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06-08-2008, 04:31 AM
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#1
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Dojo: Northampton Ki Aikido Club
Location: Northampton
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 134
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The trials of a fat bloke
I mentioned in this thread that I was looking for a "plus-size" gi. I'm actually surprised by how difficult it's been to get one. The jackets either fit round the middle but reach down below my knees, or are the perfect length and leave me looking quite indecent!
That got me wondering how any other "plus-size" folks amongst us have found their aikido experience. The first club I attended made me feel really welcome and would often ask if I was doing okay when I was as red as a tomato and producing a tsunami of sweat. I was impressed by that, but a little embarrassed.
I've never felt excluded for being larger, but there's obviously the self-consciousness of looking around in horror and seeing that everyone else is the pique of physical fitness.
The benefit is that I'm already a ball, so rolling should come easier!
Last edited by graham : 06-08-2008 at 04:34 AM.
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06-08-2008, 07:26 AM
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#2
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Location: Florida Gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,902
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
From one big guy to another, greetings.
Yes, we share experience. For the most part people are pretty good about accepting our/my size. And then there are the indirect and direct comments that agree with our/my self-consciousness that we/I need to deal with. The uke on the mat isn't nearly as tough as the one in our/my head.
In the mean time, I am still showing up to train whether they have yet to cultivate empathy, compassion, acceptance, or appreciation of difference. Guess that's the one one in their head/hearts they will have to live with.
So hopefully, one day, we will share space and time on the mat and show everyone how us big guys do it.
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Lynn Seiser PhD
Yondan Aikido & FMA/JKD
We do not rise to the level of our expectations, but fall to the level of our training. Train well. KWATZ!
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06-08-2008, 10:39 AM
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#3
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Location: Orlando, FL
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,502
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Speaking as one who is latitudinally gifted, I find that one big advantage is that nobody can get from my front to my back without stopping along the way to refuel, and that's when I get 'em...
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06-08-2008, 04:52 PM
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#4
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Dojo: Northampton Ki Aikido Club
Location: Northampton
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 134
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Quote:
Clark Bateman wrote:
Speaking as one who is latitudinally gifted, I find that one big advantage is that nobody can get from my front to my back without stopping along the way to refuel, and that's when I get 'em...
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Lol!
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06-09-2008, 07:20 AM
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#5
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Dojo: Northampton Ki Aikido Club
Location: Northampton
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 134
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Quote:
Lynn Seiser wrote:
The uke on the mat isn't nearly as tough as the one in our/my head.
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So true, Lynn.
Thanks.
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06-09-2008, 09:42 AM
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#6
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Location: East Midlands
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 3
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Thanks for this thread, being an SFB (short fat "bloke") myself I have been a bit nervous about starting Aikido. I stopped training in Karate about a year ago and just sitting around doing nothing instead of training three times a week has piled on the pounds. At least I now know I'm not the only one.
Two hours eighteen minutes to the first lesson...
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06-09-2008, 01:51 PM
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#7
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Dojo: Northampton Ki Aikido Club
Location: Northampton
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 134
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Quote:
Robert Draper wrote:
Thanks for this thread, being an SFB (short fat "bloke") myself I have been a bit nervous about starting Aikido. I stopped training in Karate about a year ago and just sitting around doing nothing instead of training three times a week has piled on the pounds. At least I now know I'm not the only one.
Two hours eighteen minutes to the first lesson...
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Oh, you'll love it, Robert! Just don't be afraid to say you need to stop and catch your breath if/when you do.
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06-09-2008, 01:58 PM
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#8
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Dojo: Doshinkan dojo in Roxborough, Pa
Location: Phila. Pa
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,615
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
huh, one of the hardest throwers I've ever met, and one of the best aikidoka (in my opinion) was a short, fat, bloke. I wouldn't have said it to his face though (the short, fat part...).
Actually, another one just popped into my mind...and he's still alive. And would kick my butt if he saw me typing this...
