Oyama Fighter's Cup 2014

On Sunday, June 1st, five students participated in the Oyama Fighter's Cup. The level of competition at this tournament is higher than most other open tournaments. We went to the tournament with five participants, we came home with five trophies. And I think a few really great lessons were learned.

I participated in both the semi-knockdown and bare knuckle, full knockdown divisions so I got a good five rounds in. I gained a lot from the experience. And I'm not just talking about all the bruises...

Lessons I Learned at Oyama:

1. Cross-training makes a HUGE difference to my martial arts training. HUGE.
   I tell my friends that 2 minutes of sparring is like sprinting up hill while people are punching and kicking you. I'm a distance runner, so I have to be a bit dramatic. Still, I think that's pretty accurate. But the thing I noticed in every single round at Oyama... When the other person started getting tired, I still had wind to keep going. I attribute that to two things: 1 - The way we train at our dojo - hard and continuous sparring. 2 - The amount of running and riding I'm doing for my black belt test.
   
2. I sometimes set my bar too low.
   
   For my second match I fought an experienced black belt from the Oyama school. I did what most people probably do, but shouldn't. I sized her up, made assumptions. Black belt. Bigger than me. Oyama trained. I decided that I would call this match a success if I stood up every time she knocked me down. I told myself that
   
   
   if I just keep standing up for the 2-minute round, no matter what, I'd be happy with myself.
   
   I won that match. I need to set my standards based on me, not others.
   
3. The mutual respect among martial artists is almost tangible, to the point where non-martial artists notice it and wonder.
   
   A friend of mine came out to watch the tournament. At one point she looked at me and said, "You know the amazing thing... You guys are all clearly competitive athletes and you're going at each other but there's so much respect happening everywhere." That's exactly that thing I talk about when I say martial arts is different. It was a gym full of martial artists and people notice the energy and the edge, but they also notice the respect. That's a really awesome thing.

Oyama Fighter's Cup Highlight Video

So, all-in-all it was a great experience. I brought home two trophies, lots of bruises, some good lessons and some new confidence. Not just in myself, also in my training, in my dojo, and in my instructor. 

Week 26 - Hello You Beautiful Half Way Mark!

WOOOOOO! HOOOOOOOO! 

The Numbers (as of 05/31):

		Pushups	Crunches	Kata	Sparring	Journey (Swim)	Journey (Bike)	Journey (Run)	Kindness	Journal	Video
Annual Totals:		24,600	24,600	502	239	0	575	535	507	24	0
						1,110
Annual Targets:		50000	50000	1000	1000	2400			1000	52	12
Percent of Annual Targets Complete		49.20%	49.20%	50.20%	23.90%	46.24%			50.70%	46.15%	0.00%

Okay, so it might be a bit anticlimactic because those numbers don't all say 50%. I admit, I stared at them in denial for a while. And then I got over it because for six months I have been working my butt off and it feels really good to know that I'm still here, still going. I'm half way through this thing. I'm averaging 6.1 miles a day and 135 pushups and crunches a day and that feels pretty good, too.

For the next six months I'll be needing to get some videos put together and get some of those other requirements completed. I'm looking forward to it.

The Training:

Is paying off. It's nice to be able to see and feel the results of it all. I can push harder for longer and what used to be tough is getting comfortable. I'm also seeing how cross-training really compliments my martial arts training (will talk more about that in a separate blog post). I need to stay focused on sparring techniques and keep spending time on the details of kata and understanding their applications.

Also, need to continue to polish up my eating habits a bit. I have been eating more home-cooked food but still let convenience food in maybe more than I should. And I realize that I REALLY need to give more attention to hydrating properly. My habits there need some SERIOUS renovation. 

Proud to report that I have conquered one of my three personal fears. I gave a snake a little pat on the head. I'm terrified of snakes. So terrified of snakes that I will run away from a large worm. It's true, I own it. This snake, whose name I've now forgotten/blocked out... is a wild-caught emerald tree boa named Princess. Apparently she has some pretty amazing fangs. I'm glad to report that I did not have to witness them first-hand. At any rate, thanks to my friend Heather for the experience. Sort of... :)

The Challenges:

The time management challenge will always be here, I've accepted that. But, getting some time in with friends while we happen to be going for a run or a ride is proving helpful. I'm cramming in some quality time with my welder or my mitre saw and I know that it's improving my overall mood. 

The latest challenge is around trying to decide if to set my triathlon aside in favor of a martial arts tournament. It's a new challenge, just came up. I haven't put much thought into yet but it feels pretty symbolic of how I'm always having to make a choice between something I want to do and something I should do. More to come on that, I'm sure.

Levels:
Injury: Hahahahaha! Oyama Tournament...
Number of bruises: 17
Motivation: Pretty high
Next Event: June 28th - Zooma Napa Valley 1/2 Marathon; July 27th - San Francisco Marathon

Determination:

Week 25 - OOOOOOH! I Can Taste the Half-way Mark!

The Numbers (as of 5/24):

		Pushups	Crunches	Kata	Sparring	Journey (Swim)	Journey (Bike)	Journey (Run)	Kindness	Journal	Video
Annual Totals:		23,550	23,550	479	219	0	539	513	487	23	0
						1,052
Annual Targets:		50000	50000	1000	1000	2400			1000	52	12
Percent of Annual Targets Complete		47.10%	47.10%	47.90%	21.90%	43.82%			48.70%	44.23%	0.00%

Do you see? Do you see how close some of those numbers are to saying 50%!?!?!? Oooooh, I'm so excited to see some 50%s! And on that note, I'm feeling good about my physical numbers. I do, however, realize (and sometimes panic) the need to get my butt in gear on the videos. 

