If you are interested in seeing the not very pretty sight of me being totally overwhelmed in my first bogu kumite match from last night, you can view a portion of it here. Also on that web page there's a very good description of the whole point of using the bogu gear and how it applies to karate (and even zen). I'm not sure how long the video will remain on that web page - the web site gets updated fairly often - so if it's no longer there when you take a look, sorry.
Oh, and in case you can't pick me out in the video, I'm the person who is constantly being hit and who keeps backing up.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Monday, November 06, 2006
The Dreaded Bogu Gear
As I mentioned a few days ago, I picked up a set of bogu gear and was looking forward to using it. Tonight in kumite class I learned first-hand why people say they hate the bogu gear. I wouldn't go so far as to say I hate it, but it's not exactly a fun experience either. It is, however, definitely a worthwhile learning experience and I look forward to trying it again.
Before the bogu kumite match tonight, I didn't really know what to expect. I've been taking kumite classes regularly for about a year now, but those are all controlled matches where action stops when a "point" is scored and all hits are meant to only lightly touch cloth or skin. I have never watched a bogu kumite match.
So, here is how it went...
We had a regular kumite class first. Then, for the last few minutes I was to wear the bogu gear and face Sensei in a match. After I was helped into the gear and it was all snuggly tied, Sensei explained to the class what they were about to see. I listened intently hoping to get a better idea of what I had gotten myself into. He mentioned something about how in Okinawa it was not uncommon for people to be thrown about, perhaps into walls, through windows, etc. I then thought - "Wait a second! Did I just hear that right?" My immediate thought was he must be joking. He continued on, explaining how the match usually proceeds - you start about 10 to 15 feet apart and then rush at each other, punching, kicking, etc. and never stopping until someone falls to the ground in which case the two people are pulled apart, placed 10 to 15 feet apart again, and pushed towards each other. This goes on for 3 minutes. Now after hearing this, I wished Angie hadn't tied my gear on securely behind my back with a double knot. Maybe there was still time to take it all off. Sensei then asked if I had any questions and I resisted the urge to ask if this was all some kind of joke to scare me half-to-death.
So, with that explanation complete, we bowed to each other and the match began. I don't really remember many details of the actual fighting other than repeatedly being hit in the chest and thinking the chest protector wasn't really doing that great a job of protecting my chest. I think I spent most of the time backing away, trying to get far enough away to throw a kick (probably I was also hoping to just get far enough away to stop from being hit). I think I might have remembered once to actually try to block something.
It was a very eye-opening experience. It was completely different from the regular kumite class - there was no comfort zone of getting to pause each time a hit was scored. In this case the opponent was constantly there, forcing me to deal with a very unpleasant situation. Having never been in a real fight, I'm only guessing here, but I suspect this bogu kumite is a much more realistic portrayal of how a real fight would proceed. So, in that way, I think it's a very worthwhile experience and there is much to be learned from it.
And, in the end, I'm happy to say, the gear did its job well. While the force of a lot of the hits were felt, there we no lasting injuries or even bruises. Of course, Sensei was going easy on me. I would not want to suffer the full force of his hits even when wearing the full bogu gear.
Oddly, the whole experience in some way did remind me of playing ice hockey. If you've ever played hockey you might know what I mean. There was the same feeling of going full tilt for a short period of time until you are totally out of breath, stuggling against someone else all while getting violently knocked about (but also being protected by a bunch of gear). Obviously there are a huge number of differences between the two activities, but the base emotional feeling brought back some memories of when I used to play hockey.
Before the bogu kumite match tonight, I didn't really know what to expect. I've been taking kumite classes regularly for about a year now, but those are all controlled matches where action stops when a "point" is scored and all hits are meant to only lightly touch cloth or skin. I have never watched a bogu kumite match.
So, here is how it went...
We had a regular kumite class first. Then, for the last few minutes I was to wear the bogu gear and face Sensei in a match. After I was helped into the gear and it was all snuggly tied, Sensei explained to the class what they were about to see. I listened intently hoping to get a better idea of what I had gotten myself into. He mentioned something about how in Okinawa it was not uncommon for people to be thrown about, perhaps into walls, through windows, etc. I then thought - "Wait a second! Did I just hear that right?" My immediate thought was he must be joking. He continued on, explaining how the match usually proceeds - you start about 10 to 15 feet apart and then rush at each other, punching, kicking, etc. and never stopping until someone falls to the ground in which case the two people are pulled apart, placed 10 to 15 feet apart again, and pushed towards each other. This goes on for 3 minutes. Now after hearing this, I wished Angie hadn't tied my gear on securely behind my back with a double knot. Maybe there was still time to take it all off. Sensei then asked if I had any questions and I resisted the urge to ask if this was all some kind of joke to scare me half-to-death.
So, with that explanation complete, we bowed to each other and the match began. I don't really remember many details of the actual fighting other than repeatedly being hit in the chest and thinking the chest protector wasn't really doing that great a job of protecting my chest. I think I spent most of the time backing away, trying to get far enough away to throw a kick (probably I was also hoping to just get far enough away to stop from being hit). I think I might have remembered once to actually try to block something.
