Two days ago I was talking to my girlfriend and she asked me,
"When you do martial arts does it clear your mind?"
It does, practicing martial arts clears my mind of everything that I feel. Doing martial arts is way different than any other technique you learn, like the moves are way different than any other movement you do on the regular.
When I first get to martial arts I have to get my mind ready to work. I prepare my mind more than my body because I know I'm strong enough. I am starting to believe that the mind can control the body and ow fatigue I feel. I love trying to improve my mind but practicing mental strength can only come from situations that test your might.
So when I walk through the door I look at the window on the far wall. I look out the window and decide that by the end of class I want my presence to fill the room and break the windows.
Sometimes I think of the pain that was caused by the ones that I used to love or still love. When I walk into class with pain or frustration on my mind, the power comes easily. I usually hit the bag feriously then Harry will tell me, "Technique." When he says that it's something in my mind that tells me to relax because that is what Harry is saying in english. My mind becomes less cluttered with every hit after the words "Technique is spoken. I start to let go of the thing that made me upset. It's like I put all my pain into my first and release my pain to the bag. As soon as my fist connects, my mind opens a bit more.
Hit, pain released, hit, pain released, hit, hit, hit, hit, hit, my mind is almost clear of everything that isn't martial arts.
Now I can focus. Now my mind is completely into how my fist will move out to jab the bag. And if Harry has his hand out in which I have to hit his hand instead of my bag then it's even better; it feels more like a person than anything. I look at my hand in the mirror. As I slide it from in front of my face I make sure my elbow snaps at just the right angle to give the bag a pop that it will remember.
I would definetly say that martial arts clear my mind.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Need Healthier Foods
Before martial arts I always go home so that I can get some food in my body, but I wonder if my performance during practice would be better if I were to eat healthier. Most of the time I would eat some pizza with chips or 2 chicken patties with some chips.
The thing that has got me thinking is the food I eat. I know that I need to eat before practice but I also know that the food that I'm eating isn't food that is good for workouts. The problem I face is not knowing what to make to eat. When I get home I only have 45 minutes at the most. So I have to make the food and eat it or take it with me within those 45 minutes. Being that it's my first time coming home for the day I usually try to get some stuff ready for the next day.
I have learned to get in the house, take out thinfs for the next day, put my clothes away and make something to eat in a fast minute but I need some ideas on healthier things to eat.
During practice I can get a bit
tired but it's more thay I get sore and my arms and legs start to feel like they're going to fall off. I'm not sure if there are any foods that I cam eat that will be more beneficial for my body when it comes to working out, but it's something to look into.
The thing that has got me thinking is the food I eat. I know that I need to eat before practice but I also know that the food that I'm eating isn't food that is good for workouts. The problem I face is not knowing what to make to eat. When I get home I only have 45 minutes at the most. So I have to make the food and eat it or take it with me within those 45 minutes. Being that it's my first time coming home for the day I usually try to get some stuff ready for the next day.
I have learned to get in the house, take out thinfs for the next day, put my clothes away and make something to eat in a fast minute but I need some ideas on healthier things to eat.
During practice I can get a bit
tired but it's more thay I get sore and my arms and legs start to feel like they're going to fall off. I'm not sure if there are any foods that I cam eat that will be more beneficial for my body when it comes to working out, but it's something to look into.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
The Defense Class (Day 2)
So my mom made me 30 minutes late to the self defense class today. I was upset because I hate being late to thing. When you walk in late to something it feels like everyone is watching you and I'm a newcomer to the classes, so it makes it look worse on me. I wouldn't really mind if it was like a few minutes late, but I mean 30 minutes late, it's just too much for me.
When I got to the class, I hopped in from where they were. Our instructor was showing us what to do if we ever got into a situation where there was 2 people trying to attack you at the same time. The key is to try and only fight one of the two people at a time. You are cleary in the disadvantage if you are fighting both of the people at the same time. So you want to use the one of the people to block off the other person. Since they're both coming at you, you need to make sure that only one of the people is even close enough to touch you. You do this by moving around. Make it so that one person is infront of you and that the other person is behind that person that is behind you. They may try to close you in so you would need to be aware of that. Make sure you don't get caught in corners because once you're trapped between two people and a corner, your life can be over really fast.