And just to show you guys where I am with the other requirements/goals (books to read, 1/2 marathon time, etc.):

Other Requirements/Goals
Empathy Training			Blind		Mute		Wheelchair			Complete:
Read 6 books			X - 7 Habits	X - BABOK	X - A Call to Action					Complete:
Seek out a Master			In contact with Marilyn Fierro							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										Complete:
Conquer 3 Personal Fears			Riding		Scuba			?		Complete:
1/2 Marathon in < 1:46:00										Complete:

So, three books down and feeling good about that. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People was good. One that I need to keep rereading :) The BABOK was about as painfully boring as it gets. But... t's basically a manual about how to perform business analysis so I wasn't expecting a thrill from that. A Call to Action was recommended by Sensei Callos and it's a keeper. Some of the statistics in there made my head hurt regarding inequality among genders and the religiously motivated acceptance of that inequality.


I am in contact with Kyoshi Fierro, who, by the way, just got promoted to 9th dan! I need to send her an email and get this rolling. I have a couple of community service project ideas that are progressing. Haven't attacked those fears yet. No, I'm not stalling... :) My 1/2 marathon is down to a 1:52:12 so still some work to do there but feeling good about my running.

The Training:

Well, I'm still here, I'm still in this thing, I'm still training: dojo time, bike time, run time, Tabata workouts at lunch time, etc. Notice I didn't say swim time? I know! I know! But I am signed up at the gym, that's a good step, right?

I think I ate more responsibly this week. Went to the farmer's market yesterday so I have a great stash of fresh fruit to get me thru this week. Yum!

The Challenges:

Say it with me... We all know it... "Time management!" So, I've decided to pretend that there are 25 hours in the day. And I'm just gonna see how that works. Also, I have managed to convince some friends that going for a nice evening run is synonymous with "hanging out." It's just a very kinetic version of it. So I'm able to get some social time in and some mileage at the same time. Phew. Hopefully they'll stick it out with me. :)


Levels:
Injury: Finger... it won't heal, it refuses
Number of bruises: 3
Motivation: Climbing steadily
Next Event:  June 2nd - Oyama Tournament, June 28th - Zooma Napa Valley 1/2 Marathon

Determination:

Week 24 - There's No Such Thing as "I Don't Have Time"

The Numbers (as of 5/17):

		Pushups	Crunches	Kata	Sparring	Journey (Swim)	Journey (Bike)	Journey (Run)	Kindness	Journal	Video
Annual Totals:		22,650	22,650	458	203	0	517	487	467	21	0
						1,004
Annual Targets:		50000	50000	1000	1000	2400			1000	52	12
Percent of Annual Targets Complete		45.30%	45.30%	45.80%	20.30%	41.82%			46.70%	40.38%	0.00%

WOOOOOO! My mileage requirement has been met! I broke through the 1000 mile mark and it feels good. That's one requirement I can check off. Now I just have 1400 to go in order to reach my goal mileage :) Other than that there's not much to say. The numbers are consistent and I'm happy with that. 

The Training:

The physical aspects of training are feeling good. I'm enjoying the Tabata workouts even though they will be causing my mileage to drop a bit for a couple more weeks. They are worthy workouts,  I work out a lot and a 20 minute Tabata circuit leaves me aching. Highly recommend a dose of Tabata for anyone who wants some But... there's more to training than the physical aspects.

This morning I read the Ultimate Black Belt Test (UBBT) blog entry of a friend of mine from the Alabama trip, Paul Castagno (you can read it here). His blog reminded me that there are some other aspects of the training to write about. For example, healthy eating. That's a part of my training that could use a bit of work. I mean, I won't give up chocolate, and in general I'm a healthy eater, but there is room for improvement. I get my 5 fruits a day and eat loads of veggies. But... I could clean my eating up a bit. Less frozen veggies, more fresh ones; less frozen meals for lunch at work; more home-cooked stuff (which also means I'll be eating more burnt food, haha); and less iced tea more water... Those are good things to focus on for the time being. Thanks, Paul, for the reminder.

The Challenges:

Remain the same. Time management isn't necessarily getting easier, but I squeezed in a couple hours of welding in on Saturday and it does make me feel better. So, although it sounds ridiculous when I tell myself I'll make time for my hobbies every week, I'm going to say it anyway :) What I absolutely won't say, is that "I don't have time" for something. I feel like that's a self-fulfilling prophecy, so I won't say it. I will find a balance somehow. Rest, workout, train, play and breathe. 

Another challenge that I haven't talked about much is the meditation. My brain doesn't do "radio silent" very well. The two things that keep my mind in a quiet place are running and kata. Sitting and trying to still my mind is NOT easy. I am, however, getting more comfortable sitting in seiza for longer periods. Not long ones, mind you, but longer than 5 months ago :)

Levels:
Injury: Finger
Number of bruises: 4
Motivation: Getting back up there where I want it
Next Event:  June 2nd - Oyama Tournament, June 28th - Zooma Napa Valley 1/2 Marathon

Determination: