tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87602860191519713772024-03-13T17:56:26.129-04:00Kihon WasaPatty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-31665931936310672852012-06-16T06:46:00.001-04:002012-06-16T06:46:14.529-04:00VIDEO US Kyokushin Open 2012 Women's Heavyweight ChampionshipsThe big fight came and went, the last fight I get to have this fight season. It was a very tough won fight. Two extentions!!<br />
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<br />Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-9676353694022380242012-05-30T06:45:00.000-04:002012-05-30T06:45:24.947-04:00Non Contact Karate??? ~funny<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-50686794997962184502012-05-28T07:12:00.002-04:002012-05-28T07:12:23.183-04:0010th Kyokushin US Open ~ My resultsThat time came and went again. The US Open championships the Kyokushin Karate. What a great tournament it turned out to be.<br />
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This year Maine Kyokushin Karate decided to have a little ninjas division. I was recruited to judge the Kata and fights for these little guys. Let me tell you there is nothing cuter than a 4 year old doing Kata. Then they fought. There rules were a bit different than mine. They wore chest protectors and were only allowed to hit and kick the protectors. First time I think I saw fighter smile while they were getting hit, so adorable.<br />
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I told Shihan that I was only comfortable doing the ninja judging but somehow got recruited to judge Kata for the older kids. That is a rough job. Especially when we have so many styles represented. Basically I judged on their emotional commitment, stances and confidence. So much pressure...<br />
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Adult semi and full contact was to be the main event that night. So i got to be around all the fighters, watching the kids and teens do their thing. Scoping out who my competition was going to be. In the morning, I read the bracket papers and I had one competitor. By the afternoon, I had three. However as the lights turned on for the main event, I had just 2. Lots of conversations went on about how the bracket was going to play out, who was going to have the bye.<br />
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I really do believe that from 8 am, when I arrived, that there was some kind of time shift. It caused the day to last forever. That night, it shifted to the other way and everything was way too fast. Seemed like the fights before mine, lasted for only seconds before it was my turn. <br />
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I am happy to report that i won my first fight, moving on to the next fight. I had a break long enough to recover fully, but again it was way too soon. The next girl was a very tough fight. At 19, she is 22 years younger than me. She was the queen of the ax kick but only caught me once. Lucky for me that one kick was probably the weakest that she threw that night, or i would have gone down.<br />
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One round wasn't good enough for the judges. We had one extension and then another. I thought I lost, but i could see one judge in front of me raise the red flag. The blood was pumping so hard that I barely recognized the center referees voice saying that I won. Only later did I find out that all the judges decided in my favor. Very close fight.<br />
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Everyone that decided to show up and step on that mat is a champ. It takes so much courage to get out there in front of everyone. <br />
<br />Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-23019690757818452872012-05-08T20:30:00.001-04:002012-05-08T20:33:46.414-04:007 Motivation Wallpapers for your Desktop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-4258478751413692842012-05-02T13:34:00.001-04:002012-05-02T13:35:29.762-04:00Warrior Challenge ~ A Simple Deck Of CardsFor today's warrior challenge, Dawson had a doozie for us. He said I would hate him for it, and for a few minutes i did.<br />
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Get yourself a deck of cards.<br />
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Face cards are worth 10<br />
Aces are worth 12<br />
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Hearts = Medicine ball slams<br />
Clubs = Push-Ups<br />
Spades = Squats<br />
Diamonds = BURPEES!!!<br />
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Go through the whole deck, yeah the WHOLE deck. barf<br />
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I swear, Dawson stacked the deck with diamonds. About 10 cards in, I think we drew 4 diamonds. A face card, the ace, another face card and a 6. In my head I yelled "F#@$ You DAWSON!!", in reality, he could only make out the swear becasue I couldn't breath. I needed some water after that.Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-1611918760133230342012-04-20T16:33:00.000-04:002012-04-20T16:33:30.866-04:00Kids Class Game: Snake Horse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E37T9QHW1tE/T5HH0460bcI/AAAAAAAAA14/NVMna0V0750/s1600/snake_horse_by_nerdyandlovinit-d2zynzh.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E37T9QHW1tE/T5HH0460bcI/AAAAAAAAA14/NVMna0V0750/s320/snake_horse_by_nerdyandlovinit-d2zynzh.png" width="246" /></a></div>I got to teach the kids class last week and they were so much fun. I was hoping for 10 kids to com, but I think I had close to 20. Oh My!! At least I know them all, it makes it easier. I went in with a plan, but with my plan being for 10, the plan went out the window. One of the games I had in mind worked out very well. The kids loved it and when they saw me yesterday, three asked if we could play it again.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Snake Horse:</span></b><br />
I split the group into 2 teams. They lined up, on a starting line, each behind the other, holding on to the person in front's belt. I had a finish line in the distance. They all had to be in a horse stance. The person in the back of the line would yell "SNAKE!" drop down onto all fours and crawl through his teams legs. When he got to the front, the snake would get into a horse stance and yell "HORSE!". The person who was the front of the line would hold the back of the belt, so that the kids could not run too far ahead. When the last person crossed the finish line, that team was the winner.Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-26176011974677898402012-04-11T16:45:00.000-04:002012-04-11T16:45:00.223-04:00Warrior Challenge - Bag Work<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PKElv8cuCmg/T4XtH2oaecI/AAAAAAAAA1M/ZqN8Tz7Q7wo/s1600/muhammad-ali-heavy-bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PKElv8cuCmg/T4XtH2oaecI/AAAAAAAAA1M/ZqN8Tz7Q7wo/s320/muhammad-ali-heavy-bag.jpg" width="320" /></a>Over at DW's Fitness Factory, today's warrior challenge had lots of bag work, my favorite.<br />
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warm-up 3 minutes jumprope<br />
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core x 2<br />
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<ul><li>100 bicycle crunches</li>
<li>10 supermans</li>
<li>10 pikes w/10 pound med ball</li>
</ul><div>All rounds are 3 minutes long, 45 second rest<a name='more'></a></div><div><ul><li>4 rounds, heavy bag work, 30 seconds punches, 30 seconds kicking for 3 minute round</li>
<li>3 rounds, conditioning 30 second each, as fast as possible:</li>
<ul><li>jumping jacks</li>
<li>squats</li>
<li>split jumps</li>
<li>push-ups</li>
<li>burpess</li>
<li>high knees</li>
</ul><li>1 round core</li>
<ul><li>50 bicycle crunches</li>
<li>12 supermans</li>
<li>12 pikes w/10 pound med ball</li>
<li>hold plank until bell</li>
