Shotokan (traditional Japanese Karate): I started Martial Arts as a college freshman. I progressed through the first three ranks of this style (one test each quarter) and I also compteded in three tournaments. Through my sophmore and junior years I did not practice Shotokan consistently ( a move to a different town didn't help much) but I did progress through a few more ranks and attained the first "purple" belt, which is a medium rank.
Jujutsu and Judo My senior year of college and for the next few years I switched to Dan Zan Ryu Jujutsu. I worked out 3 and 4 days a week in this style. I competed in several Judo tournaments and was able to win matches via all possible methods: hold-down, arm-bar, choke, and ippon (full point) throw. I attained the rank of brown belt. Shortly after I got married I drifted away from martial arts as I got into windsurfing, two more bouts of grad school, and fatherhood.
Tang Soo Do Flash forward about 10 years. I have three daughters who are now old enough to do some martial arts training. My old Jujutsu Dojo was great, but has no kids classes. I stumble onto a Korean style of martial arts that includes throws and grappling like Jujutsu, but also striking like Shotokan. Most importantly there are family classes. I progressed to green belt after three years. Something is not quite feeling right for me. Then there is a shakeup when the instructor announces he will be leaving town for grad school...
Back to Jujutsu Amazingly, just as I am thinking hard about Jujutsu and decide to try a night of it, the Sensai announces kids' classes are starting. My first practice goes extremely well and I feel like I am "home." My intention now is to resume as a serious student and eventually attain my black belt.
Lifting & Yoga
I took a 10 day layoff from working out. I was doing extensive projects around the house to get it ready for sale, though, so my body got worked (not ergonomically). It felt good to be back today, especially the yoga.
Jujutsu
I also did not attend class last week while consumed by the house project. Out of balance and not good.
Yoga & Lifting
My yoga has really smoothed out and the breathing is pretty automatic. I still need to add hip opening forms, but what I am doing is excellent. I lifted legs and core today. Excellent workout. I was able to increase weights in most categories.
Jujutsu
I finished GUTT and started reviewing some concepts. It has been very interesting for me to see the dissection of throws down to minute detail and I think it will really help me as I continue working on throws. For instance, once I became more aware of the concept of Suki (opportunity or opening) and speed, I began playing with fast and slow foot sweeps and it gave me new insights.
Lifting and Yoga
I've been thinking about breathing and what I've heard both from my Yoga instructor and Sensei. So I am very thoughtfully incorporating breathing from the "stomach" into my yoga and lifting, as well as jujutsu. My Yoga was great this morning and took a little longer because of the deep breathing. Lifting was a "pull" day and I managed a great workout.
Jujutsu
I had a great class last night. A black belt senior student and I were sent off with a Judo brown belt guest and told to show him some of our favorite techniques. By listening to and doing some in depth descriptions I got some new insights into techniques, so this was very valuable. Toward the end of class we did some ground work and the Judo guy was pretty good - especially at chokes. He shared some techniques with us, too. It makes me miss Judo class, but I simply can't fit one more night a week into my life... yet
Lifting & Yoga
I've been pushing my bench press quite a bit. This requires a spotter, so I've been asking for help for a couple of sets. Yoga was fine this AM. I need to add a hip opener to my line-up, though. I've noticed that is a weak spot for me in jujutsu.
Jujutsu
Read more GUTT this AM. Finished the throwing theory. Now I need to review the four basic parts and the diagrams from the beginning. I first need to finish the end of the document that talks about how to be a student of Nage. I'm looking forward to practice tonight.
Yoga & Lifting
Nice to get my yoga in again this morning. I was doing my "pull" lifts today and managed to push my weight up 15 pounds in Pullovers, Pull downs, and Seated Rows. I also pushed the Dumbbell curls up by 5 pounds. Good workout.
Jujutsu
Excellent workout Friday night. I did all yawara with variations, all Nage, the usual freestyle yawara and Zanshin drills, pressure point kata, and all of Shime.
Lifting
Was running late and skipped yoga today. Will do jujutsu tonight. Lifting session was great! I had pushed up my bench last week and this week I did more reps at that new weight and a second set. The rest of the workout was good too.
Jujutsu
After two days in bed with a bad cold, I juiced up on cold medicine and ventured out to jujutsu. I felt a little "floaty" on that stuff, but had a good practice. I managed to go through variations and counters in Yawara, the full Goshin and Nage lists, a fair amount of Oku, and some ground work. I also watched the Sensei teach basic rolls and falls to a new student, which was a nice refresher for me to know when I work with new students. I slept in this morning and did not lift or do yoga. Back to that tomorrow.