Best,
Ron (chewtoy lives!)
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Ron Tisdale
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"The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind."
St. Bonaventure (ca. 1221-1274)
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06-09-2008, 02:18 PM
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#9
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Location: Orlando, FL
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,502
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Quote:
Ron Tisdale wrote:
huh, one of the hardest throwers I've ever met, and one of the best aikidoka (in my opinion) was a short, fat, bloke.
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I can think of a couple, too... (The secret is that we have our own gravity... shhhhh, don't tell anybody...)
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06-10-2008, 03:50 AM
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#10
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Location: East Midlands
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 3
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Quote:
Graham Old wrote:
Oh, you'll love it, Robert! Just don't be afraid to say you need to stop and catch your breath if/when you do.
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I certainly did love it! And I only went red while doing rolls one after another. Can't wait for next week.
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06-10-2008, 06:10 AM
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#11
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Dojo: Tai Wa Lokeren, Budokai Mechelen
Location: Lokeren
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 114
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Quote:
Clark Bateman wrote:
... The secret is that we have our own gravity... shhhhh, don't tell anybody...)
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Do you get any different gravitational laws with that?
Only thing I can think of by myself is that when you hit the surface, contact will be a little bit softer.
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06-10-2008, 08:40 AM
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#12
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Dojo: Aikido of Lake Keowee
Location: South Carolina
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 187
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Since starting Aikido 15 months ago I have lost weight, gotten stronger and have far faster reflexes, and have a great time to boot! Hurray for the big guys! By the way I have found the short fat guys can usually throw you across the room!
Doc
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"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will"
Gandhi
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06-10-2008, 01:30 PM
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#13
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Location: Florida Gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,902
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Quote:
Randy Sexton wrote:
By the way I have found the short fat guys can usually throw you across the room!
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Hey Doc, what about us tall fat guys?
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Lynn Seiser PhD
Yondan Aikido & FMA/JKD
We do not rise to the level of our expectations, but fall to the level of our training. Train well. KWATZ!
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06-10-2008, 01:57 PM
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#14
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Dojo: Doshinkan dojo in Roxborough, Pa
Location: Phila. Pa
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,615
Offline
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Quote:
Lynn Seiser wrote:
Hey Doc, what about us tall fat guys?
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KOSHI!!!!
Best,
Ron
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Ron Tisdale
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"The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind."
St. Bonaventure (ca. 1221-1274)
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06-10-2008, 04:16 PM
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#15
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Dojo: New School Aikido
Location: Stockton, CA
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 320
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Okay, as another fat guy, I have to echo most of the comments here.
Although, it must be said that my sensei has, um, commented on my weight. But that may have something to do with the fact that I gained a lot of it in the four years I was teaching in Rio Vista. Teaching and not showing up for training.
So, any disparaging comments I receive can be classified as self-inflicted.
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06-16-2008, 04:05 AM
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#16
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Dojo: Northampton Ki Aikido Club
Location: Northampton
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 134
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Quote:
Michael Riehle wrote:
Okay, as another fat guy, I have to echo most of the comments here.
Although, it must be said that my sensei has, um, commented on my weight. But that may have something to do with the fact that I gained a lot of it in the four years I was teaching in Rio Vista. Teaching and not showing up for training.
So, any disparaging comments I receive can be classified as self-inflicted.
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Oh, so you had been practicing Aikido with him previously?
I think that if a comment was made now I would be more self-conscious, but not devastated. However, if a comment had been made when I was first starting, I doubt I would have stuck around.
As it is, I'm losing weight doing Aikido (and watching what I eat and generally having a more active lifestyle), but I still have a long way to go.
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06-16-2008, 05:05 AM
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#17
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Location: Orlando, FL
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,502
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Quote:
Graham Old wrote:
As it is, I'm losing weight doing Aikido (and watching what I eat and generally having a more active lifestyle), but I still have a long way to go.
