The last video... in the nick of time. A recap of what the last 13 months, some lessons learned, and what's doing' for the next 9 days.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Video 11 - Kata, kata... Everywhere
So I made a big oops in regards to the kata requirement for the test. It left me needing to average about 9 cycles (9 of each of the 7 katas) a day. That's about 90 minutes a day. That's a lot. And frankly, it wasn't fun. But I'm all for laughing at myself when the opportunity arises. So, here's to kata... Making me miserable, then making me laugh.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Week 56 - 4 Days to Go!
The Numbers (as of 12/27):
Other Requirements:
Sparring... almost there. Kata... not as almost there as sparring... but will get there. Video.... almost there. So basically... Almost there.
Empathy training is done as I met the requirements. Enjoyed all the books, learned a lot about Kyoshi Fierro and achieved my personal goal of completing a 1/2 iron triathlon. Haven't memorized the Black Belt Pledge yet, but it will be done by December 31. Community service project... ✔.
I set some additional goals:
| Pushups | Crunches | Kata | Sparring | Journey (Swim) | Journey (Bike) | Journey (Run) | Kindness | Journal | Video | ||
Annual Totals:
|
50,450
|
50,450
|
935
|
986
| 6 | 1,250 | 1,208 |
1,074
|
56
|
9
| |
| 2,463 | |||||||||||
| Annual Targets: | 50000 | 50000 | 1000 | 1000 | 2400 | 1000 | 56 | 12 | |||
| Percent of Annual Targets Complete | 100.90% | 100.90% | 93.50% | 98.60% | 102.65% | 107.40% | 100.00% | 75.00% | |||
Other Requirements:
| Other Requirements/Goals | |||||||||||
| Empathy Training | Blind | ✔ | Mute | ✔ | Wheelchair | X | Complete: | ✔ | |||
| Read 6 books | ✔ - 7 Habits | ✔ - BABOK | ✔ - A Call to Action | ✔- Power of Now | ✔ - China Study | ✔ - Traditions | Complete: | ✔ | |||
| Seek out a Master | Kyoshi Fierro - Done | Complete: | ✔ | ||||||||
| 1 Personal Goal | Rancho Cordova Challenge - 1/2 Iron Distance (70.3) - Oct 5th | Complete: | ✔ | ||||||||
| Memorize the Black Belt Pledge | Complete: | ||||||||||
| 1 Community Service Project | ✔ - Swings for SMA | ✔ - Team w/ Robotics Club | Complete: | ✔ | |||||||
| Conquer 3 Personal Fears | Riding | ✔ | Scuba | Scheduled | Reptile | ✔ | Complete: | ✔ | |||
| 1/2 Marathon in < 1:46:00 | Down to 1:50:01 so far | Complete: | X | ||||||||
Sparring... almost there. Kata... not as almost there as sparring... but will get there. Video.... almost there. So basically... Almost there. Empathy training is done as I met the requirements. Enjoyed all the books, learned a lot about Kyoshi Fierro and achieved my personal goal of completing a 1/2 iron triathlon. Haven't memorized the Black Belt Pledge yet, but it will be done by December 31. Community service project... ✔.
I set some additional goals:
- Spend a day in a wheelchair - I didn't get to it due to scheduling and surgeries, but I'm sure my friend will be up for it in a few months.
- Conquer 3 personal fears - I rode a horse, petted a snake (eeewwww) but didn't get the scuba lesson in. I was going to do it this month but the turns out they don't put you in the water. So, I did some research and found a place with a heated pool and am signed up for January's class.
- Get my 1/2 marathon time down to 1:46:00 - Not even close! Haha. I did shave 4:55 which I'm happy with. My new personal record is 1:50:01 (that :01 really hurt) and I feel good about that but will keep trying for that 1:46.
Empathy Training - Blind Day:
I only made it 8 hours. It was HARD. I did a full 24 hours of no talking. I'd spend a week with no talking before I'd do another day without vision. I made a sandwich that had WAY too much mustard in it. I will always know how tall my kitchen counters are because my hip bones will never be the same. I tripped over my dog at least 4 times. I'm thankful for audiobooks and for a small house with no clutter. I know they say you don't know what you have until you lose it. This brought that to a whole new level. I am thankful for my sight.
The Last 4 Days:
I'm taking Wednesday off from work to do kata and make videos :) "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming." I will get there.
The Levels:
Motivation: Has been taken over by the cramming
Next Event: January 9th - Black Belt Test
Motivation:
Motivation: Has been taken over by the cramming
Next Event: January 9th - Black Belt Test
Motivation:
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Week 55 - Let the Cramming Begin
The Numbers (as of 12/20):
This being the last week of classes until next year, I was in the dojo pretty often - 9 hours. Thanks to all the classes that helped me with sparring this week, it gave me the edge I needed. Still have 22 rounds to go but I'll get those over the holidays with some help from classmates. Kata number is looming.
