Earlier this week I took my mountain bike for a sixteen mile round trip to the next town up north into the local village. It was a hot day, humid too. One of those days where a lot of people just stay by their air conditioners. However, I was feeling pretty good, particularly after an excellent weightlifting workout in my basement, where it's always nice and cool in the summer.
My ride went well, with just a gentle enough breeze to make the heat bearable. Thought I was drinking enough water, but when I got home I felt like I walked into brick wall. I recovered with some good hydration and proper food. Made me pretty tired for my Aikido class later though.
Sadly enough I've only taken my mountain bike out once this year, and only a handful of times last year when I bought it.
This year's different though. Being single again has been kind of a wake up call on getting my weight under control. Really not feeling comfortable in my own skin right now, excess baggage and such. I think getting on the bicycle regularly will help me out like it did oh so many years ago when I went from being a husky teen to the kinda guy that was actually in pretty good shape and thinking of going to college to become a personal trainer.
Going to school for Culinary Arts kinda sent me the other way. My own fault.
Also, some friends of mine opened up a bicycle shop in the next town south of here. They have group rides every wednesday and sunday evenings, so I'll have to check those out when my schedule permits.
Not liking the new bike I bought though. Got talked into the mountain bike I have, when I really should have gotten more of a Road/Commuter bike. Soon I'll have to get rid of the bicycle for something more fitting for the road riding I prefer to do. Also, need a better saddle. I'll be ordering through my friends' shop to help support their new business. They sell Jamis bicycles, a company out of New Jersey.
Think I'll go check out their website...
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Aikido
Over the past couple months I've had the opportunity to take martial arts classes again. An Aikido program opened up in North Conway , about a 45 minute drive away, at a local health club.
The instructor, Jack Henry, is a second degree black belt Aikido. He and his wife moved up from Baltimore to the N.Conway area to semi-retire. Jack is a former school teacher, and he definitely looks the part. While he and his wife enjoy northern NH, he really started to miss his Aikido classes, so why not start teaching?
The classes are held at 121 Fit. One hour classes every Thursday evening and Saturday morning. I'm one of only a few regular students. The price is $50 a month, which basically just pays for the fees to use the rooms and mats at the club. Basically means Jack is doing this pretty much non-profit, and mainly so he can spread the art he's come to enjoy with others.
Aikido is unique in that there are very few, if any strikes, including kicks/punches. The philosophy by it's founder, Morihei Ueshiba, was to harmonize with one's opponent, to blend with an attacker's energy and take control of their "center". A person's center, or "Hara" is located approx two inches below the naval. A big part of the manipulations focuses on one's center, and being in control of it. The best way I can describe it, is that with it's focus on protecting your opponent, it's an ideal martial art for hippies!
One thing that makes it easy to converse with Jack Sensei, is that he also has a 2nd degree black belt in Kempo, the style that formed the biggest aspect of Ninpo Chuan Fa, the style that I'm a 3rd degree black belt in. Strangely enough, the only other regular student , Jeff, is also a former practitioner of Kempo, with a first degree black belt.
One of the more fun classes have involved a couple of my fellow black belts from the old school joining me for class. Leane was able to go to a few classes, and Tim joined us for one as well. While they both enjoyed it, they both lead busy lives, so have not made it a regular thing. That particular class which had Leane, Time and I was particularly fun, especially for Jack. He was very impressed with all of us, and appreciated how open we were to learning.
Also, just recently, my young friend and author Kyle, who has also learned from John, has started attending classes, car-pooling with me. I could see the doubt in his eyes as I explained how Aikido works. Aikido can look pretty fake and impractical to the outside observer, particularly if they've studied other arts before ( I know I did). After his first class, I could see how excited he was, and he plans on being a regular student. Kinda cool that I have a kindred spirit to car-pool with.
The Aikido 3D program has actually come in handy pretty well! It's helped me to understand the moves I'd been learning from all angles. An excellent purchase that was. It's particularly helping me prepare for June 30th, when I'll take my first test, for 5th Kyu. In contrast, the last martial arts test I took was for my 3rd Degree Black Belt, eleven years ago!
In Aikido schools, there are 5 Kyu levels to obtain before testing for 1st Dan, or 1st degree Black Belt. In most of these schools, all Kyu levels are white belts. I ordered myself a new Gi with white belt. Kinda neat to put on a new uniform, and particularly a white belt!
I'm enjoying my time with the class, and will definitely be sticking with it. I do still miss studying Ninpo Chuan Fa with John, and I will be sending him an email soon to check back if he'd be up for teaching again, even if it was just teaching me private lessons.
After a year of reading multiple books on various martial arts and missing the practice, it's quite satisfying to to be back in groove again, even if studying something new!
Konnichiwa
The instructor, Jack Henry, is a second degree black belt Aikido. He and his wife moved up from Baltimore to the N.Conway area to semi-retire. Jack is a former school teacher, and he definitely looks the part. While he and his wife enjoy northern NH, he really started to miss his Aikido classes, so why not start teaching?
The classes are held at 121 Fit. One hour classes every Thursday evening and Saturday morning. I'm one of only a few regular students. The price is $50 a month, which basically just pays for the fees to use the rooms and mats at the club. Basically means Jack is doing this pretty much non-profit, and mainly so he can spread the art he's come to enjoy with others.
