lazy

for the last few days I’ve been staying up too late, and that’s putting a serious damper on the entire “get up early and swim.” So I’ve missed doing that the last two days. Hopefully I’ll be back in swing or swim by tomorrow.

I just realized that I’ll be out of the area (if you count last weekend) for four straight weekends. Last weekend we headed down to Corning NY to visit with a friend to work out, more on that later… This weekend I’m going home to celebrate my birthday with family. Next weekend I’ll be in Cortland for a Martial Arts seminar with Dan Inasanto (one of Bruce Lee’s closest friends and who Bruce hand picked to take over for him). The weekend after that it’s up to Toronto for Film Fest. So for the next couple of weeks I’m going to be one busy boy.

As for that trip last weekend, I’ve been continuing the Martial Arts research that I started at the Super Summers Seminar. To have things make a bit more sense, here’s a short history of the Martial Arts. Basically everywhere has some type of indigenous form of self defense/combat system. “Modern Martial Arts”, if they can be called that, began in China, it’s initial development influenced by a number of Indians who were living in China. It eventually spread to Okinawa by sea travelers (yes that same Karate Kid Okinawa). From Okinawa it spread throughout Japan. The Arts also spread from China across the Asian Subcontinent along trade lines. With each new local they mutated and were integrated into local fighting systems. Each culture’s values, ideals and needs were integrated into their approach to martial arts.

In the case of Japan the argument can be made that culturally they are much better at innovation than creation. They are not necessarily as gifted as Americans, for example, in the creation of wholly new ideas (this is not meant to be a cultural slam as everyone has areas where they excel and areas where they do not). However, when it comes to taking an idea and streamlining it or building off of it, Japan leads the world. As a friend put it, forget the art, Japan’s all about business (which is a bit of an overstatement, but as a broad comment works).

Anyhoo, why does all of that mater? Well most traditional martial arts are taught through the use of forms. Basically any given form (or kata in Japanese styles) contains a subset of moves from the whole style. Their use in the form teaches students about both the moves and the overall application of the style. In many cases (including my own) students are given the forms to work and have to decipher them on their own. I study Chinese Martial Arts. The Chinese tend to hide a lot of what martial techniques do in subtle actions or artistic display. So I’ve been beating my head up against a number of forms for a number of years, looking for clues to unlock them. At Super Summers, I found a key where I never expected.

I attended a seminar given by Sensei Kevin Jones, from Corning, where we were taught a kata from Goshen Ryu Karate (one of the oldest forms of Okinawan Karate). As I was working the form in the seminar I suddenly have the huge realization that the form incorporated aspects of Tai Chi, Wing Chun, and other Chinese Martial Arts (as these in turn were the basis for Goshen Ryu). But, because of the streamlining of the techniques by the Okinawans and Japanese, the application of said techniques was much more obvious. This was HUGE! I had found my Rosetta Stone. Looking at the Japanese interpretation I was able to immediately see the applications of techniques whose meaning had been escaping me. In turn, understanding those techniques, lead to understanding of other aspects of the forms. Thankfully, due to exposure to a number of other world-class instructors at the event, I was in the right mindset to receive that info.

Since then I’ve been working that kata as much as I can as to not to forget it. So, as I mentioned earlier, last weekend my self and a few friends took a trip to Corning to catch up with Sensi Jones, hang for a while, talk bad kung fu movies and work technique. One thing I love about the Martial Arts, and this is true of any hobby/passion, is the network of friends that it builds.

Any hoo that’s enough for now… I have to get back to work.

YMCA: Day 2

We’ll the morning laps went much better today. I got through three laps each of freestyle and side. Breast on the other hand is a different story. Boy, do my lats need work. Plus my tricked out right hip doesn’t help either (it’s angled off to the side a bit). I only got in one and a half laps. My goal is to work up to 10 laps in each. Tomorrow should be interesting as it will be my first pilates class. On the plus side, I also discovered that my YMCA pass allows for 2 hours of free parking at anytime in the East Ave garage. Which will make it much easier to go to Java’s during the day (as well as the Y of course).

Tonight it’s off to see Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back! More on that later… Snoochie Boochies!

she’s leaving home… bye, bye…

Di left today. She arrived in last night and we got the chance to see each other for a bit. We slept in this morning. I left for work. She packed her things and headed off to Pittsburgh.

The apartment seems a lot bigger with her stuff gone and I realize that I’m struggling to understand the new friendship/relationship dynamic that we have. I know it will work itself out over time. We’ll see what things will be like when we see each other next (in mid October).

So, in the mean time I guess I’m back on the dating scene. So Alyson if you want to get together drop me an e-mail. ;-p

dear god I’ve gone girlie

I’ve also noticed that my blogs and some of my actions offline have been, well, rather “chick-like.” First there was the Alyson blog that was something out of an issue of Tiger Beat. Then I blog about joining the YMCA and doing pilates. Then yesterday in an E.A.T. Team (our employee activity team) I suggested we do a spa day here at Kodak.com. It was around that time that I noticed the disturbing trend. So I decided to forgo my original post today on my new diet I’ve also choose to cut upcoming blogs on the following subjects:

• How I’m planning to tighten my abs and butt
• Dreamy boy bands
• How Rosie is just misunderstood

In their place I’m planning a series of blogs on manly subjects like:

• Lifting heavy things
• Sweat
• Meat (especially Bar-B-Q’ed

famous face (my friends rock update)

Check out Julia’s Blog for a shot of her and Matt with a certain Junior Senator from NY.

young man, there’s no need to feel down

I went out and joined the YMCA yesterday. Been planning to do it for a while. It’s right down the street from me (in fact it’s directly between me and work). More importantly, while I get a good workout from martial arts, my cardio/aerobic conditioning is pretty poor right now and needs to be improved. Problem: I hate to run. I mean I hate it. Bleh, never have liked it, never will. Swimming on the other hand, I enjoy. So the plan is to go swimming every other day at the Y (as we in the know say). Plus they have great facilities and offer Capoeria (a Brazilian martial art that resembles a dance), yoga and pilates classes (which are free with membership).

This morning I went for my first swim. I dragged my sorry butt outta bed ’round 6.30, had a light breakfast, threw a bag together and headed out to the Y. As a bit of background, I grew up on the water. By my last year of high school, I was living on a canal. Every summer weekday until I was 16 was spent at swimming and sailing lessons. I completed the lifeguard-training course (but never took the test). However, since I moved to Rochester, I’ve spent very little time on the water. That being said, I think I’m probably in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I eat very well and get a full body workout a couple times a week. Or at least that’s what I thought… This morning I confidently walked to the pool, planning to get in at least five laps of each of the three major strokes (freestyle, side, breast). One freestyle lap later, out of breath and body aching, I decided it’s time to re-evaluate my plan. I made it through 2 free style laps and decided it was time to shift stokes. Each stroke brings into play different muscle groups (breast stroke, for example, works your lats more than the other strokes). Well, I didn’t realize how unconditioned I really am and after one lap of each of the remaining strokes I decided it was time to quit.

I’m not upset about the experience. The cool part was that I could really feel it working muscle groups (which is what I need). Plus I have a goal to work to (like getting a solid two laps of each stroke in as a next step).