When I got to the class, I hopped in from where they were. Our instructor was showing us what to do if we ever got into a situation where there was 2 people trying to attack you at the same time. The key is to try and only fight one of the two people at a time. You are cleary in the disadvantage if you are fighting both of the people at the same time. So you want to use the one of the people to block off the other person. Since they're both coming at you, you need to make sure that only one of the people is even close enough to touch you. You do this by moving around. Make it so that one person is infront of you and that the other person is behind that person that is behind you. They may try to close you in so you would need to be aware of that. Make sure you don't get caught in corners because once you're trapped between two people and a corner, your life can be over really fast.
Friday, November 16, 2012
College Essay In Progress
These last 2 days I've been working on my college essay and I have made some amazing progress. Wednesday nigh there was an event held by the U of R side of Hillside. The event was at 46 Prince Street. When we got there they fed us some subs and chips and stuff but we were there to work on the college essay. There was this guy, named Anthony, who works in admissions at U of R. He was our guide for the night. He showed us am example college essay that they thought was great, and he told us some fact about the school.
U or R receive about 13,000 applications, 3,000 people get accepted, and only about 1,300 people actually go to the school after being accepted. There you go, 1,300 people goes to the schoolo. If you want to be one of those 1,300 people in your school you better be on point, and by that I mean your essay better be on point because that's the only way the school is going to know you.
Anthony taught us about hooking your reader, you need that hook that is going to make your reader stay interested in you for the time being. I chose my hook to be a cell phone. So in my essay my cell phone takes me through my day. My alarm wakes me up in the morning. Text/messages and calls gives me info throughout my day and my emails are sent to me telling me the formal things I need to know.
I chose a cell phone because I'm looking to go to RIT for engineering, technology is what I'm mostly looking at right now. I would love to know how phones or other pieces of technology is made into such great pieces of work. And if it's possible I would love to go to RIT and end up creating the next phone that becomes a trend within the world.
U or R receive about 13,000 applications, 3,000 people get accepted, and only about 1,300 people actually go to the school after being accepted. There you go, 1,300 people goes to the schoolo. If you want to be one of those 1,300 people in your school you better be on point, and by that I mean your essay better be on point because that's the only way the school is going to know you.
Anthony taught us about hooking your reader, you need that hook that is going to make your reader stay interested in you for the time being. I chose my hook to be a cell phone. So in my essay my cell phone takes me through my day. My alarm wakes me up in the morning. Text/messages and calls gives me info throughout my day and my emails are sent to me telling me the formal things I need to know.
I chose a cell phone because I'm looking to go to RIT for engineering, technology is what I'm mostly looking at right now. I would love to know how phones or other pieces of technology is made into such great pieces of work. And if it's possible I would love to go to RIT and end up creating the next phone that becomes a trend within the world.
Self Defense
I went to a self defense class last Saturday. Harry wasn't going to be there but since I still wanted to practice something I went to the self defense class to gt some type of practice in. The class starts at 10, about an hour earlier than Harry's class, but that wasn't a problem for me. I ate breakfast before I went and got there at 9:30 like I said.
When I arrived at the dojo I got changed and hopped in with this other class that was already started. The only thing is that these people knew what they were doing. They were performing a set of moves which first required that you understand the language that the teacher was speaking. Then you have to perform moves based on what is told of you. I tried to watch the others and copy them as quickly as possible but I failed horribly. I felt myself falling behind in everything and I felt like everyone was watching me, thinking that I a idiot.
I want to learn their moves so bad. When I was watching I was really focusing on how they move. I tried to study each step as quickly as I can. Right hand goes up, strikes diagonally, left hand punches. It was overwhelming but I kept faith in learning though. I was only with that one class for about 15 minutes before it ended. It made me realize how bad I want to learn martial arts though. I no longer want to be the only one that is behind in the technique. I felt stupid and it made me feel like I can't keep up with others.
The thing I did do well in was the Self defense class that starts at 10 every Saturday morning. It's a class that is dominated by females, we're thought to be believe that it's like this because guys feel like they don't need to take the class or they feel embarrassed to be a part of class that teaches you how to defend yourself.