The Training:
Sparring is what it is. I'm just trying to keep my conditioning up. The Tabata strength training is helping with that, mentally at least. If you feel confident you'll be confident, right?
As for kata... time to start that big push. I need to bump up to 12 sets a day for the next couple of weeks and add some extras on top of that. It's going to be pretty miserable, haha. Here goes...
Unfortunately, my scuba class got cancelled. Hopefully there will be an availability before the end of the year. Fingers crossed. Got some videos planned, just need to put them together. Thank goodness there are some days off coming up, perfect for cramming. :)
The Challenges:
Well, the cramming isn't fun, but I set myself up for that one. I'm mostly jut trying to stay positive, the nerves can really mess with you sometimes. Already thinking about how it's going to feel demonstrate kata in front of a crowd. I don't mind getting my butt kicked in sparring, there's been plenty of that and will plenty more. Kata though, that's one of my favorite things. I really want to do well.
The Levels:
Motivation: Yep :), still with the nervousness
Next Event: January 9th - Black Belt Test
Motivation:
| Pushups | Crunches | Kata | Sparring | Journey (Swim) | Journey (Bike) | Journey (Run) | Kindness | Journal | Video | ||
Annual Totals:
|
50,450
|
50,450
|
864
|
977
| 6 | 1,250 | 1,200 |
1,045
|
54
|
9
| |
| 2,455 | |||||||||||
| Annual Targets: | 50000 | 50000 | 1000 | 1000 | 2400 | 1000 | 56 | 12 | |||
| Percent of Annual Targets Complete | 100.90% | 100.90% | 86.40% | 97.70% | 102.31% | 104.50% | 96.43% | 75.00% | |||
This being the last week of classes until next year, I was in the dojo pretty often - 9 hours. Thanks to all the classes that helped me with sparring this week, it gave me the edge I needed. Still have 22 rounds to go but I'll get those over the holidays with some help from classmates. Kata number is looming.
The Training:
As for kata... time to start that big push. I need to bump up to 12 sets a day for the next couple of weeks and add some extras on top of that. It's going to be pretty miserable, haha. Here goes...
Unfortunately, my scuba class got cancelled. Hopefully there will be an availability before the end of the year. Fingers crossed. Got some videos planned, just need to put them together. Thank goodness there are some days off coming up, perfect for cramming. :)
The Challenges:
Well, the cramming isn't fun, but I set myself up for that one. I'm mostly jut trying to stay positive, the nerves can really mess with you sometimes. Already thinking about how it's going to feel demonstrate kata in front of a crowd. I don't mind getting my butt kicked in sparring, there's been plenty of that and will plenty more. Kata though, that's one of my favorite things. I really want to do well.
The Levels:
Motivation: Yep :), still with the nervousness
Next Event: January 9th - Black Belt Test
Motivation:
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Week 54 - It's Just Sooo Close...
The Numbers (as of 12/13):
Love those 100s! I just love them. I want to hug them. It was a pretty painfully slow week for sparring. As the holiday approaches there are less people in class and more on vacation! As it should be. Kata was sort of up and down which left it lower than it should be but it's still good to pass the 80% mark. I'll get there. Still have 18 days!
The Training:
Well, sparring... vacations are a good thing. Just means that I will be in the dojo as often as possible this week. I'll spar with anyone at this point. I'm not too proud to spar with a 6-year old. :) And of course there will be plans to get some time in over the holiday weeks also.
I got a one-on-one class with Sensei last week and had the opportunity to run each kata by him. I know what I need to work on. I'm focused on getting the numbers met and getting some details fixed.
Still loving the strength training. I feel like being forced to spend some real time stretching is also doing my body good. Healthy eating is pretty consistent if you don't count the wedding cake I had last weekend. You don't say no to carrot cake, you just don't.
I've got my scuba lesson scheduled, that'll be the third personal fear I wanted to conquer. And I've got my empathy training: blind day planned out. Gotta get some more videos up, too. Feel good. There's obviously some cramming in my future, but I'm ready for it.
The Challenges:
Now it's just a matter of nerves.
The Levels:
Motivation: Still there, still with the nervousness
Next Event: January 9th - Black Belt Test
Lesson Learned:
I'm realizing as this test gets closer and closer to completion, that it's not so much the fact that I did this many push ups and that many miles... It's more that I didn't stop doing them even when I REALLY wanted to. There's peace of mind in that, and motivation.
| Pushups | Crunches | Kata | Sparring | Journey (Swim) | Journey (Bike) | Journey (Run) | Kindness | Journal | Video | ||
Annual Totals:
|
50,150
|
50,150
|
809
|
888
| 6 | 1,250 | 1,188 |
1,029
|
53
|
9
| |
| 2,443 | |||||||||||
| Annual Targets: | 50000 | 50000 | 1000 | 1000 | 2400 | 1000 | 56 | 12 | |||
| Percent of Annual Targets Complete | 100.30% | 100.30% | 80.90% | 88.80% | 101.81% | 102.90% | 94.64% | 75.00% | |||
The Training:
Well, sparring... vacations are a good thing. Just means that I will be in the dojo as often as possible this week. I'll spar with anyone at this point. I'm not too proud to spar with a 6-year old. :) And of course there will be plans to get some time in over the holiday weeks also.
