Dojo Field Trip: Funtown Splashtown, Saco Maine

We couldn't have asked for a better day for our annual dojo field trip to Funtown/Splashtown in Saco, ME. The sky was clear, and the sun was shining. It was just the daughter, her boyfriend, and I as we met up with the rest of everyone at the dojo. After an hour and a half of me telling them to separate in the backseat (too much hugging) we arrived.

Funtown/Splashtown is two parks in one. One side is the water park and the side had regular rides like roller coasters and log flume rides. We pay one price, a discount because it is a group of us, and then we have free range of both parks all day. We stayed till dark and it was a wonderful trip.

Dojo Field Trip : Laser Tag w/ Pinatas!

Last night had to have been the most fun field trip I have ever been on with the dojo. We headed up to BIG Adventure in Bethel Maine for a 2 for 1 special in laser tag. As we were waiting for the people to give instructions, the kids started pointing out my dress. It was black and white and under the black lights, I glowed a bight blue/white.

The first game was blue team vs green team. The lights on the target vests lit up in the color that was on your receipt. It was a lot of fun dodging and ducking, running about, hiding in the barriers. I got in the top ten players. I was surprised because it seemed like I got tagged more than I tagged people.

The second game was more fun. ZOMBIE TAG, yes I said zombie tag. One player is randomly deemed the zombie by the computer. His vest turns red and every one else is green. When the zombie tags an alive (green) person, they get infected and the vest turns red. Since they are now zombies, they go around infecting others. When there is only one player who is still green, the game resets and that player is now the zombie.

After I headed over to Sensei Kris's dojo for some training. I was late and she didn't make me do push up, for which I was grateful. Sempai Steph, on her day off, made pinatas. They were balloon shaped and white, which was awesome. We all brought stuff to put in it. At the end of class, sensei had us  put out heads on the shinai (a stick) and spin around it 10 times. When good and dizzy, you had to walk over to wear they were holding up the pinata attached to a staff and punch it. You only had one chance. I think it took about 4 or 5 hits.More than once the string broke and we would have to retrieve the dented but unbroken pinata from across the room. We broke two of the pinatas. Leaving two more for beach training in a couple of weeks.

Summer at the dojo is a lot of fun.

Battered Women In Martial Arts

Recently, I read a post over on www.shotokankarateblog.com about karate and domestic violence. Joesph McDaniel watched a movie where a woman learned a martial art to defend herself against an abusive husband. It bothered him how the movie romantically portrayed this woman as defeating her attacker.

In real life this wouldn't happen. Men are usually bigger and stronger, but more than that, an wife beater is also an emotional abuser. Which is why men can be physically abused too. The only difference between a woman and a man victim, is the amount of damage that is caused physically. The emotional abuse cuts a lot deeper than black eyes.

Anyone could be abused. You wouldn't know. People who are abused are teachers, police officers, housewives, even sometimes black belts. One in every four women either, is or has been, abused.

A Visit from Reliv - Fat Analysis

Fat Analysis

Last week, Wednesday. after kata class and during the beginning of full contact, Shihan had some people from the Reliv company come and do body fat measurements. I went first so I could get back to training. I stood on a scale with a metal plate and held these handles that came up from the scale. They input my age and height and the machine spit out a bunch of numbers. 

Funny thing, when I told the lady my age, Jared says, "you are not 39, Patty. cut it out!" I looked at him and could tell he really thought I was messing around. So I didn't say anything, and neither did anyone else, but I did smile.

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!