The class also focuses on conditioning so it's like a mixture of both. I really like it. The women there are all a bout 30's or older but they aren't scared to throw you, or hit you. Our teacher was showing us how to get someone off of you if you are on your back and the person is like sitting on top of you and leaning over your chest. The way to get them off of you is by waiting until they make a move to try to hurt you. So say for instance the person tries to choke you with their right hand, you would grab their right hand and hold it down on you, lift your hips off the ground, and swing your body to the left as if you were trying to lie on your side. When the lady did this to me I flew onto my back, literally I felt myself flying off of her. I couldn't believe it. She is smaller than me and she definitely doesn't look as strong as me but the move worked and that's all that matters.
The class was really valuable and I would recommend anyone that can go to go. I will try my best to be there as much as possible. Then after that class I will continue on with Harry for the day.
When I arrived at the dojo I got changed and hopped in with this other class that was already started. The only thing is that these people knew what they were doing. They were performing a set of moves which first required that you understand the language that the teacher was speaking. Then you have to perform moves based on what is told of you. I tried to watch the others and copy them as quickly as possible but I failed horribly. I felt myself falling behind in everything and I felt like everyone was watching me, thinking that I a idiot.
I want to learn their moves so bad. When I was watching I was really focusing on how they move. I tried to study each step as quickly as I can. Right hand goes up, strikes diagonally, left hand punches. It was overwhelming but I kept faith in learning though. I was only with that one class for about 15 minutes before it ended. It made me realize how bad I want to learn martial arts though. I no longer want to be the only one that is behind in the technique. I felt stupid and it made me feel like I can't keep up with others.
The thing I did do well in was the Self defense class that starts at 10 every Saturday morning. It's a class that is dominated by females, we're thought to be believe that it's like this because guys feel like they don't need to take the class or they feel embarrassed to be a part of class that teaches you how to defend yourself.
The class also focuses on conditioning so it's like a mixture of both. I really like it. The women there are all a bout 30's or older but they aren't scared to throw you, or hit you. Our teacher was showing us how to get someone off of you if you are on your back and the person is like sitting on top of you and leaning over your chest. The way to get them off of you is by waiting until they make a move to try to hurt you. So say for instance the person tries to choke you with their right hand, you would grab their right hand and hold it down on you, lift your hips off the ground, and swing your body to the left as if you were trying to lie on your side. When the lady did this to me I flew onto my back, literally I felt myself flying off of her. I couldn't believe it. She is smaller than me and she definitely doesn't look as strong as me but the move worked and that's all that matters.
The class was really valuable and I would recommend anyone that can go to go. I will try my best to be there as much as possible. Then after that class I will continue on with Harry for the day.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Back With Harry
Harry and I finally got the time to connect through martial arts again.
In the middle of the Defense class Harry took me out so that I can work with him because he is my primary teacher when it comes to classes at the dojo.
From the start Harry had us pushing our way to our limits.
He had me and Tony running five minute rounds. It's hard to try to hit a bag for one minute straight then drop down to push ups and get right back up to hit the bag again.
Everytime after we got up from being in the push up position he would change up the way he wanted us to hit the bags. First just jabs with the left hand, then jab-cross, after that we would follow a jab-cross, with a knee. The knee would come from whichever foot was farthest back. He would yell for us to switch our feet sometimes and man you better switch them feet fast or else...
But the hardest part was when he had us on the two machines. On the first machine we had to lay on our stomach and your head would be facing down in a decline. So you put your hands on the handle at the bottom of the machine and your feet is above your body. On that machine you push yourself up, then you let your weight come down and repeat until you can't no more. On top of that you he will call for us to switch to the other machine which was way easier in the sense of position and movement. You sit down and pull the bar that's hanging above your head. You bring it down to your chest and let it go back so that you can repeat.
I love how intense it was but man... I need more practice.
(Saturday November 10th)
In the middle of the Defense class Harry took me out so that I can work with him because he is my primary teacher when it comes to classes at the dojo.
From the start Harry had us pushing our way to our limits.
