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Robyn Johnson's Blog Blog Tools Rate This Blog
Creation Date: 10-16-2004 09:35 AM
Robyn Johnson
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Status: Public
Entries: 20
Comments: 0
Views: 46,127

In General Breakfalls on Tuesday Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #20 New 10-16-2004 09:35 AM
10/12/04 : )

Since my mom is up in Maine visiting my older sister, my dad dropped me off at the dojo, Tuesday night. Sensei Mark was there and I was very relieved and happy to see him okay and pnemonia free! Larry was the only other person to show up for class! I wonder where everybody was! I found out that Larry went to his first Saturday morning class (usually he has to work). Good for him! That was only the 2nd time that he's actually seen Mr. Larry (head sensei) in the 2 years or so that he's been coming here! It would be great if he was able to make more Saturday classes.

Anyway, Mark started the class and we had some turning practice which went into Irimi techniques (like the "scarf" one). Then he asked what we wanted to do so I said that it's been a long time since I've been able to practice some breakfalls (Larry said that was fine with him). So most of the rest of the class we started off with techniques with uke having the options of either slow rolls or low breakfalls, and we built up from there ending with higher breakfalls. We never did the actual Koshi technique. Anyway, I was proud of myself because I did a lot of breakfalls (Larry did too) and only twice I landed kind of sideways or hurt my hand a little bit once. I'm getting better and it's neat how it doesn't hurt (most of the time)!

Couldn't make it to class Thursday or this (Saturday) morning. My parents and I have an appointment to get our pictures taken for o ...More Read More
Views: 1680


In General Where did this come from??? Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #19 New 09-24-2004 07:13 PM
9/21/04---Tuesday's class---Us, Larry, and Henry. We were very happy when Henry showed up as he taught the class. We did a lot of tenkan practice in our techniques. All 3 of us needed that practice.

9/23/04---Thursday's class---Us, Jim, Mark, Larry, and Henry. Peter's out of town right now but it felt like a more normal class because more people were there. Poor Mark's got pnemonia (!) so he said he was going to take it easy teaching but he was still in a really good mood. It was a really fun class but Mark had us do some weird stuff! At the very beginning, he had us all lie down on our backs and do 6 inch drills! I only knew what they were because of seeing my Tang Soo Do friend do them. I don't know why but it was killing my back! Next we did another exersise of just holding ourselves up on our hands and toes. I was supposed to feel that in my abs but all I felt was my back killing me! I was very relieved when we stopped doing that. I thought I'd be really sore today but I'm not. If I'm motivated, I should start trying to practice doing those exercises at home so I can strengthen those muscels.

For techniques we did Irimis and Shiho Nages from Katatori Menuchi. It was funny because near the end of class, Sensei Mark got on my mom, me, and Jim for doing Shiho Nage in a weird/unnessasary painful looking way. The way we were doing it is the way that Mr. Larry (the senior sensei) has been showing us every Saturday for over a month ...More Read More
Views: 1530


In General Evacuated from the Hurricane but we're back now... Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #18 New 09-21-2004 12:14 PM
...My family and everyone else in my city/state was very lucky that Hurricane Ivan turned at the last minute otherwise we would have been in big trouble! Some people here did have problems actually but that's nothing compared to what other people got. All that happened to us was a tree blew down in our backyard. Seeing pictures in the newspapers and on TV, it's very sad about the great destruction that Ivan did cause in the cities it plowed through. I hope all Aikidokas on this board who live in those places are safe and I hope all the people who suffered damage will get back on their feet as quickly as possible. My thoughts and prayers are with them.

I'm behind in my journal entries! I was going to catch up but then we left because of Ivan. I've gone a whole week without Aikido and I'm going through withdrawl! My mom and I did try to practice some Aikido when we were in the motel pool. It was difficult but very funny as we could hardly do anything to uke without dunking them underwater. We actually evacuated to San Antonio and I looked in the phone book for Aikido dojos and I was excited to find 3 definite places! Unfortunatly, we weren't able to visit any and we didn't have our gi's with us besides.

It was September 7th, 2 weeks ago where I'm starting off my catching up. Amy called me to say that she couldn't come to class because she had too much college work to do. I was sad she couldn't come but because there wasn't a singl ...More Read More
Views: 1618


In General I actually felt comfortable enough to... Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #17 New 08-25-2004 07:02 PM
...lead the 8 directional kata with the bokkens! (Tuesday's class--8-25-04)

(I didn't add anything to my journal last week even though I went to class and I started college for the first time on Monday (!!!!!) so I better add this in now before I forget. Oh yeah, we cut down and sanded and waxed our new jo's last week! They're perfect now!)