</ul></ul></div>Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-78409044536044418612012-03-30T15:53:00.001-04:002012-03-30T16:25:24.464-04:00Conditioning Circuit Today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4tX-uiKKx8s/T3YPFo2NCmI/AAAAAAAAA0U/Z1Q5ufX-ql0/s1600/ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4tX-uiKKx8s/T3YPFo2NCmI/AAAAAAAAA0U/Z1Q5ufX-ql0/s1600/ball.jpg" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Conditioning circuit today at my gym:</span><br />
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<ul><li><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">10 reps each of </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">medicine ball slams</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">pushups</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">squats</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">burpees </span></li>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">performed as for a many circuits as possible in 20 minutes then a </span></span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">wall sit</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> as long as possible.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I did 9 sets and a wall sit for 1:20</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">What can you do?</span>Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-88375470231586759182012-03-20T06:23:00.001-04:002012-03-20T06:25:48.063-04:00Breaking WoodThe last time I went to Canada, the very nice people at Atlantic Canada Kyokushin-Kan Karate (ACKK) gave me three boards to break. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="284" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tui5nqKVqZE?rel=0" width="500"></iframe>Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-76738698777740249692012-03-07T12:18:00.000-05:002012-03-07T12:18:01.211-05:00Wednesday KickASSery!!!!<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jaMtFj_scT0/T1eYEIu35VI/AAAAAAAAAzU/kXMHYE_w_QM/s1600/1299061626_use-dumbbells-800x800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jaMtFj_scT0/T1eYEIu35VI/AAAAAAAAAzU/kXMHYE_w_QM/s200/1299061626_use-dumbbells-800x800.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>My trainer Rich has me on a weight program and I see him twice a week for that. It is assistant work that is very heavy weight, well heavy for me. In the middle of the week, he has me doing a javorek complex that he designed for me. The weight for the Javorek should be a medium weight for you.</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Javorek is a olympic trainer who devised a cardio/weight program that has proven itself again and again. The method to the madness is that all exersices are done in a superset, one right after the other without a break. When the circuit is done, you rest for 30 seconds to a minute and attack it again 3 to 4 times.</b></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Patty ‘Powerhouse’ Pittman’s</b></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Home Routine</b></span></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wednesday KickASSery!!!! </b></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>-Warm Up- </b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Shadowboxing 3m or Jump Rope for 3m </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>-Core- superset X 3</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-right: -0.56in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Bicycle Crunches 40</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Superwoman 10</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Plank 1min</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>-Conditioning Training- (DONE WITH 20# DUMBELLS) Superset X 3</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Squat w/ Presses 7</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Rows 7</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Skull Crushers 7</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pushups 7</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Lunges 7</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hammer Curls 7 </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>-Finisher- </b></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Burpees!!!! 7 </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">“<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them; a desire, a dream, a vision.”-Mohammad Ali</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div></div>Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-3498881184171337292012-03-04T09:19:00.000-05:002012-03-04T09:19:44.293-05:00Ligo Dojo Tournament March 10 2012 Durhan NC<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XtdGouVO2s0/T1N53YhuTDI/AAAAAAAAAyg/eL7kUUHnOUQ/s1600/6821_1140191423880_1200255698_30346682_6278383_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XtdGouVO2s0/T1N53YhuTDI/AAAAAAAAAyg/eL7kUUHnOUQ/s320/6821_1140191423880_1200255698_30346682_6278383_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Coming soon to North Carolina, the Ligo Dojo of Durham will be hosting their first tournament. It is slated as a beginners tournament. My dojo will be sending some fighters and I will be coming down to join them, but as support and a spectator.<br />
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Tidbits from their facebook page:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><a name='more'></a>Kyokushin Tournament in Durham North Carolina, March 10. Details are set. Event has been billed as an invitational tournament (we've only invited certain groups), but we're open now to last minute participants. Anyone have students that want to fight? There will be many kids and novice-level competitors in this event. Great for first tournament experiences!</span> </span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">March 10th! The pieces are falling into place for Ligo Dojo's first karate tournament held here in Durham! Event will be all day at Jewish Community Center on Cornwalis Rd. Admission $10. Free for for 6 years and under. All participants must be dressed out by 9 am for mandantory participants' meeting.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">We are excited to host our first tournament here in Durham on March 10th and all the pieces are coming together. In addition to Kyokushin guest participants from out of state, all Ligo Dojo students participating in their quarterly promotion test will participate, many entry-level bouts, kyu ranks, lot of kids of all ages.</blockquote><br />
You can find Ligo homepage at <a href="http://www.budokaratehouse.com/" target="_blank">http://www.budokaratehouse.com/</a><br />
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I hope to see you there and if you come, please introduce yourself to me :)Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-26456594885219794102012-02-28T06:33:00.000-05:002012-02-28T06:33:40.015-05:00The Gauntlet of LinksVacation week in Maine has been hectic to say the least. When you work at a ski mountain, the action is non-stop all week. Every morning I was fitting rental skis to guest. In the after noon I would take the guest on the ziplines. Finally at night, I sold tickets. 12 hour days all week.<div><br />
</div><div>Today is my day of rest so I caught up on all my favorite blogs and I am going to share the best with you.</div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://kuwaitkaratejournal.wordpress.com/2012/01/29/apft-army-physical-fitness-training-test/" target="_blank">Kuwait Karate Journal</a> wants you to know how fit you really are. Take the US Army fitness test twice a year to gauge your fitness.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Over at <a href="http://exploringkarate.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/developing-my-skills-on-the-freestanding-punchbag/#comment-13" target="_blank">ExploringKarate</a>, Steve will take you through his planned workout with a free standing bag. He says, "You can feel and see when a technique <b>connects well</b> and work to improve it."</div><div><br />
