Studying Martial Arts at my age

I just found two new blogs and a book along the same themes as this blog.  I'll follow them and I just ordered the book. I'll tell you if I like it.

Michele's blog is Just a Thought. I am a student and instructor of Okinawa Kenpo and a student of Tai Chi. In April 2007, I injured my knee during a two-person bo form. I had a complete ACL tear. On May 15, 2007, I had my ACL reconstructed using a hamstring graft. This blog shares my thoughts on Karate, Tai Chi, ACL Reconstruction and the Challenges of Parenting.

BobSpar -  I'm 54 and a student at a mixed-martial-arts school in the New York area. Years ago, my school taught Shotokan karate, but the school has changed; although it still contains many of the attributes of karate, including belts and respect, the school no longer teaches kata, and instead focuses on kickboxing and grappling. As I began this blog, I was recovering from ACL reconstruction surgery.

The book is called: Martial Arts After 40.  Martial Arts After Forty is the first book ever to explore the needs and advantages of the over-forty martial artist. It takes an in-depth look at the realities of training in mid-life including:

• What type of exercises are beneficial and which ones are dangerous? 
• What are the effects of aging and what impact do they have on training? 
• How can baby boomers keep up in a class of Gen-Xers? 
• What types of injuries are common after forty and how can you prevent them? 

In addition to providing a wealth of fitness and training information, author Sang H. Kim addresses the fact that many older martial artists are looking for something more meaningful than just a good workout. 

His positive and knowledgeable approach to taking up or continuing martial arts training after 40 is inspiring, reassuring and informative. This book should be read by every adult martial artist regardless of age.

Long Two Kata

We are learning a new kata, Long Two is now back in the curriculum. Flash update, look below the video and I'm trying to describe it.  Long Two as performed by Mr. Mike Galindo at the NTC of Lavallees Karate School in Ft Lauderdale.

Start - Bow in, right step forward, right inward block, chop, left open hand punch, right side fist.
Left step forward, left inward block, chop, right open hand punch, left side fist.

In a continuous motion, turn head to left, step with left to left, put hands into cat stance pose, then to the left, outward block with the left hand, punch with the right. Left corkscrew punch (the punch is forward and twisting, not a big hook shot), right punch, pull back from the hard bow with the left leg to where the legs are in a cat stance and then front kick with the left leg while left side fist punch.

Reverse: As the punch & kick finish, transfer head around 180 degrees while taking a small adjustment step with the right foot. The hands come together briefly in the cat stance pose then to the right, outward block with the right hand, punch with the left. Right corkscrew punch, left punch pull back the front right leg, front right kick and right side punch. (time 0:17 seconds for those watching the clock on the video).

Spin to the left moving left foot enough to the left so you are facing back-left on the 45 in a horse stance.  Left downward block, right inward block.Hard bow left punching right, left hand above head. Horse stance, starting left open hand rolling back fist, right rolling back fist, pause, left roll back fist, right roll back fist.

Spin to the right moving right foot to right so you are facing front left on the 45 in horse stance. Right downward block, left inward block.  Hard bow right punch left. Horse stance. left open rolling back fist, right back fist, pause, left right. (time 0:25)

Step back with right foot so you turn 180 to face back right on 45, horse stance. Left downward block  into hard bow.  Left corkscrew punch. Right punch.  Kick forward right stepping forward while forward punch with left, finishing with right side fist into horsestance. (time 0:28)

Step right turning 90 so you're facing forward right on 45, horsestance with right downward block, right horsescrew punch, left punch.  Right punch while kicking left, then left side fist finishing in horsestance. (0:31)

Backyard Bugo Highlighted a Glorious Day

Glorious day today.

Early morning 2.5 miles with David. Then, showered and  took David to Sunday school. I spent ninety minutes working and drinking very strong coffee coffee.

Then lunch at our favorite, California Pizza Kitchen. I had the waldorf salad. In the afternoon, David and I biked around Pompano Airpark with stops at the stables and Starbucks.  Then, needing something to do, we had mid afternoon backyard bugo, lots of  pool time, and then some light soccer in the driveway in the evening.

Post-candidate normalcy is sweet.

My son's sparing is fearsome. Fast, good kicks, and sweet combinations.  As a coach, I was pushing three points:

1. Keep the left hand up at head height.  Left hand up!
2. Jab straight, break the backfist habbit.
3. Don't  stand flat, stay sideways.
4. When you hook, don't start by dropping your hand. This is really a repeat of number one.

A note on our equipment. We wore shins, gloves, mouth guards, and cups.  That really seems enough to avoid accidental injury.  It's not clear to me why we need the feet, whether the chest protector really does much, and whether the head gear encourages sloppy defense.  I do see the benefit of the head guard for protection against hooks and head kicks though.