Last week, before class, Amy (she got her gi last week!) wanted me to help her with the 8 directional bokken cut. I did and even though I've known how to do it for a long time, I've never shown anyone how to do it before. But because I did that with Amy last week, when Mark asked me to please lead bokkens (so he could walk around and correct people), I actually felt confident enough to try the 8 d. cut up there! When I lead the bokkens, it's few and far between so I'm often nervous and every time I consider attempting the 8 directional, I just know that my mind might go blank so I never tried. I led everyone with shomenuchi stationary strike first, then all the turns, then with a tenkan, and the 8 d. cut (left foot forward) we went through twice. I considered trying the other side where it would be totally opposite but I figured I better not push my luck. Everyone said I did a really good job up there! Mark caught my eye and smiled and bowed---I think he was pleased and proud of me for being more comfortable up there and finally trying the 8 d. cut. Hurray!

I think another reason why I felt comfor ...More Read More
Views: 1495


In General Back from vacation Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #16 New 08-08-2004 01:39 PM
Wow! I actually got a comment on my journal! People actually do read it!!! (Or at least skim through to see if there is anything vaguely interesting.)

Quote:
Kelly Allen wrote:
Hi Robyn

I just wanted to mention to you what I did for a jo. I just went to the local lumber store and bought a peice of oak dowling and cut it to the proper length. I didn't need to finish it. It already had a nice smooth surface and slid well in the hands. I think I paid less than 10.00 for it. That was 2 years ago and it's still my jo.
That's a really good idea, Kelly! If I hadn't already bought the bo's then I bet we might have tried that. Bo's haven't come in the mail yet but soon, I expect.

I had sooooooooo missed Aikido while I was on vacation (came back Tuesday night) that I couldn't wait for Thursday's class! When it came though, I was soooo tired that I felt almost too tired to participate. I did participate in the class (of course) and soon I was wide awake and really enjoying myself!

Besides us and Amy, Mark, Jim, Peter, Larry, and Wayne were there and we had a good time. We did Yokemenuchi Shiho Nage and Yokomen with a technique that was a lot like an Ude but both of our hands were on uke's wrist (as if doing Shiho) so it was like the back Ude only the hands were like that. Don't know if I'd ever done that technique/variation before and it had a name that I didn't recognize it and don't remember now.

Saturday's class (8-7-04)--- I must still on California time a ...More Read More
Views: 1415


In General Found Jo's--sort of Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #15 New 07-31-2004 04:02 PM
I'm still on vacation in California. I've been having a wonderful time! From looking in the phone books there are at least 3 Aikido dojo's around here but I didn't bring my gi and things have been too busy to go visit anyway. I even rode past one on the way to the beach (not sure which one it was though) but to unexpectingly see one was exciting for me! I really miss Aikido and my people at my dojo a lot and I keep thinking about the techniques, etc. "Hi and welcome to Aikido Anonomous (sp?). My name is Robyn and I'm obsessed with...."

I did call around to several supply stores and I found a place relatively close that said they had jo's. My uncle drove me there (my mom was off with her sisters on a mini trip) and I was very glad to see the merchandise in person. The only jo that they had was very strange as it was tapered (sp?) and very skinny at the ends. Nobody in my dojo has a jo like that! I ended up getting 2 short (maybe 5 feet???) bo's (one for me and one for my mom) and they are the correct width. If they are too long, my dad has all the wood cutting stuff in the garage so it will be very easy to cut it down. I think it was a success. It's going to be shipped to our house so it might arrive by Friday and we're going home on Tuesday.

My vacation has been very nice but the only thing that I'm looking forward to when I get home is Aikido! By then I hope my terrible sunburn will be gone. Didn't get sunburned at all on my face but I got it ...More Read More
Views: 1405


In General Last class before vacation Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #14 New 07-21-2004 07:41 PM
Last night's class (Tuesday--July 20th) was enjoyable. However I was having stomach problems and had several moments where I wanted to risk embarrassment by ripping off my hakama and running to the upstairs bathroom. (I know I can't be the only Aikidoka who has had that problem!) I lasted okay though (but barely).

Us, Amy, Mark, Peter, and Larry were there. We did the 13 steps with the Jo and then we paired up and did some practical Jo "fighting"---never did that before! Like being partnered up with somebody using the bokkens only we used steps in the Jo kata. Neat!