</div><div>At the<a href="http://knockdownfighters.com/index.cgi?board=kata&action=display&thread=22&page=1" target="_blank"> Knockdown Fighter</a> board, join the discussion of you most favorite and least favorite techniques. My most favorite (today) is inside leg kick, my most hated, spinning hook kick. I just can't seem to get it.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Want a new workout gadget but don't want to spend the cash? How about a new TRX suspension trainer? the guys at <a href="http://homemadegymstuff.blogspot.com/2010/01/homemadegymstuff-trx-on-cheap.html" target="_blank">Homemade Gym Stuff </a>will show you how.</div><div><br />
</div><div>My favorite topic, food. So how does a fighter gain weight and build muscle? <a href="http://www.marksdailyapple.com/gain-weight-build-muscle/#axzz1nfuPgyVe" target="_blank">Mark Sisson</a> will tell you how without all the white carbs that does your body no good.</div>Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-23193433807176557852012-02-25T06:41:00.000-05:002012-02-25T06:41:10.107-05:00Just Saying : Burpees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Just Saying:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1F0-bhblkXM/T0jInJa-oMI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/l3lf6keYYrY/s1600/406506_186028501505468_100002949596544_292186_2118666111_n+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1F0-bhblkXM/T0jInJa-oMI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/l3lf6keYYrY/s640/406506_186028501505468_100002949596544_292186_2118666111_n+(1).jpg" width="510" /></a></div>JustPatty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-72091460841079105922012-02-03T15:02:00.002-05:002012-02-03T15:02:43.833-05:00What Tabata is Not<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-px3klC88PMk/Tyw9PiqdEgI/AAAAAAAAAx8/SevHUNXJw74/s1600/stopwatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-px3klC88PMk/Tyw9PiqdEgI/AAAAAAAAAx8/SevHUNXJw74/s1600/stopwatch.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">There are many names for it. Surge, Burst, HiiT, The Tabata Protocol, and my favorite, Four Minutes of Hell. No matter what you call it, the Tabata method of interval training is the most effective way to train both the aerobic and anaerobic metabolic pathways. It only takes four minutes, but those 8 sets of 20 seconds work, 10 </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">seconds</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> rest, are the longest in your life if you do the protocol correctly. </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Tabata Myths</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>More is better :</b> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px;">Tabata intervals are a an exercise where you work for 20 seconds and rest for 10 seconds for a total of 8 sets. Easy peasy, right? </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px;">WRONG. For those 20 seconds, you are to go ALL OUT. you are meant to use up all the gas in your tank, you are supposed to bonk. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have seen tons of videos and write ups about intervals that last 20 minutes or more with the name tabata stamped on it. Those aren't Tabatas. If you give it everything you got and can only do half the sets, you are doing it right!!! </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vFwmEcnnf9M/TywyVpfrI7I/AAAAAAAAAxs/tIzObDEgLQQ/s1600/marathon_sprinter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vFwmEcnnf9M/TywyVpfrI7I/AAAAAAAAAxs/tIzObDEgLQQ/s1600/marathon_sprinter.jpg" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">You are a pro athlete, you say? Doesn't matter. Your 100% effort may take you farther, lift up heavier things, hit harder, but 100% of your effort is still 100%, you simply CAN'T do any more and that is what Tabatas are all about. Finding the bonk.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><span style="font-family: inherit;">The bonk actually brings you to the anaerobic, hardcore level that you are looking for. Sure it helps with fat loss, almost all cardio does. The difference with tabatas, is that it seems to target fat as the primary energy source, so it leaves muscle tissue alone. Need a visual? Think of a </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">sprinter</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> and compare that picture to a marathoner, which body do you want to have?</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><b>Any Exercise can be done Tabata style:</b> No it can't. Tabatas are all out effort and you simply cannot divide your attention with things like proper form. So leave the deadlifts for a weight training day. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Choose an exercise that doesn't take much thought. Sprinting, stairs, box jumps, jumping jacks, burpees, jumping lunges, punching a heavy bag, switch kicks are all great exercises. Skip anything that takes thinking or form to do properly.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Keep it simple. Some people will have you do a different exercise for every set, like sprint for 20 secs, the next set will be jumping jacks, the next set will be burpees. If you are like me, that is too much to remember. I can't even count when exercising, never mind what exercise comes next. Besides it is only four mintes, so pick one thing and follow it through.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Funny thing about black belts: they can't do this interval with a heavy bag. The drill is about all out effort, tossing aside form and technique. They have been practicing form for so long that they cannot just plain hit like a drunken sailor. So when I do this at the end of kickboxing, I always try to choose an exercise they can't think too much about.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
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</span></span></div>Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-80845470554119800992012-01-30T18:59:00.000-05:002012-01-30T18:59:29.781-05:00One Thousand Challenge<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TEbgRf6GEEk/Tycus7hXVmI/AAAAAAAAAxk/J04zZYTPRHw/s1600/calf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TEbgRf6GEEk/Tycus7hXVmI/AAAAAAAAAxk/J04zZYTPRHw/s320/calf.jpg" width="320" /></a>Crystal Cipriani, over at <a href="http://theprimaltribe.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/one-thousand-challenge/" target="_blank">Journey of the Primal Tribe</a> has issued a challenge. The "One Thousand Challenge". In four months, she wants to transform her legs by May.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So here is my <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One Thousand Challenge</strong>. In the next four months I am challenging myself to do</div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One Thousand Lunges</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One Thousand Calf Raises</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One Thousand Squats</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One Thousand Side Lunges</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 1.7em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That is 250 of each a month. 63 a week. 21 each a workout if you do three workouts a week. You can do them with weights or without. That’s do-able. That’s not even really a challenge in my quickly growing book of kicking-ass but there it is.</div></blockquote> If she gets 50 people to sign up by Friday, there will be a giveaway every 4 weeks. <br />