Yoga
My usual workout schedule was interrupted for a few days and I actually did a pretty intense hiking, rock climbing, etc. level of activity. I noticed that my recovery time has been consistently excellent. Yoga felt great when I got back and I really credit it with my overall recovery ability.
Lifting
I managed to increase my bench press and hack squats during this time frame. I was also happy that after climbing the wall I was able to do a couple of pull-ups at the top.
Jujutsu
I only attended the kids' class during this time frame and did not manage to work on my notebook or read GUTT, so no progress in this arena.
Yoga
I did an extra workshop on Thai massage with the wife this weekend. It really opened up my hips. I also spent a lot of time thinking about and applying breathing in my usual 10 sun salutations (see why below).
Lifting
I had an excellent "pull" day today. I was able to push the weight up in a few categories. I did my dumbbell curls seated and that seemed to hit the muscles a bit differently. I finished off with 15 pull-ups, which is more than I generally have been able to do after a full bicep workout.
Jujutsu
Friday's class was interesting. I was able to do the Goshin list, all Yawara and Nage with super speed / empty mind sort of feeling, the pressure point kata, random / practical Yawara, and Oku. We also had a discussion about breathing and how the breath separates a martial artist from someone who merely practices martial arts. Deep breathing from the stomach area and initiation and connection of all movement to that core should be the goal of a martial artist. We also discussed Zanshin (broad awareness) versus Mushin (empty mind). It was a very interesting discussion. Finally, I read more of GUTT today.
Yoga and Lifting
Again last night I noticed that my shoulder and leg flexibility are a huge advantage in jujutsu. However, my hips need work and I will be incorporating something into my daily yoga to account for that. Lifting was good today (push=chest triceps shoulders). I used alternate exercises to hit muscles differently and will be doing that every other cycle with each muscle group from now on.
Jujutsu
I had an excellent practice last night. I did all of Goshin, Nage, and the pressure point kata. I also did the first 10 Oku and about 15 minutes of ground work. Some of my Oku is getting solid. I need to make sure I get in some Shime this week, too. Just the second half of the list, at least.
Lifting and Yoga
Great leg workout. Also a great biceps and back (pulling) workout. Yoga was solid.
Jujutsu
Read a few more pages of GUTT and am digesting the ideas...
Lifting and Yoga
I took off a couple of days due to a snowstorm, but was back at it this morning. I increased weight and decreased reps and may do more to change my routine now that I have completed the first twelve weeks of lifting.
Jujutsu
The storm did not impact my jujutsu schedule. I did some work on throws, the pressure point kata, and Oku on Friday night. Saturday's kids' class was also excellent and the girls tested for their first rank successfully. The kids threw each other tomoe nage for the first time, into a crash mat. Very fun!
Lifting and Yoga
Completed a cycle in three days and had excellent workouts. Although today I was a bit low on energy from Jujutsu last night...
Jujutsu
Excellent practice last night. I got through Yawara and Goshin, then worked on Nage including some work on combining a second throw with a countered throw. Finally, we did throws into ground work and then full speed ground work.
Lifting and Yoga
I've been really working hard on my breathing in Yoga and I think it is paying dividends in better stretch and also making me mindful about breathing while doing other physical activity. Lifting has been going very well. I added another 10 pounds in bench, reverse flies, flies today.
Jujutsu
Excellent class Friday. I got through all of Oku and the second half of Shime in addition to Nage and Yawara. Oku is actually starting to smooth out for me. Saturday's kids' class was a blast. The girls are really getting into it.
Yoga and Lifting
Doing the same 10 sun salutations every day would seem to get old after a while... but surprisingly has not. I am improving them every time and build up a good sweat and warm up and stretch very well each time. I did a leg workout and also a triceps, chest and shoulder workout. I've noticed the strength conditioning has really been an asset during ground work training.
Jujutsu
Good workout last night. I found that my timing is off on Katamune Tori. I need to strike harder and then get the katate tori grip solidly prior to stepping back into the take-down. My groundwork is feeling better as I get re-acclimated to it. I nearly ended class on a sour note as I was demonstrating Sankaku with my Sensai for a couple of other students. He reminded me not to lose the choke as I rolled him over. I was pre-occupied with re-setting the choke and was slow to react as he tapped out and he said I was quite close to choking him out. That would have been an unfortunate opportunity to show the students our revival seikatsu...