I got a one-on-one class with Sensei last week and had the opportunity to run each kata by him. I know what I need to work on. I'm focused on getting the numbers met and getting some details fixed.
Still loving the strength training. I feel like being forced to spend some real time stretching is also doing my body good. Healthy eating is pretty consistent if you don't count the wedding cake I had last weekend. You don't say no to carrot cake, you just don't.
I've got my scuba lesson scheduled, that'll be the third personal fear I wanted to conquer. And I've got my empathy training: blind day planned out. Gotta get some more videos up, too. Feel good. There's obviously some cramming in my future, but I'm ready for it.
The Challenges:
Now it's just a matter of nerves.
The Levels:
Motivation: Still there, still with the nervousness
Next Event: January 9th - Black Belt Test
Lesson Learned:
I'm realizing as this test gets closer and closer to completion, that it's not so much the fact that I did this many push ups and that many miles... It's more that I didn't stop doing them even when I REALLY wanted to. There's peace of mind in that, and motivation.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Monday, December 8, 2014
Week 53 - 25 Days to Goooooo!
The Numbers (as of 12/6):
The key take-away today is that I have 30 push-ups left (Insert Happy Dance). Sit-ups, too, but that's not as exciting because they don't hurt as bad. Finished the 1000 acts of kindness also. Closing that sparring gap. It will feel good to work into the 900s this week. 25 Days to go! Time to start counting DOWN.
The Training:
It feels really good to be closing in on the end of this thing. I've been working on strength lately and that feels good. Moved away from plain weight-lifting to a tactical body-weight training routine that is absolutely kicking my butt and it feels great. Not surprising at all... sometimes the yoga cool-down is the hardest part.
Trying to add a few new things to my sparring but really, what I've got is what I've got. At this point, what's going to get me thru the test is heart. Just keep standing up, no matter how many times they knock me down. This next four weeks is a brain game. Have to work on staying positive and feeling calm. I've accepted that I'm going to be nervous, just can't let it psych me out. I think that's mostly what the weight training is for now, to make me feel confident.
The Challenges:
Managing the time with the holidays. 25 days left, but the holidays can be a distraction. I have to work my final requirements around that because the rest and relaxation are a part of the training and I want to enjoy the downtime.
The Levels:
Motivation: In there with the nervousness
Next Event: December 7th - CIM Relay; January 9th - Black Belt Test
Motivation:
| Pushups | Crunches | Kata | Sparring | Journey (Swim) | Journey (Bike) | Journey (Run) | Kindness | Journal | Video | ||
Annual Totals:
|
49,970
|
49,970
|
760
|
881
| 6 | 1,250 | 1,172 |
1,013
|
52
|
8
| |
| 2,427 | |||||||||||
| Annual Targets: | 50000 | 50000 | 1000 | 1000 | 2400 | 1000 | 56 | 12 | |||
| Percent of Annual Targets Complete | 99.94% | 99.94% | 76.00% | 88.10% | 101.15% | 101.30% | 92.86% | 66.67% | |||
The key take-away today is that I have 30 push-ups left (Insert Happy Dance). Sit-ups, too, but that's not as exciting because they don't hurt as bad. Finished the 1000 acts of kindness also. Closing that sparring gap. It will feel good to work into the 900s this week. 25 Days to go! Time to start counting DOWN.
The Training: It feels really good to be closing in on the end of this thing. I've been working on strength lately and that feels good. Moved away from plain weight-lifting to a tactical body-weight training routine that is absolutely kicking my butt and it feels great. Not surprising at all... sometimes the yoga cool-down is the hardest part.
Trying to add a few new things to my sparring but really, what I've got is what I've got. At this point, what's going to get me thru the test is heart. Just keep standing up, no matter how many times they knock me down. This next four weeks is a brain game. Have to work on staying positive and feeling calm. I've accepted that I'm going to be nervous, just can't let it psych me out. I think that's mostly what the weight training is for now, to make me feel confident.
The Challenges:
Managing the time with the holidays. 25 days left, but the holidays can be a distraction. I have to work my final requirements around that because the rest and relaxation are a part of the training and I want to enjoy the downtime.
The Levels:
Motivation: In there with the nervousness
Next Event: December 7th - CIM Relay; January 9th - Black Belt Test
Motivation:
I want to be able to get this mug for my parents :)
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