It was a very eye-opening experience. It was completely different from the regular kumite class - there was no comfort zone of getting to pause each time a hit was scored. In this case the opponent was constantly there, forcing me to deal with a very unpleasant situation. Having never been in a real fight, I'm only guessing here, but I suspect this bogu kumite is a much more realistic portrayal of how a real fight would proceed. So, in that way, I think it's a very worthwhile experience and there is much to be learned from it.
And, in the end, I'm happy to say, the gear did its job well. While the force of a lot of the hits were felt, there we no lasting injuries or even bruises. Of course, Sensei was going easy on me. I would not want to suffer the full force of his hits even when wearing the full bogu gear.
Oddly, the whole experience in some way did remind me of playing ice hockey. If you've ever played hockey you might know what I mean. There was the same feeling of going full tilt for a short period of time until you are totally out of breath, stuggling against someone else all while getting violently knocked about (but also being protected by a bunch of gear). Obviously there are a huge number of differences between the two activities, but the base emotional feeling brought back some memories of when I used to play hockey.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Full Moon Tonight
It's a nice clear night tonight - good time to take a picture of the full moon.
This picture was taken at 5:39 PM. f5.6, 1/320 sec at 400mm.
This picture was taken at 5:39 PM. f5.6, 1/320 sec at 400mm.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Bogu Gear
This week I received the final piece needed to complete my karate bogu gear set - the helmet, or Men, as it is called in Japanese. I look forward to getting a chance to use it in the kumite class, although just about everyone I've talked to who has actually worn this stuff before say they hate it.
I got the chest protector when I was in Okinawa this summer, but I still haven't actually used it. I've had the gloves (kote) for a while - they used to sell them at the dojo - and I use them in kumite class all the time. The helmet came from BoguBag. I was very surprised with how quickly the helmet shipped. BoguBag is located in Idaho, but just about everything they sell ships directly from a partner company called Koei Budogo, a large kendo retailer in Japan. My order was processed on Friday and I received it on Monday - direct from Japan! That's faster than I normally get packages from places in the US.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Fortune of the Week (3)
These fortune cookie fortunes lately are more words of advice than fortunes. Here's the one I got today:
"Reach out your hand today to support others who need you."
"Reach out your hand today to support others who need you."
Monday, October 30, 2006
The one that got away
With the time change yesterday, I found I was able to easily wake up early this morning. Right after I got out of the shower I noticed a great blue heron off in the distance flying towards my condo. I had just enough time to pull the lens cap off and snap a picture. Unfortunately, I didn't quite get enough time to focus well. By the time it was landing in front of my window, this blurry photo is all I managed to get:
I did take a few more pictures after it landed, but nothing that would have been as impressive as the heron landing. But, at least I managed to get a picture that was a bit sharper:
(As is the case with just about all the photos I post here, you can click on the photo to get a larger view.)
I did take a few more pictures after it landed, but nothing that would have been as impressive as the heron landing. But, at least I managed to get a picture that was a bit sharper:
(As is the case with just about all the photos I post here, you can click on the photo to get a larger view.)
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Snowy Egret
One more egret picture... my favorite of the batch from this morning. Even though this one was taken with the window of my condo open, it's still not as sharp as I'd like. But, I think that's more my lack of understanding/skill with various camera settings rather than a shortcoming of the new lens.
It should be noted also that this is the original photo as taken. I did not crop it or modify it in any way.
It should be noted also that this is the original photo as taken. I did not crop it or modify it in any way.
New camera lens
In an act that could be taken as direct contradiction to the fortune advice of last week, I bought a new camera lens - one with much better zoom capability than anything I've had in the past. It's the Nikon VR 80-400mm f4.5-f5.6 D ED AF (how's that for alphabet soup?). No, it wasn't something I really needed, but it is definitely something that I will frequently use for many years to come.
Here is a sampling of how much of a closer view I can get when taking wildlife photos. (Most of these pictures are only slightly cropped from the originals.) I took these pictures this morning after just waking up. The pictures were shot through two somewhat dirty panes of glass (my condo windows) with some glare, so they aren't as sharp as they could be were I actually outside. (I think the last shot was done through a screen as well as two windows - ug!) I also forgot to use the vibration reduction feature of the lens (since I was still half-asleep).
Here is a sampling of how much of a closer view I can get when taking wildlife photos. (Most of these pictures are only slightly cropped from the originals.) I took these pictures this morning after just waking up. The pictures were shot through two somewhat dirty panes of glass (my condo windows) with some glare, so they aren't as sharp as they could be were I actually outside. (I think the last shot was done through a screen as well as two windows - ug!) I also forgot to use the vibration reduction feature of the lens (since I was still half-asleep).
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Fortune of the Week (2)
Today at lunch I got this fortune:
Do not desire what you do not need.
There's definitely some Buddha-inspired wisdom in that one...
Do not desire what you do not need.
There's definitely some Buddha-inspired wisdom in that one...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)