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Knowing the destination is good, but make sure you take time to enjoy the journey...
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06-16-2008, 03:11 PM
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#18
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Dojo: New School Aikido
Location: Stockton, CA
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 320
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Quote:
Graham Old wrote:
Oh, so you had been practicing Aikido with him previously?
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It could be said that my teaching in Rio Vista was All His Fault with some truth. The weight gain, OTOH, he had nothing to do with.
Quote:
Graham Old wrote:
I think that if a comment was made now I would be more self-conscious, but not devastated. However, if a comment had been made when I was first starting, I doubt I would have stuck around.
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When I first started people made comments about my weight all the time:
"Be careful out there today. There's a pretty strong wind and we'd like to see you here again tomorrow."
"Do you even cast a shadow? Let's see!"
"When was the last time you ate anything?"
I long for those comments today.
Quote:
Graham Old wrote:
As it is, I'm losing weight doing Aikido (and watching what I eat and generally having a more active lifestyle), but I still have a long way to go.
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I wish I could train the way I want to. I expect that to get better, soon, but since I had to get a Real Job my training has definitely suffered.
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06-17-2008, 04:14 AM
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#19
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Dojo: Aberdeen Aikido Yuishinkai
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 181
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Tall fat bloke here too...
-We aren't heightest now are we?
I think i can feel a movement starting, no wait, that's just me getting up.
But back to the gi thing, i find that as a tall, fat guy the uwagi scale up in size quite nicely. It's a shame it doesn't work out for the tall skinny peeps or shorter fatter peeps either.
... solution!
Harmonise with nature.... naked aikido. Awwwww yeah.
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06-24-2008, 09:57 AM
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#20
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Dojo: Shindai Dojo, Orlando Fl.
Location: Orlando Florida
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 456
Offline
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Quote:
Clark Bateman wrote:
Speaking as one who is latitudinally gifted, I find that one big advantage is that nobody can get from my front to my back without stopping along the way to refuel, and that's when I get 'em...
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5'5'' 217 and I move like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Got the grace of a young Baryshnikov and the power of a young Ali. It's all in the mind my friend. Check out some of these guys
http://home.earthlink.net/~jimbaker6/aa/index.htm
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06-24-2008, 10:04 AM
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#21
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Dojo: Doshinkan dojo in Roxborough, Pa
Location: Phila. Pa
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,615
Offline
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Dennis, why am I scared to click on that link!?!?!?
Best,
Ron
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Ron Tisdale
-----------------------
"The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind."
St. Bonaventure (ca. 1221-1274)
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06-24-2008, 10:52 AM
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#22
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Dojo: Shindai Dojo, Orlando Fl.
Location: Orlando Florida
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 456
Offline
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
Quote:
Ron Tisdale wrote:
Dennis, why am I scared to click on that link!?!?!?
Best,
Ron
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Probably because it has Jim Baker's name on it.
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06-24-2008, 01:11 PM
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#23
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Dojo: Aunkai
Location: Fairfax, VA
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 429
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
I've seen people in iaido sew in a panel into their hakama, but haven't seen plus sized gi's.
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06-24-2008, 02:21 PM
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#24
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Dojo: Atibon Aikido, Port Au Prince, Haiti
Location: Port au Prince
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 295
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
The late Kensho Furuya Sensei was not exactly skinny, at least not while he was writing in book "Kodo: Ancient Ways". His extra size apparently did not prevent him from becoming a master.
Where did he get his gi?
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06-24-2008, 02:43 PM
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#25
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Dojo: Shindai Dojo, Orlando Fl.
Location: Orlando Florida
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 456
Offline
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Re: The trials of a fat bloke
I use a Shureido Gi. They are made bigger and are top quality. Some other size 5 quality gi are really a size and a half smaller that a Shureido. My students bought me a new top quality Gi that would not fit. I replaced it with the same size Shureido gi and it is a little big but I like a loose gi. All gis are not the same try several.
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