28/12/2005 In Miscellany by andy
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[rant] Not to be negative, but these things bug me. I have compiled my list of the top eleven problems with Taido as things currently stand. This list is unique to me and represents my personal values for what Taido is and should become. I can cope if people don’t agree, but meanwhile, i’ll be working on moving things in a direction that I feel is healthier and more effective all around. Maybe I can change a few minds, and maybe I’ll change my mind too as things go forward. For right now, here (not really in any kind of order) are what I see as the eleven biggest things holding Taido back from its potential:
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18/04/2006 In Check It Out by andy
This page is for referrals to products I recommend. I do not make recommendations for things I do not personally enjoy owning and using. In some cases, I may receive a commission if you choose to buy through my links, but I’m not just posting random links for money - you can rest assured that anything on this page is the best I have found.
Elastic Steel
Paul Zaichik has some great products for improving strength, balance, and flexibility. Each one gives you a specific routine designed to get the most out of the body’s natural reflexes. Teach your nervous system to relax and allow your body to “stretch” deeper with less effort. Build real, solid strength without having to go to a gym. Paul is not just some random personal trainer selling internet workout programs; he’s a martial artist and gymnast, and he has some very impressive movement.
This page is for referrals to products I recommend. I do not make recommendations for things I do not personally enjoy owning and using. In some cases, I may receive a commission if you choose to buy through my links, but I’m not just posting random links for money - you can rest assured that anything on this page is the best I have found.
Elastic Steel
Paul Zaichik has some great products for improving strength, balance, and flexibility. Each one gives you a specific routine designed to get the most out of the body’s natural reflexes. Teach your nervous system to relax and allow your body to “stretch” deeper with less effort. Build real, solid strength without having to go to a gym. Paul is not just some random personal trainer selling internet workout programs; he’s a martial artist and gymnast, and he has some very impressive movement.
Continue Reading...
02/08/2006 In Miscellany, Taido/Blog by andy
It’s finished. I am writing this from my new interim home with Negishi’s family in Yokohama. This will be my base for the next three weeks while I do a little traveling around the country before returning to Atlanta at the end of August. I’ve spent the last three years teaching English at a public junior high school in rural Myogi, Gunma Prefecture, and generally having a great time. The people in my town have mostly been fabulous, and my teaching gig was undeniably the high point of my working life thus far. It’s been a great ride, and I plan to come back several times as a guest, but I’ve determined that I do not belong in Japan.
It’s finished. I am writing this from my new interim home with Negishi’s family in Yokohama. This will be my base for the next three weeks while I do a little traveling around the country before returning to Atlanta at the end of August. I’ve spent the last three years teaching English at a public junior high school in rural Myogi, Gunma Prefecture, and generally having a great time. The people in my town have mostly been fabulous, and my teaching gig was undeniably the high point of my working life thus far. It’s been a great ride, and I plan to come back several times as a guest, but I’ve determined that I do not belong in Japan.
Continue Reading...
10/08/2006 In Experiments / Ideas by andy
You never forget how to ride a bike - maybe I’m just extraordinarily stupid, but
I’ve proven that one wrong.
I was spending the weekend with a girlfriend in a small Japanese village and had volunteered to make a conbini (a wonderful little Jap-English corruption of “convenience store”) run for some drinks. Since it was a nice day, I figured that, rather than drive the two kilometers to the 7/11, I would just borrow my girlfriend’s bike and enjoy some fresh air. Things were going well for a few minutes. Then, as I was coming down the hill toward the store I realized that I couldn’t remember how to stop. “Oh, shit!”
You never forget how to ride a bike - maybe I’m just extraordinarily stupid, but
I’ve proven that one wrong.
I was spending the weekend with a girlfriend in a small Japanese village and had volunteered to make a conbini (a wonderful little Jap-English corruption of “convenience store”) run for some drinks. Since it was a nice day, I figured that, rather than drive the two kilometers to the 7/11, I would just borrow my girlfriend’s bike and enjoy some fresh air. Things were going well for a few minutes. Then, as I was coming down the hill toward the store I realized that I couldn’t remember how to stop. “Oh, shit!”