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I'm in, are you??Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-71104894975727635272012-01-24T14:27:00.001-05:002012-01-24T14:28:43.859-05:00Being PublishedGOOD NEW! GOOD NEWS!! I am a published author now!! Wrote about tabata intervals in Osu Magazine. download your copy for free. I had the copy on my desktop forever and didn't know I was in it. I was waiting for a magazine with a different name<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/324920" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KdpBBULG6Iw/Tx8GSB-gAPI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/q_9TfUHC14c/s400/osu.png" width="323" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/324920Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-85595637809446516942012-01-19T05:58:00.000-05:002012-01-19T05:58:32.002-05:00US Open Returns to Maine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7QY_Dnz16T8/TRyOSODlboI/AAAAAAAAANY/_8VMfWaAF_k/s1600/kyokushin0960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7QY_Dnz16T8/TRyOSODlboI/AAAAAAAAANY/_8VMfWaAF_k/s320/kyokushin0960.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Mark your calander. The US Open Kyokushin Tournament is returning to Maine this May 23rd at Sunday River Resort in Newry Maine. Stay tunes for more details or call 207.890.6724 or email mkka12@yahoo.com<br />
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Here in Maine we have a lot to do before that tournament comes up. This month we are having an Inter-school tournament for beginners. This inter-school tourny will introduce newbies to the tournament edicuitte, what to expect when they get there, what the ref is saying, general rules of the fight.<br />
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In March we will be headed to North Carolina for a Tourament that is structured for New and Beginner fighters. (I think I will be coaching)<br />
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In April we are hoping to car pool over to the other side of the country, Seatlle, for a tournment with our cousin organization.<br />
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Ending up in May with our tournament.<br />
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Summer time will mean summer camp. For one low price we stay at a boarding school, eat great food and train 8 hours a day with the greatest teachers. I can't wait for that to happen. <br />
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As I get more word on details I will post them.<br />
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I do not know when my tournament in Japan is for sure, I think it is in the Fall.Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-24927711434227878552012-01-11T05:09:00.000-05:002012-01-11T05:09:18.816-05:00Interval Training<a href="http://www.greatist.com/fitness/interval-training-complete-guide/attachment/complete-guide-to-interval-training/" rel="attachment wp-att-3112"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3112" title="The Complete Guide to Interval Training" src="http://www.greatist.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Complete-Guide-to-Interval-Training.png" alt="" width="525" /></a>Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-91649730052012229322012-01-03T12:48:00.000-05:002012-01-03T12:48:12.791-05:00Zipping along with no snowLast week i gave a zipline tour to a photographer and a reporter to the Portland Press herald. This past Sunday I was in the ourdoor section of the sunday paper. Pretty cool.<br />
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</div><div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">NEWRY - Frozen waterfalls, whispering brooks, and the distant hum of snow guns outside a quiet grove. These are some of the things that make zip line rides in winter so unique.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tqp6_0maAKc/TwM-vNiM8DI/AAAAAAAAAw0/FGcPxhLQ6tk/s1600/portland-press-herald_3603056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tqp6_0maAKc/TwM-vNiM8DI/AAAAAAAAAw0/FGcPxhLQ6tk/s320/portland-press-herald_3603056.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Thats me flying through the trees!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">And that was the reason given by a family from Orlando, Fla., who decided to end a holiday week at Sunday River zipping on Friday.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">"It's different," said Kevin Connell, moments after his 16-year-old son climbed off the zip tower first, and said the same thing.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">"We didn't miss skiing. The kids love it. Maybe next time we'll get mom to do it, although she's afraid of heights."</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Right now at ski areas statewide, any non-mountain fun is becoming more of an option as skiers and snowboarders wait for natural snow to fall.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Certainly with the cold weather that arrived last week, mountains are opening up more terrain. Even with no natural snow many mountains in Maine are doing just fine with man-made snow.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Shawnee Peak was 60 percent open as of Thursday, with more than 20 trails covered by the work of snow guns.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">"Quite honestly, we like to be a ski resort and we are a ski area first and foremost. We concentrate our efforts on that," said Rachel Wilkinson, Shawnee Peak spokesperson. "Once we do the East Side trail next week, we're not that far from full capacity. We're behind (from last year), but I don't know how much."</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">And officials at Sunday River says they're not far off, either, even without nature's help.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">"We have over 50 trails open, and we're making snow like mad," said Darcy Morse, the ski area's spokesperson.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Certainly, nobody like those in the ski industry knows how the weather in Maine can change in a second, and hope is always just around the corner.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">"One big storm. It wouldn't take much to get us back on track," said Ethan Austin, Sugarloaf's spokesman.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Still, while Nordic centers wait desperately for a natural blanket of white to even open, most Alpine areas are pointing to other activities for snow sport fans to stay active and interested while everyone prays for snow.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">They've got snowshoeing trails, tubing parks, and a few are lucky to have skating ponds open despite mild temps.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">The Camden Snow Bowl has several nice trails for snowshoeing that make great hiking trails, although they are eager there for a dump so their first section of Nordic trails can open for good.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">"We had them open for a day after that Thanksgiving storm. They're nice. I tried them out," said Snow Bowl Director Jeff Kuller.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Meanwhile, Sunday River moved its tubing operation closer to the main South Ridge Lodge and opened it at night for free.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Then there are the zip line tours, which were put in at Sugarloaf and Sunday River with just this idea: Add a little extra joy to the mountains in winter and the skiers will keep coming even when the snow isn't all there.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">And new this year at Sunday River is the twin zips, the side-by-side zip run that leaves the woods and ferries riders over the slopes down to the lodge. It's a natural hit.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">"We're going to do tricks" boasted Lauren Connell, 12, before she and her 10-year-old sister, Hannah, climbed up the zip tower.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">The Connell family on Friday felt the seven line, high-wire action was the perfect ending to a rare winter holiday for their Florida clan. First, it's fast, and then there is the free-falling feeling gliding over the skiers at the base lodge.