He had me and Tony running five minute rounds. It's hard to try to hit a bag for one minute straight then drop down to push ups and get right back up to hit the bag again.
Everytime after we got up from being in the push up position he would change up the way he wanted us to hit the bags. First just jabs with the left hand, then jab-cross, after that we would follow a jab-cross, with a knee. The knee would come from whichever foot was farthest back. He would yell for us to switch our feet sometimes and man you better switch them feet fast or else...
But the hardest part was when he had us on the two machines. On the first machine we had to lay on our stomach and your head would be facing down in a decline. So you put your hands on the handle at the bottom of the machine and your feet is above your body. On that machine you push yourself up, then you let your weight come down and repeat until you can't no more. On top of that you he will call for us to switch to the other machine which was way easier in the sense of position and movement. You sit down and pull the bar that's hanging above your head. You bring it down to your chest and let it go back so that you can repeat.
I love how intense it was but man... I need more practice.
(Saturday November 10th)
Friday, November 9, 2012
I Beez Back In The Gym!!!
Soooo last friday I went to the YMCA for the first time. It's beeen sooooo long since I have been to the gym to work out and I tell you, it felt soooo good to go and work on some muscles. I miss that feeling that I used to get from going often. And now I can't even push like 80 or 90 no more I'm back at like 60 or 70 pounds.
I worked on my arms mostly because most of the machines at the YMCA only works on your arms but they have other things that you can do also. After about a good 30-40 minute workout with the weight I changed clothes and hopped in the pool. I haven't been swimming since the summer time, so I been anxious to go swimming. I still remember how to swim so don't worry about it.
Besides pushing some little weights for my arms, I had worked on my abs a bit. My stomach was sore for the next 3 or 4 days. That's how you know I need to eat a bit better and do things more often because if I have been going to the gym ever since setpember I wouldn't be in any sorrow for myself.
It was good going to the YMCA and all I need for next time is a lock for a locker. I used one of the keys they have for a locker but I have to change away from the locker because of the set up so If I bring a lock next time my changing will be a lot smoother. I will just take the lock off my school locker and bring it with me everyday. It sounds like a plan so that's what I'm going to do.
I worked on my arms mostly because most of the machines at the YMCA only works on your arms but they have other things that you can do also. After about a good 30-40 minute workout with the weight I changed clothes and hopped in the pool. I haven't been swimming since the summer time, so I been anxious to go swimming. I still remember how to swim so don't worry about it.
Besides pushing some little weights for my arms, I had worked on my abs a bit. My stomach was sore for the next 3 or 4 days. That's how you know I need to eat a bit better and do things more often because if I have been going to the gym ever since setpember I wouldn't be in any sorrow for myself.
It was good going to the YMCA and all I need for next time is a lock for a locker. I used one of the keys they have for a locker but I have to change away from the locker because of the set up so If I bring a lock next time my changing will be a lot smoother. I will just take the lock off my school locker and bring it with me everyday. It sounds like a plan so that's what I'm going to do.
College Essay
Maaaaan. We started our college essay about a month ago, but I have been so busy that it has been on the back burner for the longest.
I know my topic already. It's going to be about how I stole from a store and got caught. I hope for it to show growth in my character.
I have the outline layed out and everything all I need is the time to do it. I just wish I had the time. I been soo busy with everything in life that I haven't done anything. I haven't even played my video game in over a month or 2 and it's in my room. It's very annoying to not have time but it's also humbling. I feel like I have to do the right thing because if not then I will fall behind terribly. I may be doing that wuthout even noticing though. I still have some applications for college that I didn't even start yet. I have the supplement app and the apps for all my other choices but it's only the matter of actually getting them finished and off to Jamie. Need time for that also.
I didn't know that one of our senior deadlines is to complete the college essay and have it turned in, in it's final form by 11/30. I mean I didn't know that our NEXT senior deadline is to have the final version of our college essay done. I know other schools already had their college essay over with but we didn't get any class time for it.
I feel like I'm still over stressing things but I know I'll be fine. Once I get this college essay out the way I'm going to finish applying for school so that I don't have to worry about that then my next goal is going to be to focus on my paper I have to write for my senior project, since that will be so much fun.