Technique-wise, we did an entering/blocking beginning (hard to describe---step in with uke striking tsuki and push/block their punch and enter in with other hand) and different variations of Irimi Nage. At the end we formed a line and took turns doing the 3 Irimis. Lastly, we took turns doing Randori each with 3 attackers. I did "okay". Got stuck once maybe. Even Amy got to do that and she was nervous but that's fine since she's a beginner.

Got to get back to packing! Leaving really early tomorrow morning! Too early in fact! >yawn<

Robyn
Views: 1403


In General 4 year Aikido anniversary & Saturday's class Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #13 New 07-19-2004 10:05 AM


Last Thursday (July 15th) was our 4 year anniversary of our first Aikido class! I'm so glad that we've survived this long and we have sure learned and grown a lot (thinking back of our first years of classes).

Class that night was us, Amy, Jim, Sensei Mark, Larry, and Stark! Jim was teaching Amy Tae Kwon Do kicks and this guy came in and he looked vaguely familier. When he said his name was Stark, I remembered him instantly! He came for a couple of classes in April last year and I remember doing Irimi Nage with him (20 year version) and he picked things up quickly! Glad to see him back trying it again!

It was a fun class. I and Larry were Mark's uke's all night. We did Sankyo techniques and I was in that strange mood where I couldn't help giggling everytime I felt the Sankyo torque!

Saturday's class---Us, Amy, Jim, and Mr. Larry. We did Kotegaeshi and Shiho Nage. It was wonderful practice! However, it was really hot and I was dripping wet and I ended up being Mr. Larry's uke for almost the entire class!!! I was getting nausiated from being too hot and too tired and almost went to go sit out for a bit but I'd get a slight wind back and I just made it to the end of the class by the skin of my teeth. (I felt please to have lasted especially since I was actually honored to be uke for so long!) Mr. Lar ...More Read More
Views: 1343


In General I could be on Cloud 9! Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #12 New 07-14-2004 02:35 PM


Ah! It was a great, fun, encouraging class last night! (Tuesday 7/13/04)

My mom, me, & Amy arrived early but Mark did too. Larry and Peter also came. I announced to Mark that this Thursday would be the 4 year anniversary of when we started Aikido. Hurray for us for surviving this long! While my mom helped Amy with the rolls and practiced techniques with her, Mark "played" with me and I did terrible (maybe worse than usual). He'd strike Yokomen and I kept stepping to the side and OUT instead of to the side and IN. That made a huge difference as I'd be too far away and he'd get a 2nd (and 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc.) strike in before I could do anything!


After the bokkens and Peter helped Amy do backrolls on one side of the mat while the rest of us formed a line and did Kokyus, we did Tenshi Nage for the rest of the class (with variations). I was Sensei Mark's uke the whole time.

Poor Amy got discouraged because Larry (not Mr. Larry who teaches on Saturdays but the other Larry) was making it difficult for her to do the techniques correctly and he was expecting too much from a beginner too.

But my mom and I felt very encouraged because we remember learning Tenshi Nage from the 1, 2, 3 steps and how much we've progressed. We still mess things up all the time but we've come a LONG way!!! It took me 2 months just to be ab ...More Read More
Views: 1572


In General Hurray for Saturday!!! Entry Tools Rate This Entry
  #11 New 07-12-2004 08:43 AM
Saturday turned out to be a lot of fun! 7/10/04 Whether Saturday's class was really for intermediate/"advance invited" or not has been the question up in the air for a long time! Last week, I finally just came right out and asked Mr. Larry and he said that it's okay with him if beginners want to come! (Maybe people just didn't want us to come on Saturday's when we started almost 4 years ago because they might have been working on Dan level/preparing the guys for teaching then.) Anyway, I told Amy that if she wanted to come then she could. She did come but she planned to only watch but that didn't work out as Peter and Jim talked her onto the mat and Jim even went over and took her shoes off for her. (So I guess beginners are really welcome onto the mat on Saturdays!) Wayne was there too.

Since Mr. Larry had finished all the weapons classes, he has started with back with basics (5th kyu). It was a really fun class even though it was very hot! I was Mr. Larry's uke part of the time (and Peter was his other uke) and we did Ikkyo omote & ura and Irimi Nage (20 year version). Mr. Larry would come tell/help me sometimes whether I was with a beginner or someone like Peter or Jim and gave me great tips to polish my techniques. Thanks!

After class (since he took them off, Jim had to put Amy's shoes back on her--funny!), we went to coffee as usual and that was fun. I was very happy to have such an enjoyable class and that Amy came and felt welcome.
[img]http:/ ...More Read More
Views: 1406



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