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">The roughly 2-hour-long zip line tours at Sunday River and Sugarloaf were rolled out last summer and have been busy in the good weather.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">But when the snow is not ideal -- or all there -- the zip lines have been a busy outdoor option.</div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">"Wednesday when it rained, we had our biggest day. We normally have two tours. That day we had three tours," said Sunday River zip line pilot Patty Pittman.</div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://www.pressherald.com/life/outdoors/zipping-along-with-no-snow_2012-01-01.html" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">Zipping along with no snow | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram</a></div></div>Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-4702595863788033952011-12-04T20:59:00.001-05:002011-12-04T21:06:08.700-05:00What's Your Range??<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--kMBFf4uadg/Ttwm5WoWhrI/AAAAAAAAAwM/PCbJWzADyjw/s1600/_DSC0095_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--kMBFf4uadg/Ttwm5WoWhrI/AAAAAAAAAwM/PCbJWzADyjw/s320/_DSC0095_edited-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A little personal information first: I am very new at teaching. I don't think the first lesson I taught went over as well as I wanted to. I feel like I rushed everything but I do think the sparring game I had made up for it. People said that they really liked it. (see <a href="http://www.kihonwasa.com/2011/11/class-was-taught.html">http://www.kihonwasa.com/2011/11/class-was-taught.html</a>)<br />
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</div><div>So for my second lesson, Shihan asked me if I would teach about 5 days before the class. I know, five days is a lot of time, but being new at this, 5 days seemed very short. I racked my brain for something that would be relevant to teach. Do I go over a basic technique and help them perfect it? Like front snap kicks, or the basic jab, cross? Do i go over something a little more fancy like a spinning jumping back kick? Do we work on something I need to work on so I can get better while helping others?<br />
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</div><div>I was trying to remember about sparring sessions past when I remembered an orange belt. Over at Sensei's dojo in Bethel, it was close to my last tournament, i think it was. There was a man a was fighting. Sometimes when he would punch, it would just barley touch me, sometimes miss altogether because he was so far away he couldn't reach. He did the same thing with his kicks. Round house that were way too close to be effective or to far away that I didn't even need to move. </div><div><br />
</div><div>So this lesson was all about finding your range with many drills. After all normal beginnings of kihon and fitness, I had them get padded up. Each drill was for 45 seconds to a minute, then I would switch the roles of the partners before rotating to new partners for the next drill.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Mirror Drill:</b> One of the most important thing about getting in your range and staying out of your opponents, is footwork. Everyone paired up. One person was to be the leader, the other was the mirror. First the players keep distance from each other that is just barley out of kick range. That distance allows you to get out of an attack but easily allows you to close the distance and attack. Assume figthing posistion, and when the leader comes forward, the mirror goes back. Leader steps through, switching stance, the mirror steps back switching stance. Always keeping the same distance from each other. (leaning footwork would be a post in itself, so I will assume you already know it) Mirror must keep eyes forward, NOT LOOKING AT FEET. This will help your sensitivity to movement that comes from around you. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Missed Kicks:</b> Partners take a fighting stance distancing just far enough away that a low round house would miss or the toes would barley touch. The leader in this drill is to do low round house kick, trying to tag the leg. The person getting kicked, is to hold their hands behind their back the whole time, tucking into their belt is ideal. The person getting kicked is to use his footwork to circle and dodge out of the way. The idea is to judge the leaders range and to get just out of the range of him. Leader MUST use proper technique kicking, following through. (important for the next drill)</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Tag</b>: Same drill as missed kicks, but this time both people have their hands up. The leader comes in for a low round house, the partner shoots back a few inches for the kick to miss. When the kick follows though, going by, the partner shoots in to close range and tags the leader with an open hand in a place that you would like to hit in a tournament, like ribs, solar plexus, liver, remember to target. The shoot back to the 'safe' distance.</div><div><br />
</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Now to some hands, all borrowed from this video (watch from 2:15 on):</b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/foqUqIVWcEc?rel=0" width="420"></iframe></div><div><br />
</div><div>Finally The fun part <b>SPARRING!!!</b><br />
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For 10 minutes, we had 45 second sparring matches. We partners up and lined up, with upper belts one one side facing their underbelt opponents. The upper belts could only use their hands to block, but they can kick. The underbelts could use their legs to block, but can throw punches. It was very interesting.<br />
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So each side would have their turn only punching or only kicking for 45 seconds and then I wold rotate the class so they had new partners. It was very interesting watching the two highest ranked people trying to spar each other this way. </div>Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-59595460177779753032011-11-15T03:18:00.000-05:002011-11-15T03:18:20.533-05:00THE Class was Taught<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zkRcoIQdKh8/TsIeC9RUuxI/AAAAAAAAAvA/p_J4deNadtI/s1600/6821_1153575518474_1200255698_30382556_6193816_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zkRcoIQdKh8/TsIeC9RUuxI/AAAAAAAAAvA/p_J4deNadtI/s320/6821_1153575518474_1200255698_30382556_6193816_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>Last night was a big deal for me. I taught my first Sabaki class. That is fight class. Gosh I had such anxiety about it. I have to thank my dojo mates for dealing with me.<br />
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I started with kihon, basic strikes, blocks and kick. I totally had a plan when I went in there. Just go through the basics, nothing fancy, but went I went so fast that I was under time, I started to make up kicks. Ever stand in zenkutsu dachi (front leaning stance) while throwing a round knee kick?? Neither have I, but lucky for me it worked.<br />
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After fitness and a water break, we went over my plan of attack. I had everyone line up at the back of the room so we could walk up and down the room throwing a jab, reverse, and a knee kick. Then we took turns strapping on the full body kicking shield and we practiced the combo against it. The next step in my master plan was to learn to defend against it.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cS7auO2pH2Q/TsIgAzdHfNI/AAAAAAAAAvI/rSqpqQ-ZtoE/s1600/125+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cS7auO2pH2Q/TsIgAzdHfNI/AAAAAAAAAvI/rSqpqQ-ZtoE/s320/125+%25282%2529.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me And Ryan last belt test</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Time flew by and I had 10 minutes or so of actual sparring time. There was only seven people in class so instead of regular sparring, I had them all circle up. I put one in the middle and sent people to spar him for 30 seconds. While this was happening, I walked around the circle and I would tag someone and keep walking. I would shout to stop fighting and the next person would spar the person in the middle.<br />
