Kata ~ Little achievements mean the most

Got a text message the other day. Shihan reminding me what time kata class was. I wasn't planning on going. As a matter of fact I was just going to start dinner. Aww the heck with it. It is just kata, I can handle it, so long as I am not kicking anything. I can turn on my heel rather than the ball of my foot. I can handle it. Yeah, I know I have at LEAST two weeks before I should put weight on the broken bone, but I have to do something.

I was missed. Feels nice to be missed. We started with Kihon (basic drills). When it came to kicking, it bothers my foot at the end of the snap, but not the pivot. So I adjusted and didn't put the snap at the end of my kicks like I normally would have.

Jackie Chan ~ The Myth

My kids love Jackie Chan movies and usually so do I. Sitting around the living room, munching on popcorn, watching "Drunken Master" for the third time...nothing beats it. Of course we are all armchair fighters too. Yelling at the hero to duck, or explaining how we would have hit the bad guy. Too funny.

I came across this movie a while ago on Hulu and thought I would share it. It is free and enjoyable for the whole family. Put it on fullscreen and grab your popcorn!

What I Feared; Stress and Weight

I had been doing very well with maintaining weight during my recovery, until last week. As tons of weight loss pill ads will tell you, stress will make you keep fat. Chronic stress can elevate cortisol. Cortisol can slow your metabolism, alter your blood sugar levels, causing mood swings, fatigue,and cause our bodies to want to conserve fat.

Stress was once great for the flight or fight response humans needed to survive in the world. Now the stress is a constant in a lot of people lives, as it is in mine.

Meeting with the Personal Trainer

How can 120lb, 5'2" woman kick my ***? She gives me a strength program from hell, and I like it.

Auburn YMCA Looks the same now as it did then

I headed over to Auburn Maine to the YMCA to meet up with Rachel Doane a few days ago. I had thought she said to wear my workout gear, that we would be working out, but I must have miss heard her. It was an interview. Lots of questions on what I was looking for, lots of questions about my health problems. We set up and appointment for earlier today to go over the workout.

Q&A Rock Bottom

I belong to many 'groups', and most I have left behind. This particular group, wannabeabigloser I joined as it started and then I faded away. Recently I found it again in my quest to help people that used to try to help me.

Q:     Well, I have finally reached a weight that I have been dreading for a long time. Ugh. I am so sick of my bad eating habits. But every time that I try to change them, I eventually go back to the the old ways again. And every time I go back to the old ways, I end up heavier than I have ever been before.

How do I break the cycle?

- S

Controversial Print Ads

Karate ads for the RDCA Academy of Martial Arts. The first ad features a little boy drawing lipstick on himself with his mothers mirror and makeup. The second add sees him wearing his mothers shoes.

Comments range from people being amused to them being outraged. One man jokingly said, 'If you son is wearing makeup, he may need to learn self defense'. Other people are showing their own ignorance by saying that the ads are anti-gay. Since when does being gay mean wearing make-up and mom's shoes?

Dojo Olympics

Last evening the annual MKK dojo Olympics were held. I had forgot about it but Shihan had called me up, he was bringing my kids there. His wife had taken my kids hiking for the day for her son's 14th birthday. I got him this pretty cool backpack that has a water bladder in it. (Now I have to get my kids the same bag.)

Around 5pm, I headed to the local football field and track and met up with everyone. Last year there were more adults than children. This year it was opposite. Sensei Kris and I were both injured, so we helped out with the officiating.

You know you are doing too much karate if....

 I love reading jokes in the morning. It sets me up for a good mood. If you have a joke to share, please add it in a comment.


You know you are doing too much karate if....

• You find yourself casually standing in a half cat stance.
• You trip, go into a roll and come up in a fighting stance. In church.
• You answer Ussss. To your boss or the cop that pulled you over
• You are introduced to someone and you bow to greet them.
• You tie your bathrobe belt in a perfect knot; then check to make sure the ends are exactly even.
• You accept change from the cashier using a knife hand with the thumb carefully tucked in.
• When you're outside doing gardening you practice with all the neat 'weapons'.
• You look for new accommodation based on the amount of practice space it provides (who needs a bedroom?).
• You find yourself practicing bo techniques in miniature with your pencil during dull meetings.
• You notice you never stand with your arms crossed or your hands in your pockets.
• You find yourself practicing stances while standing in lines. Strangely, most people are standing cautiously far, far away from you.
• You don't use any tools while splitting firewood.

How my husband feels too!

Annual Beach Training

A lot of my 'internet karate' friends from around the world have been displaying their beach training photos on Facebook. They look amazing and fun. Last Saturday was my chance to try at Range Pond in Poland ME. I couldn't have asked for better weather, low 80's(F) with a light refreshing breeze.

We lined up in our typical fashion, upper belts along the edge of the water, and the rest of us, in belt order, behind them. My daughter Justice, who decided that karate was not for her some months ago, jumped right into training, right next to me. The four black belts took turns counting out kihon (basics). Kicking was done idogeiko (moving), so we went in then out of the water. The goal was to try to kick sand (or water) at the person in front of you. Some people were covered in sand, with it even sticking to their cheeks. I skipped out on the run along the length of the beach and back, because my calf is still healing,  Knuckle push-ups were done in sets of five, with five sit ups in-between.