enough that you can defend and save yourself in bad situations.
if people attack with fists, know empty-hand tactics. if people attack with weapons, know weapons tactics. if people attack aggressively, know how to handle aggressive energy. just like boxers train for fights by sparring in rings, and brazilian jiujitsu practitioners train for competition by rolling on mats, you can train for the street by doing multiple attacker drills on concrete.
you can also train by running. running is an option! getting away from the attack is the safest thing you can do. but in the case that you are required to strike back, you will be glad you have done some sort of combat training.
you might not know when you'll get attacked unexpectedly, but you have the ability to know that you have done all you can to prepare for those times. train well.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Bay Area Pekiti-Tirsia with Maginoo Tim Waid
This seminar was very focused and well-presented. It expanded my understanding of some movements while affirming my understanding of others. It supplied a framework for delineation and progression. The big picture was emphasized while acknowledging the smaller possibilities that exist. Greatly beneficial.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
training ride!
the tour de cure is next weekend
so nicole insisted we log as many miles as possible today!
after all the running around and route-deciding,
we ended up with about 28 miles with a handful of stops:
berkeley bowl west, rotten city pizza, some crappy shoe store in emeryville,
missing link bike coop, and naia gelateria.
fun day.
the gmap route
so nicole insisted we log as many miles as possible today!
after all the running around and route-deciding,
we ended up with about 28 miles with a handful of stops:
berkeley bowl west, rotten city pizza, some crappy shoe store in emeryville,
missing link bike coop, and naia gelateria.
fun day.
the gmap route
Friday, March 5, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
cooking
been very happy with the last bunch of foods i've cooked.
-baked yukon gold potatoes with broccoli, garlic, and dry-fried tempeh
-soyrizo tacos with sauteed collards and onions on corn tortillas
-honey barbecue baked tofu sandwiches on sliced brioche
-sweet shoyu tempeh and carrot sushi rolls
-swedish apple pie
-apple almond cake
everything vegan except the brioche. nobody's perfect.
-baked yukon gold potatoes with broccoli, garlic, and dry-fried tempeh
-soyrizo tacos with sauteed collards and onions on corn tortillas
-honey barbecue baked tofu sandwiches on sliced brioche
-sweet shoyu tempeh and carrot sushi rolls
-swedish apple pie
-apple almond cake
everything vegan except the brioche. nobody's perfect.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
oops!
happy new year!
i went back to new york.
saw the family.
trained.
january i began working at the schools again.
my high school students are the same from last year.
they will learn much this year.
i will learn much this year.
going back to new york for chinese new year
and a kali seminar with my guro's guro.
okiedokie.
the rain is almost letting up?
i went back to new york.
saw the family.
trained.
january i began working at the schools again.
my high school students are the same from last year.
they will learn much this year.
i will learn much this year.
going back to new york for chinese new year
and a kali seminar with my guro's guro.
okiedokie.
the rain is almost letting up?
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