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I had a hard time explaining it, but while I was trying, Patrick said "Oh Boy!" cause he knew what I was doing. He got to go first. Pat sparred Manny, I walked around and tagged Ryan. When Manny's time was up I told him to stop. As soon as I did, Ryan pops into the circle. He just happened to be behind Patrick so that when Pat turned around, he got hit in the stomach. So round and round it went. We went about 10 minutes over time because it was SO MUCH FUN. I totally wanted to jump in.<br />
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There was one accident. J went to through a spinning back kick at Ryan and when he spun, he wasn't in total control and it turned into a spinning hook kick that got Ryan in the throat. I felt so bad, I still do.Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-36613894933885344572011-11-09T14:20:00.000-05:002011-11-09T14:20:02.487-05:00Teaching Karate~ The Path to SempaiMy road to black belt is taking a turn that I really haven't seen with most other people, teaching. I have been teaching a lot.<div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A-elpVkMUlE/TrrRsBkGMeI/AAAAAAAAAuY/zdak684rhsU/s1600/kids-karate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A-elpVkMUlE/TrrRsBkGMeI/AAAAAAAAAuY/zdak684rhsU/s1600/kids-karate.jpg" /></a></div><div>I have a kickboxing class on Thursdays that I am running. In Cardio Kickboxing, I run intervals focusing on drills that are karate related. There are tons of punching and kicking combinations, body weight exercises and balance and flexibility challenges. Lasts about an hour, every drill is 2 minutes long with a 30 second rest. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Sensei Liesha has asked me for help in one of the after-school programs on Wednesdays. There are 20 kids, ages from kindergarten to 5th grade. That age range is really hard. The attention span of a 11 year old is drastically longer than a 6 year old. Liesha usually has them in two groups but since this was the first time in this school, they made a mistake of putting them all together. So we start class together then split them up by age to work with them separate. Sometime this year, when there are two classes, it will be my class.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I am now also doing beginner classes. Sempai Scott had to start the night shift and so Michelle and I are running the class. That started on Halloween. I have helped in beginner a lot in the past and so Michelle and I are alternating the class between us. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Now I get a text asking me to teach sabaki class. Sabaki is where we learn to fight. Shihan has a meeting and ask me to teach the class. That class seems like a lot of weight to me. There will be black belts there. I will be teaching basics to black belts. I have doubts about weather I can do this. I get tripping over my tongue even in the beginner class. I told Shihan that, but he said that I will be fine and can do it in English if I feel more comfortable. He says that teaching is one of the best things I can do to prepare for black belt. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Shihan asked me to make up a class plan and show it to him before class. After kihon and fitness, I am thinking of teaching knee kicks. Basic jab, reverse, knee, and jab, reverse, switch knee Do that a few times up and down the mat. Then do the same with hotting the pads. Then I was thinking of having them partner up and work the defense of the combination. </div><div><br />
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</div>Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-17805646271019285412011-11-01T12:35:00.000-04:002011-11-01T12:35:32.393-04:00Brown Belt BluesWhen I was an under belt, under green with stripe (3rd kyu), a new belt rank meant a new kata or two and a slight increase in fitness. Yea, we did fight training every week. But belt tests focused on kihon and katas and as long as you sparred just once, you passed.<br />
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</div><div>At 3rd kyu however, it seemed like there was a lot more on my shoulders on my journey to 2nd kyu, brown belt. The katas I had to learn, three of them, were all similar, were confusing me. As an upper belt the things I thought I was doing correctly, were now getting nit-picked. Okay nit-picked is a bad word, maybe tweaked is a better word, but it sure did feel like nit-picked. Seemed like all the pinan katas were running together and would often start a san kata and finish with a yon somewhere in the middle. Also trying to train for a fight so I could be eligible for the Japan fights next year. The worst thing was when testing for my brown belt, for the end of the kihon and katas, I was in front of everyone doing them by myself.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Things are even harder for me as a brown belt. Sensei tells me that this is the level that they lose people at. This is where it really gets tough. I agree. I feel the frustration. I am being corrected, but instead of just saying what I am doing wrong, I am told that I should know better at my rank. I am told that I am now a leader as a brown belt. People are looking up to me to show them how to do things correctly. No pressure or anything.<br />
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Shihan is already asked me about the next belt test and weather or not Ill be ready for it. Brings my anxiety level up but if I am not working towards something, I am simply existing. I don't want to just exist so somehow I have to push through this. I have to pull it together and get the new katas learned, perfect my stances, use proper fighting techniques and be able to teach.</div><div><br />
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</div>Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-17784932419859994722011-10-08T10:28:00.002-04:002011-10-08T23:58:29.688-04:00What It's Like Before a Fight<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>6 Months Out</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X7_aeZ98mxc/TpBdhDYmagI/AAAAAAAAAs0/pWggM06f51A/s1600/222262_10150172243166006_513981005_7219333_7479559_n+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X7_aeZ98mxc/TpBdhDYmagI/AAAAAAAAAs0/pWggM06f51A/s200/222262_10150172243166006_513981005_7219333_7479559_n+%25282%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Shihan, sensei or someone tells you about a fight coming up, sometime in the month of say, October. I am either asked if I want to fight or I am told that I am going to fight. Doesn't matter which because if I wasn't asked, I would ask if I could go.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Visions of training plans and completely filled out workout sheets dance through my head, much like pre-Christmas sugar plums. I'll do fine, I think. I can't wait. Confidence flows through my veins. Not that I think I will win, but the confidence that I will arrive, fight and they will remember me, win or lose.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">2 Months Out</span></b><br />
