Pain Pics: Punched in the Face

Pain is suppose to teach us something. Bruises, sprains, cuts and scrapes have been my most effective teachers in the martial arts. When I get a bruise that gives me an insight into life, I take a picture of it to remember and honor the lesson it has taught me. 

I got punched in the face during Karate sparring, I iced the heck out of it and, even though my cheek bone is still sore, the bruise didn't get much bigger.

What I learned: I need to get better/more automatic about blocking stuff coming at my face, a real fight would have ended really badly for me because the force of the punch knocked my contact lens out - I would have been half blind, disoriented and have lost a real fight after that. I should also consider some sort of face guard for sparring.

A New Chapter

I decided to quit my Karate dojo today. I feel a lot of frustration over small things that add up to not really fitting in with the ideology of the school. While being lectured on the importance of the uniform I realized that I will never care about the color of my hair tie, the stitching on my uniform, or any detail that small and that I needed to find a place where I fit in before I burnt any bridges.

When I look for advice on how to quit a dojo on the internet I see a lot of "but I'm only X number of months from my black belt! should I stick with it???!!!" And I realize that I am excited to give up my brown belt for a white one again. The higher the rank, the more important it is to fit in and be an "example" which I will never be while at this school.

I wish the internet had better advice on how to do this "right." Ah well, wish me all the luck.

Pointy Stick Fight!

"Let's spar with spears!"

"But we don't know enough spear technique to actually *spar*"

"...….."

"Pointy Stick Fight!!!!"

It's a Trap!!!

You Know You Have Been Doing Too Much BJJ When...

… you wake up shrimping because you thought your cat was trying to put you in side control.

Random Thoughts

Kobudo Weapons Bag: Bo / Han Bo

Sewing a bag for a Bo is not that hard (it is just a 6 foot tube with a handle) but I thought I would offer some construction tips that other practitioners may not have thought of.

I used 2 packages of light boning (like that used in shirt collars rather than used in functional corsets) and sewed it in a spiral "spring" to give the case a bit of structure. It was a bit annoying to do because I had to sew it in by hand by shoving a fish food can in the tube to keep from sewing the walls of the case together. It was also the most expensive part of the case and I don't know how much it really helps getting the bo in and out. If I make one again, I will probably leave this out.

I used the handle and strap from a discarded piece of luggage. Having both a shoulder strap and a handle is very useful.

I kept the top rigid by sewing in a pipe cap for a PVC pipe and the bottom by pushing a stiff foam can cozy to the bottom to keep the bo from wearing a hole in the bottom.

I end up carrying multiple sticks (1 bo, 2 han bo, 1 jo) in the case and it makes it much, much more convenient to get to class.