Quick Workout at the Y

Me and Bryce got a free guest pass in the mail the other day to go to the YMCA, so we used this opportunity to use their tumbling mats and get a little Judo time in. First off, like all our attempts at doing Judo, nothing comes easy...there were no tumbling mats. They had a tumbling class for kids on a soft carpeted room but after speaking with them for what we were looking for, they had some old mats that they didn't use anymore they loaned us. The mats were very old, pretty hard, full of holes, and there were only two of them (not even of the same size). I'd say one was about 4'x8' and the other was 4'x6'. There was only velcro on the short ends so we put down some yoga mats on the hardwood floor and they kept tension so the mats didn't slide. In spite of conditions, it worked reasonably well considering we knew where the other person would fall with each throw. He gave me a few pointers on what me and Andy can work on when he gets here. After the workout the attendant at the desk asked if we were interested in joining on a monthly basis. For an individual membership is was $60.00 a month and you're allowed 1 free guest pass a year. When I was growing up I remember YMCA's being $20.00 a month with lock-ins and it was run more like a boys and girls club. The one we visited had 4 kids around 10ish for the tumbling class and everyone else there (who wasn't an employee) were in their 50's and up. I understand most of the youth going to the college gym and L.A. Fitness around here. I seem to recall the YMCA being about more than just a gym though. I guess it was just a weird disillusionment. After talking about it with Andy and an Aikido teacher a little over an hour away, we'll probably post some videos every couple of days of our workouts (and ALL opinions are welcome). Once or twice a month we'll drive down to Vero Beach to see the Yondan down there and let him review our progress. It'll be strange not having Pat or Bryce's guidance, but sometimes if you want to keep training you gotta train yourself.

Back at it again....(and Promote Three Meme)

First off, I'd like to thank Scott Zrubek, and Uchi-Deshi for tagging me with Pat's Promote Three Meme. I forget that people other than Pat and Andy read my blogs. Speaking of Andy, he'll be moving down to Orlando soon and that means I get a new training partner! No news from UCF on the Budo club yet :( but I'll keep trying until it gets done. In the meantime the weather is cooling off a little so a garage with a wrestling mat and a fan will suffice for a place to train. It's just too bad Bryce is leaving in October. It's great for Pat because he'll have his old training partner back. For me however that makes me the highest ranking Judoka/Aikidoka at least in my small circle of people I'll be training with. I still lack any good ability in randori and doubt how well I'll be able to teach and learn since my own training has been sporadic at best. I just don't feel like a 2nd Brown, though Pat tells me that no one ever feels they deserve the rank they have. In any case the experience of me and Andy trying to teach each other should be enlightening.

An Unexpected Call...

I'm at work the other day talking to three people at once when my phone rings and it's a number from Texas. Nothing too surprising except I don't know anyone from Texas. It turns out to be the head of our Judo and Aikido organization. There were so many questions I wanted to ask but I restrained myself especially since I'm not even a Shodan yet and asking a few basic questions might come off as inappropriate. Well it turns out he just called to say my handwriting sucks (I sent off my yearly dues and rank fees almost a month ago). On an unrelated note...we now have a UCF staff sponsor for the Judo/Aikido club on UCF (Robert Reedy) so finally we can get the paperwork back underway.

Site Under Construction

My site will be temporarily down while I try to start the Budo club at UCF and gear the blog towards that. I know I've been slacking off in posting but once I get the club started and get a regular time to practice, I'll have a regular posting of progress...or at least some cool anecdotes from class.

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.