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</div><div>Oh my gosh...only 2 months left. Things going on in my head... I feel like I haven't trained enough. All those plans of training everyday went by the wayside. I am not a pro fighter, I am a housewife. It is summer time and I have 3 kids at home. This kids need a lot of attention with rides to their friends, hikes in the woods and lots of swimming. The husband who is about to come back from the middle east, he has been gone about a year. My youngest son wants to be home schooled, he did not have a good experience with middle-school. Life gets in the way of training, but I need to turn that around. I am also teaching kickboxing. I have to train around my life.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I bet the other girls are training harder. I really need to step up my program. Double my efforts, some days maybe triple. Weights in the morning, 3 times a week, everyday is a cardio day. Hit whatever class at the gym, whenever I have time for it. Karate 5 nights a week 2 to 3 hours a night, plus 2 hours of personal training. </div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>1 Month Out</b></span></div><div><br />
</div><div>I can't even spar, never-mind fight. I have been so sloppy in class. I can't get myself together. All I want to do is sleep but I can't. I have to take care of everything. The husband is home and he needs to drive all over the state and New England to get his stuff in order to start school next week. The kids are starting school except the youngest. Whatever I do or say will not sway that boy to go back to school. So I am also rushing about to get his stuff in order so he can stay home, but still get to do after-school activities. Also I got a job, first one in 15 years. Awesome job, but with working, being mom and all the training, I am just exhausted. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I "know" I am doing enough, but I don't feel that way. The doubts are creeping in. I get very worried very easily and I am scared that I am going to run out of gas during the fights. I think that is my biggest fear. I can take a hit and I have been hurt and the pain is temporary. I still think of myself as the fat girl that has to rest when walking up flights of stairs. Again, in my head "I know" that isn't true. I run the stairs now. My heart tells me that I am going to double over gasping for air. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">2 Weeks Out</span></b></div><div><br />
</div><div>Details of the tournament start coming out. What kind of fight it is. I am told that it is a 'one match' fight. I have never done that before.</div><div><br />
</div><div>My fights have all been tournament style, with brackets. We have a two or three minute fight, if it is a draw, we can have up to two, 2 minute extensions, then the judges must make a decision.</div><div><br />
</div><div>This fight, I am told is a match fight. I am to fight one girl for 3, 3 minute rounds, like boxing or MMA stykle fights. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Now I 'know' I am going to run out of gas. Whenever someone talks about the fight, my stomach does cartwheels. I get so worked up. Sensei knows this. When she brings it up, she can see the turmoil in my face and changes the subject. Of course, it is too late. One mention of the fight, and I almost agonize over it. I can talk about the arrangements, the where we are sleeping, or who is driving, but when it comes to the actual fight, I can't take it.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">1 Day Before The Fight</span></b></div><div><br />
</div><div>There were two fights, one next weekend too. Shihan said that this fight would be the best one for me. I also have a passport. Seems like everyone else signed up for the Conneticut tournament. It is closer to the dojo and no need for a passport. Sensei can't come with me because she has to work and she has fighter in the next tournament. Just days before we head to Canada, we get news that the other tournament is cancelled. But it is too late for any of them to come with us. Sensei says I am fighting for all of them, but no pressure. Yeah, right.</div><div><br />
</div><div>It is just me and Shihan. Shihan was in a car accident a few years ago, so I am the driver. We pick up Shihan Fujiwara on the way. Driving at 6AM and arrive at 4ish. Then it is to the tournament location where the Shihans have different meetings and I am left wandering the halls of the facility for 2 hours. Finally we eat. This day, is the day I am supposed to rest, but I can't. Sure my Shihan could do a bit of local driving, his back can handle that, but he can't drive at night. *sigh* </div><div><br />
</div><div>While at the facility, Shihan Ray comes up and explains the matches for me. There were 20-some fighters that cancelled because of injuries, so I have only 2 fighters in my group. My match will be two rounds, a 3 minute round, 30 second rest and a 2 minute round. If I get a 1/2 point, it will follow me to the next round. If there is a full point in the first round, the match will not continue. (a full point is basically a knock out). It will be tournament style, with a first, second, and third place. One of those girls will get the "bye" because they are from a different organization. If I win the first match, I will fight again. They will only fight once unless the first girl beats me.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I HATE talking about the fight. I am texting Sensei, who is upset that I am by myself. (I get <b>very</b> anxious, I almost quit my first fight in the middle of it because I was sick to my stomach with worry. Without her, I would not have continued. I wound up winning and fighting again that night) I know I have to learn to wear my big girl panties, but I am not ready to do it alone. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I almost didnt make it into the dojo. My first time coming to sign up, I saw all those people being fit and tough through the window, and I drove away. I tried again the next week. I had to take a deep breath, and walk in. once in I couldn't walk out so I stated my business. I wanted to try it. Getting on the mat, to fight, is just as hard as that very first day at the dojo.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The Day of The Fight</span></b></div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div>Well here I am, writing about the nerves while trying to not actually 'think' about the fight itself. Trying not to think about my stamina or lack of. Trying not to think of how I should have trained harder, ran more, of lifted heavier. Trying to not relive how I got knocked out cold the last time I was in Canada.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Right now, it is not so bad, but I am not at the tournament. Both Shiathans that came with me are there, officiating the children and the semi-contact matches. As soon as I am done with this post, I will dwell upon it, I am sure. When I arrive at 5 to warm up for my 7PM match, I will start feeling sick. By 6 I'll be sitting in a corner chewing my nails and asking if it is too late to quit. By 7, I will be shaking. </div><div><br />
</div><div>When it is my time to go on the mat, my heart will be beating so fast and hard that I will hear it in my ears. I will take a deep breath. As soon as they say 'hajime' I will lose all thought and I will start swinging and kicking. Hopefully all my training in targeting will take over and the match won't last long. Even if I fall down, I just pray that I can get back up and continue. I just want to finish it until it is done. </div><div><br />
</div><div>It doesn't matter if I win, as a matter of fact, it doesn't even feel better to win sometimes. When the fight is done, all I think about is that I am glad that it is all over with. The only time that losing stings is when I feel like I did something wrong, like when I got knocked out. That really stung my ego, I offended myself. But other fights, I was still proud of how I fought, so losing didnt bother me.<br />