I know my topic already. It's going to be about how I stole from a store and got caught. I hope for it to show growth in my character.
I have the outline layed out and everything all I need is the time to do it. I just wish I had the time. I been soo busy with everything in life that I haven't done anything. I haven't even played my video game in over a month or 2 and it's in my room. It's very annoying to not have time but it's also humbling. I feel like I have to do the right thing because if not then I will fall behind terribly. I may be doing that wuthout even noticing though. I still have some applications for college that I didn't even start yet. I have the supplement app and the apps for all my other choices but it's only the matter of actually getting them finished and off to Jamie. Need time for that also.
I didn't know that one of our senior deadlines is to complete the college essay and have it turned in, in it's final form by 11/30. I mean I didn't know that our NEXT senior deadline is to have the final version of our college essay done. I know other schools already had their college essay over with but we didn't get any class time for it.
I feel like I'm still over stressing things but I know I'll be fine. Once I get this college essay out the way I'm going to finish applying for school so that I don't have to worry about that then my next goal is going to be to focus on my paper I have to write for my senior project, since that will be so much fun.
And things change
Update. I have to get better at doing this more frequently.
Sooooo I had my senior meeting two days ago. Since then I have felt less stress about my senior project starting. I have made a change in committee members. Instead of having Jose on my committee I now have Joey.
Everyone was at the meeting besides Kemari because she had an emergency to deal with. But I see her at school today and got her to sign the contract so that I can make this deadline.
I would say that the meeting went very well. It was actually quicker than I thought and even smoother than I thought also. We got everything clearified. When I say that I mean like we have all of my work that I have to do down, and we also had to add in how many times a week I would be going to the gym and how many times a week I would be attending classes at the dojo.
I stated that I wanted to learn how martial arts meaning how to perform the style and the background, like how it evolved into what it is today. So I have to write a 7-10 page paper on what ShoShinDo is and how it is different that other fighting styles. In this process I will learn practice Boxing, Kung Fu, and up to 3 other styles of fighting. I will do workouts for these styles to see how they differ and I will also interview trainers to find out more information about the styles that I try.
At my final meeting I will have to present my paper, a Prezi with my journey through my senior year and I will perform some of the techniques I learned such as block, punches and kicks.
I try not to think that all of this is overwhelming because I know that I definetly can do this and that I will make it through this year but I just want to take everything step by step for now because I have a bunch of work to do this year.
I know for sure I can do this and I'm not going to mess this up. Soooo wish me luck.
Sooooo I had my senior meeting two days ago. Since then I have felt less stress about my senior project starting. I have made a change in committee members. Instead of having Jose on my committee I now have Joey.
Everyone was at the meeting besides Kemari because she had an emergency to deal with. But I see her at school today and got her to sign the contract so that I can make this deadline.
I would say that the meeting went very well. It was actually quicker than I thought and even smoother than I thought also. We got everything clearified. When I say that I mean like we have all of my work that I have to do down, and we also had to add in how many times a week I would be going to the gym and how many times a week I would be attending classes at the dojo.
I stated that I wanted to learn how martial arts meaning how to perform the style and the background, like how it evolved into what it is today. So I have to write a 7-10 page paper on what ShoShinDo is and how it is different that other fighting styles. In this process I will learn practice Boxing, Kung Fu, and up to 3 other styles of fighting. I will do workouts for these styles to see how they differ and I will also interview trainers to find out more information about the styles that I try.
At my final meeting I will have to present my paper, a Prezi with my journey through my senior year and I will perform some of the techniques I learned such as block, punches and kicks.
I try not to think that all of this is overwhelming because I know that I definetly can do this and that I will make it through this year but I just want to take everything step by step for now because I have a bunch of work to do this year.
I know for sure I can do this and I'm not going to mess this up. Soooo wish me luck.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Almost there
So I'm at school right bow awaiting the start of my senior meeting. I'm very anxious about how this will go. I already ran into troubles trying to get this meeting scheduled and started. I never knew being a senior could be so stressful.
I know that it's just the start of things and I have a lot more to learn this year but I'm ready for it all.
I know that it's just the start of things and I have a lot more to learn this year but I'm ready for it all.
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