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.

When Karateka Go Hiking, Caribou Mountain NH

Last week, Semapi Steph and Rich (from Sensei's dojo) went hiking with me. Because it has been very hot we decided that the earlier the better. Rich choose the hike, Caribou Mountain, in the White Mountain National Forest. The Caribou Mountain Trail is in the Caribou-Speckled Mountin wilderness, located on the Maine-NH border.The hike up was very very steep.

As we were hiking, I was in front, I scared a morning dove hiding in the brush. It flew away and some type of predator bird flew after it. It was so close that I could have hit it with a stick, but so fast that I am not sure what kind of bird it was.

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.

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.