Budo Club

Well the preliminary paperwork for creating a club at UCF for Judo and Aikido has been filed. They already have a Brazilian Jujitsu club and a MMA club, but I think the one me, Bryce, and Beleek are making will be the first free one. Oddly enough, I recently discovered a Bujitsu club already exists there that teaches Tae Kwon Do. So anyone in the Orlando area who wants to do come play with us, you're more than welcome.

Judo/Aikido Club

Since getting Beleek into Judo, I've gotten a few suggestions to start a Judo and Aikido club to safely practice and improve. The only problem is where. I've looked into the local YMCA but the prices are a bit steep here in Orlando. Thought about getting mats, but then there's nowhere to put them to practice. All there is around the apartment complex is pavement and grass. I think everyone knows where the pavement route would lead and grass would damage the mats after the extensive use I plan on using on them. I've looked into local gyms but the only ones that seem to have mats, only use them for MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) UFC fighting classes. I'm going to contact the local college (UCF) and look into using their facilities. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Weekend at Pat's...

Well the trip to Pat's went well. You can read about the overall on his page or on Andy's but they left out one or two things. First off, Judo night went really well, Beleek (my girlfriend) who was terrified of it now wants to study it (thanks Pat). Later that night me and Andy had a randori session that I had Beleek videotape which I went over with Bryce as soon as I got home. I need to work on tegatana more, my posture leaves a lot to be desired. We also are trying to work on a way of doing more standing randori around here. As far as Andy's comment on his page about seeing just how yellow his belt is in Judo, I'd like to say he's getting much better every time I head down. The exciting stuff happened the next day at Aikido when we worked on knife techniques and multiple attackers. Everyone got stabbed over and over with knife attacks. There's just no way to win. I even got Pat the one time he defended against my knife attack. There must be some secret I'm missing with the knife stuff. Andy was coming at me at one point and I tripped over my Gi pants, did a backwards fall and rolled to standing and regained my posture right before I got stabbed. I died, but it felt like a win that I regained my composure before the rubbery death that was Pat's practice knife.

Heading Home

I'll be heading back to Pat's next week to visit the family and brush up on my Judo and Aikido once more with my teacher. I remember once when I was in the military and had a grappling class I was getting my butt kicked. We had a week break so I decided to take some leave and visit Pat. I made a few rude comments on how this Judo stuff wasn't working and how I must've been wasting my time and Pat did what any respectable teacher would do...he listened then wiped the floor with me. Afterwards he politely said "Your problem is obvious, you're trying to do moves and have forgotten the principles. You're not shrimping anymore." I thought about it (while I was on the floor not being able to get up) and realized he was right, I was wrong, and how stupid I felt for coming in complaining. I don't know if I said I'm sorry before Pat, but I am for that. Don't worry though, I'm not coming in with any complaints this time, just some new tricks I learned from your former student Bryce :)