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</div>Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.comDieppe, NB, Canada46.093233969303142 -64.73007239648438846.040262969303143 -64.810388396484385 46.146204969303142 -64.649756396484392tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8760286019151971377.post-39468990997378911132011-09-26T13:33:00.001-04:002011-09-26T13:33:30.359-04:00Anatomy of a Brown Belt TestWhen I was at my first test, I 'knew' I couldn't do my requirements. The basic fitness everyone has to do. I had the hardest time with push ups and sit ups. I was so worried about not passing. Little did I know then that if you are invited to test, you have already shown that you have what is required to pass the test. The brown belt test is no different in the fact that if you are invited, you already passed. You still have to work hard for it, but Shihan knows that you have what it takes. He doesn't like setting people up for failure.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The Set Up</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>So for this brown belt test, I knew that I had what I needed to pass, even though just barely. I can do the 50 knuckle push ups, but I still need breaks. The most I can do at one time is 26, on a good day. I can do the 100 sit-ups, again with small breaks but I can get up to 70 without stopping so they go much quicker than the push ups. I can now do the handstand with relative ease, meaning I don't get sick to my stomach like I used to.I practiced my katas often and even had some help from my persona trainer. So I was going into the test knowing that even though I would get a low score on my fitness, I would still get it all done. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Sensei Kris recently got me a job at one of the local ski mountains as a zip line tour guide. Really fun job, I get to zipline all day. This was my second week into it and I wasn't getting much sleep. Too much going on at one time I think. It was my first real job in 15 years where I had a schedule to keep and a weekly pay check. The kids were not adjusting well to mom being gone so much. The job is stressful because I am in charge of peoples safety as they fly by their harnesses up to 80 feet above the ground and can be racing at 35 miles per hour. And of course I am fighting in less than a month in Canada and there was this huge belt test. I was super tired.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So on this very fine Friday, I was working with Sensei at the zip lines. Sensei brought up a fact that completely escaped me. I was the highest ranking person testing. That means that I would be the last person standing, doing my requirments when all the others were done with theirs. If you knew me personally, you would know that I hate being judged. I have a wee bit of an anxiety disorder and I kind of freak out being the center of attention.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Seeing me panic, she switches topics to the fights. Turns out that these fights are not a tournament but a match. I am going to fight the same person for three rounds of three minutes with a minute break between rounds. A whole new panic ensues in my mind.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I don't care if I win or lose. When I am on the mat, there are no judges or people. Just me, fighting against myself trying to inflict my will upon someone who is trying to inflict their will upon me. It is always the person with the most spirit that wins. </div><div><br />
</div><div>In the case of this match, I will not only be battling their spirit, but my stamina. My worst case scenario is that I run out of gas. I would rather have three fights in a tournament, than a three round match. Sensei says that the match is better because you can't feel your wounds before you fight again. Seeing a new wave of panic, she switches topic back to the belt test. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Sensei starts to try to make me feels better. She starts with how Shihan will be grading me because he always grades the highest ranking person. Then she asks what was making me the most nervous and what parts do I have the hardest time with. I tell her all my weaknesses, and I do start to feel better.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Later in the day at work, I found my self in the harness room. Because I was on break and alone, I decided to do katas. Turns out I wasn't as alone as I thought. Soon a few of my coworkers were in the room with me and we were all kicking and punching, then doing handstands and rolling on the floor. Didn't get much practice in but we sure did have fun.</div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">The Test</span></b></div><div><br />
</div><div>We get to the test and I am nervous as usual, but I realized that every face in the building is one that I recognized, even the parents of the children. They are all friendly to me. I stretch out, I joke around, laugh and stretch some more with my dojo mates and then the test begins with kihon.</div><div><br />
</div><div>We all do the basic punches, blocks and kicks. Then basic ido geko (same thing but moving rather than standing still). After the first katas, the white belts sit out. Then we do the white belt with a strip requirements and they sit out. We continue with kihon, ido geko and katas for each rank. </div><div><br />
</div><div>As the lines thin out, I start to realize that the next lowest ranking person is Ryan. He is a yellow belt, going for his stripe. That is a full three belts below me. That means that I am not only doing the new stuff I need for my brown belt, but I have to do the requirements for the three other belt ranks below me, ALL BY MYSELF. Until that moment, I didn't know how much lower the next person was. Soon I was the only one standing. I tried my best to forget them all, didn't work.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Finally with all the katas done, we get to the fitness. Shihan calls up me, Ryan, and little Scottie. We all have different requirements so we all take turns. I get to go last because I haven't had a break yet. As Ryan gets started on his push ups, Sensei runs over and takes the papers away from Shihan. SHE IS THE ONE SCOREING ME. I can't believe it. I told her all the things I was worried about. </div><div><br />
</div><div>By the way, fitness requirements are a lot harder when you are tired from kihon and kata. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The next thing up is sparring. The kids went first and they are so much fun to watch. When it was the adults turn, we all got in to our usual lines. I got in front of a white belt, Dean. The match went for a minute, then we bowed and rotated to a new partner and I got another white belt, Rich. We usually do this rotation until all the black belts fight against the person they are scoring. Shihan did things differently this time and instead of rotating once again, he cleared the floor with the exception of Ryan and me. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The room seems so quiet as we bowed to each other and soon the order to fight was announced. Dude hits hard. He can hit harder, Ryan is a great fighter, but the level he hit me at was still like getting hit by bricks. I did manage to kick him in the head. Didn't even think about it. Once second, I am blocking a punch, next he is stunned and I am putting my foot down. a few seconds later, the match was over. I gave Ryan a hug and he and I walked away arm in arm. My husband runs to HIM and starts with the "Are you all right?" (big jerk but i love him).</div><div><br />
</div><div>When I get my scores, Sensei has remarked about all of my faults. Funny how they are the same faults as I mentioned to her earlier. But she did have some I didn't know about. She also wrote some really nice things too.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Overall, I did okay. I could have and should have done better, but then again, I always feel that way. I am sure when I go for my stripe, I will feel the same. Nerves will be on edge and I will lose sleep over it. But that isn't for a while yet.</div><div><br />
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</div></div></div></div>Patty Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06738693669732810132noreply@blogger.com