Aikido is unique in that there are very few, if any strikes, including kicks/punches. The philosophy by it's founder, Morihei Ueshiba, was to harmonize with one's opponent, to blend with an attacker's energy and take control of their "center". A person's center, or "Hara" is located approx two inches below the naval. A big part of the manipulations focuses on one's center, and being in control of it. The best way I can describe it, is that with it's focus on protecting your opponent, it's an ideal martial art for hippies!
One thing that makes it easy to converse with Jack Sensei, is that he also has a 2nd degree black belt in Kempo, the style that formed the biggest aspect of Ninpo Chuan Fa, the style that I'm a 3rd degree black belt in. Strangely enough, the only other regular student , Jeff, is also a former practitioner of Kempo, with a first degree black belt.
One of the more fun classes have involved a couple of my fellow black belts from the old school joining me for class. Leane was able to go to a few classes, and Tim joined us for one as well. While they both enjoyed it, they both lead busy lives, so have not made it a regular thing. That particular class which had Leane, Time and I was particularly fun, especially for Jack. He was very impressed with all of us, and appreciated how open we were to learning.
Also, just recently, my young friend and author Kyle, who has also learned from John, has started attending classes, car-pooling with me. I could see the doubt in his eyes as I explained how Aikido works. Aikido can look pretty fake and impractical to the outside observer, particularly if they've studied other arts before ( I know I did). After his first class, I could see how excited he was, and he plans on being a regular student. Kinda cool that I have a kindred spirit to car-pool with.
The Aikido 3D program has actually come in handy pretty well! It's helped me to understand the moves I'd been learning from all angles. An excellent purchase that was. It's particularly helping me prepare for June 30th, when I'll take my first test, for 5th Kyu. In contrast, the last martial arts test I took was for my 3rd Degree Black Belt, eleven years ago!
In Aikido schools, there are 5 Kyu levels to obtain before testing for 1st Dan, or 1st degree Black Belt. In most of these schools, all Kyu levels are white belts. I ordered myself a new Gi with white belt. Kinda neat to put on a new uniform, and particularly a white belt!
I'm enjoying my time with the class, and will definitely be sticking with it. I do still miss studying Ninpo Chuan Fa with John, and I will be sending him an email soon to check back if he'd be up for teaching again, even if it was just teaching me private lessons.
After a year of reading multiple books on various martial arts and missing the practice, it's quite satisfying to to be back in groove again, even if studying something new!
Konnichiwa
Friday, June 8, 2012
moving on...
I've been avoiding this blog for a little while, mainly since I'm really not sure what to write about. My life has been in an odd state since becoming single again.
My ex girlfriend essentially gave full custody of her child to her ex-husband, lying to her family and I about what she was going to do with her daughter. And... there was another guy. So my respect for her is gone. I don't hate her, since hate implies that I want something bad to happen to her. If it wasn't for her family, all of whom I still care for dearly, then I would hate her. It's tough being close friends with one of her sisters, who is also angry with her. I had one friend tell me that her actions don't make her a bad person. My response was simply, "so cheating on her man and giving up primary custody of her child makes her a good person"? No reply after that. I thought I was a with a nice hippy chick, who turned into a shallow whiny child over the past year.
I really didn't want to blog about my breakup, but it would feel odd not to, like holding back. I'll forgive her someday, if she donates a kidney to someone I care about or cures cancer. A few people have a hard time with me being honest about my disdain for my ex. They don't like it, I ask them to take one moment and step into my shoes. I was a damn good boyfriend and also an excellent role model to Alice. I miss her dearly, and I feel now like all the time I spent with the little on was for nothing. However, as far as my ex goes, good riddance.
Ok, I'm done. I had to get that off my chest.
There have been some good things over the past couple months since. I'll get to those. Some good times to blog about.
Sorry about the angry blog folks. Promise there's positive energy I'll send out in the blogosphere soon.
Namaste and all that jive...
My ex girlfriend essentially gave full custody of her child to her ex-husband, lying to her family and I about what she was going to do with her daughter. And... there was another guy. So my respect for her is gone. I don't hate her, since hate implies that I want something bad to happen to her. If it wasn't for her family, all of whom I still care for dearly, then I would hate her. It's tough being close friends with one of her sisters, who is also angry with her. I had one friend tell me that her actions don't make her a bad person. My response was simply, "so cheating on her man and giving up primary custody of her child makes her a good person"? No reply after that. I thought I was a with a nice hippy chick, who turned into a shallow whiny child over the past year.
I really didn't want to blog about my breakup, but it would feel odd not to, like holding back. I'll forgive her someday, if she donates a kidney to someone I care about or cures cancer. A few people have a hard time with me being honest about my disdain for my ex. They don't like it, I ask them to take one moment and step into my shoes. I was a damn good boyfriend and also an excellent role model to Alice. I miss her dearly, and I feel now like all the time I spent with the little on was for nothing. However, as far as my ex goes, good riddance.
Ok, I'm done. I had to get that off my chest.
There have been some good things over the past couple months since. I'll get to those. Some good times to blog about.
Sorry about the angry blog folks. Promise there's positive energy I'll send out in the blogosphere soon.
Namaste and all that jive...
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