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30/08/2006 In Check It Out by andy
The following movies should be considered part of the training of any quality martial arts program. No, I’m not kidding. Get out of the dojo and do something entertaining. Watching movies requires very little work on your part and can seriously enrich your enjoyment of actual practice. My students used to love when I would quote Karate Kid after a killer workout. Anything you do to make your Taido more fun increases your chances of continuing to practice when you may be tempted to slack off. If you need to slack, run down to the video store and pick up one of these:
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15/11/2006 In Miscellany by andy
With Thanksgiving next week, the winter holiday season is fast upon us. Every year around this time, I’m forced to wrestle with what I feel is a very stressful and difficult aspect of social membership in America - the giving of gifts.
I am terrible at gift-giving, and if I thought I could get away with it, I would boycott the holidays wholesale. The sad reality is that escaping the holidays is near-impossible; even in years when I’ve done my best to let friends and family know that I wasn’t planning to participate in the consumption frenzy, somebody always manages not to get the memo, and I’m stuck feeling guilty. The alternative, embracing the madness in the spirit of goodwill, just serves to remind me that I have absolutely no skill at choosing quality gifts for even my closest friends.
With Thanksgiving next week, the winter holiday season is fast upon us. Every year around this time, I’m forced to wrestle with what I feel is a very stressful and difficult aspect of social membership in America - the giving of gifts.
I am terrible at gift-giving, and if I thought I could get away with it, I would boycott the holidays wholesale. The sad reality is that escaping the holidays is near-impossible; even in years when I’ve done my best to let friends and family know that I wasn’t planning to participate in the consumption frenzy, somebody always manages not to get the memo, and I’m stuck feeling guilty. The alternative, embracing the madness in the spirit of goodwill, just serves to remind me that I have absolutely no skill at choosing quality gifts for even my closest friends.
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24/12/2006 In Check It Out by andy
What follows is a necessarily incomplete list of things you should read as a part of your martial arts training. Most of them are pretty fun, too. Just remember that there is an academic portion to any quality training system. It’s your job to decide how much to trust any sources you happen to consult. This includes your instructors.
As a side note, I want to mention that many of these are available for free at your local library. Yes, that’s the big building with all the books in it. You know those things you used to have to read in school? Yes, books. I know in this day and age you are all used to just ordering everything from amazon (and if you still want to do so, please use my links and get me paid…), but it doesn’t necessarily have to be so (most large libraries even have music and videos now). While you’re there, check the calendar of community events and find something to do instead of watching so much damned television.
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03/12/2007 In Miscellany by andy
Last year, I composed a sort of Christmas list for Taido. It’s been an eventful year, and some of the things on that list became reality. One of the really awesome things about Taido is that it’s always changing, and I’m pretty excited that most of these changes appear to be happening for the better.
I have a lot of dreams for the next year in Taido. Before I start listing off every conceivable wish I could have for Taido over the next year, I’ll review the items I posted in last year’s list. Here they are:
2006 List Recap
- American-flag print, satin karate uniform - Nope! But I did get an awesome Gameness grappling gi this summer. I guess that’ll have to do for now.
Last year, I composed a sort of Christmas list for Taido. It’s been an eventful year, and some of the things on that list became reality. One of the really awesome things about Taido is that it’s always changing, and I’m pretty excited that most of these changes appear to be happening for the better.
I have a lot of dreams for the next year in Taido. Before I start listing off every conceivable wish I could have for Taido over the next year, I’ll review the items I posted in last year’s list. Here they are:
2006 List Recap
- American-flag print, satin karate uniform - Nope! But I did get an awesome Gameness grappling gi this summer. I guess that’ll have to do for now.
Continue Reading...
