Soshihan fun, Digestive Upset, Knee Injuries, Beauty (Photos Added!)
Tuesday night begins the long stretch for uchideshi here. There are only 4 hours of adult classes (plus a kids class) each day, but they zigzag between the two Dojos (which are maybe 30-45 minutes apart by train and bike), and they start at 6:30AM and we need to be there at hour early or so to clean before each class, which means waking up between 4-5AM. Since class gets done at 9PM and has tea following (often until around 10PM) plus some clean up, we often get to bed between 11PM-12:30AM. As you can math we usually get around 4-5 hours of sleep from Tuesday through Friday, though Friday is a bit of a break with only an early morning and late in the evening class. As such, while we work following the morning class until noon or later, there is usually a good gap for a nap and other work before evening class. Saturday is slightly lighter than Wednesday or Thursday but is similar, and then Sunday we begin our better sleep schedule. When I started this entry, it was in the middle of this rather exhausting cycle, so I didn't have a chance to finish until today (Saturday) during a brief break.
(A video of uchideshi napping/resting)
This Thursday's class with Soshihan was one of my favorite classes period. The exercises we did were completely different from anything else I've seen here up until now (and they were fun and were supposed to be fun). The techniques were also very enjoyable--including learning a few 'shihan' magic tricks (there's a brilliant sankyo transfer that looks fake but is highly effective in reality due to a very temporary and functional finger lock). I am highly likely to repeat some of this course when I get back and teach at the Warrensburg Intensive.
Thursday evening was interesting; I'd eaten some strange food Thursday afternoon in a hurry (some prepared by O-san, our Chinese uchideshi, and some from Seiyu, a marketplace I had to visit to buy food for the 'American Breakfast' I was cooking Friday morning for the Sensei). It decided it did not want to stay in my stomach about 25 minutes into class. I moved slowly in technique and waited until Sensei got close enough to let him know I may have to leave the mat. He told me to take a break then, so I did; part way into my break of watching class on a pillow on the hardwood, I had to make a polite and quiet dash to the restroom. I'll spare you the details, but it is fascinatingly challenging to remove a hakama (the black pants we wear with all the belts) and gi at lightning speed in an itty-bitty Japanese-sized bathroom (they basically have just a toilet in a room--kind of like an outhouse but inside the building--the sink etc. are elsewhere). I did survive, and eventually I rejoined class, though with some continued digestive disatisfaction with my recent life decisions.
During tea they had a ton of extra special food for Kevin-san's departure (he's leaving Monday), which I regretfully had to decline. It's usually something you never do--if Sensei offers food you eat it no matter how much you don't want to; however, one sip of green tea and I was almost to the restroom again, and Sensei seemed to understand this time. On the bright side, I was almost certain this was something I ate--I didn't feel sick, just very digestively out of whack.
The next morning I woke up, had a regular class (albeit without having had food since lunch the day before), and then it was time to cook 'American Breakfast'. Each uchideshi (live-in-student) is required to cook a meal from their country of origin for Hiroaki Sensei and up to 4 other instructors and the other uchideshi. I had all of them plus Hiroaki Sensei's daughter, so I was cooking for 11. It has to be ready in 45 minutes, still hot, and ready to eat all at once. On the bright side, the other uchideshi become your assistant cooks and helpers, so I had built a meal that allowed everyone to pitch in even with the highly limited space in the kitchen (some was made out on the tables). We served bacon, eggs (up to 4 eggs and 4 bacon per person, though the plates only had two), bread with a variety of jams, jellies, and chocolate frosting (apparently a Japanese favorite), hash browns, orange juice, and Yogurt with freshly bought and cut-up bananas, apples, and blueberries. Overall, it went over quite well, I think (and we even had extra food).
After breakfast, I biked out with Kevin-san and Hiromi-san for some lunch. On the way, my right knee, which had been a little stiff, began quickly getting worse. Lunch was at a meat buffet (where you have a live grill at your table and meat you can cook, plus regular buffet food and drink).
As we hung out and chatted, my leg began locking and hurting quite notably. I opted to not continue hanging with them but to head to Himi-san (a Kodaira student who is also a rehab specialist and works on uchideshi for free). On my way to him, it got to where walking hurt and I had a limp, and I almost couldn't get down stairs. At this point, with about 2.5 weeks left in my uchideshi period here, I was starting to get quite concerned. I just knocked out about 2.25 weeks and was approaching the downward slope, but a person kind of needs knees in Aikido--especially in this style--and I was having pain walking and excruciating pain going down steps. Granted the extremely heavy load of techniques done on the knees multiple times per day combined with sitting on ones knees for very long periods of time during cultural events like tea is likely what was causing this. Regardless, I limped into Himi-san's clinic. With my limited Japanese and his slightly less limited English, we got sorted out that whatever was happening in my knee might be related to a tendon and that I shouldn't sit seiza (on my knees), shouldn't do techniques on my knees, and shouldn't bend the knee much (which basically means no falling). I had kind of figured as much, but it was good to hear confirmation. I then got some electroshock treatment on my muscles and something that I didn't understand/didn't translate (I later learned it was ultrasound used as massage for deep tissue). He also gave me some menthol cold-packs and a support strap.
I thanked Himi-san greatly (he wouldn't let me pay--he always does uchideshi for free), and then agreed to buy him some drinks that night after class. On the way back to the dojo, I contacted my wife and Toyoda Sensei to let them know, and then I headed to Kodaira dojo for class. I also spoke with Barbara Sensei who had gone through a knee injury, and she gave me some good tips for practicing in a way that wouldn't injure me further.
I was fairly nervous for class, but it turns out that it worked out just fine. (Side note--I'm having to fight sleep so hard right now as I type this in a chair inside the heated Starbucks--it's the last kids' class I'll miss because once Kevin-san leaves, we'll have few enough that we can all attend here on out). In fact, I think moving in general got my blood flow going, which helped my knee overall.
By the end of class, I heaved a sigh of relief--it looked like it would be possible to train here injured, after all. Then I got rather annoyed at my knee as I attempted to hobble home at a reasonable pace. Once I had stopped moving continually in Aikido class, it hurt rather miserably. I hobbled towards where we were meeting Himi-san as quickly as I could (he had Kevin-san join so he could tell him bye). He asked if I would eat raw fish/sashimi, to which I replied sure. We went to a place to get drinks for Kevin and sashimi. Himi-san also ordered several appetizers, including some smoked, whole small fish. I watched him eat one, head and all in one bite, tail in the other, and I decided to do it, too, to be polite. I was a bit concerned about how the eyes would be texture-wise, but the whole thing was so crispy that it actually wasn't bad at all. The sashimi dish itself was quite exceptionally good, though the fish that was cut open and still had gills moving spasmodically was a bit disturbing for a second. Things always give their life for us to eat them, though, so I wanted to honor it by eating it; (it just occurred to me how horrifying this might have been to one of my students who has a fear of fish. I feel tempted to tell him about it now. Maybe I'm a bit of a sadist, who knows?) Anyway, the food and conversation were great, and Himi-san wouldn't let me pick up his drink tab--he wanted to pay for everything for Kevin's going-away celebration. I'll have see if there's some other way I can thank him/get him a drink or something.
(Himi-san on the left)
After that I hobbled up the subway steps and back to Tokorozawa with Kevin-san. There I had to figure out how to get down into bed without too much pain--it was interesting. Sleep was poor and painful, but I felt better this morning (though exhausted).
Morning class today actually went quite well, which was great--moving seems to help my knee. It was unbelievable stiff and pissed at the world when I woke up, but after class felt like I could even bend it more without pain. We then had the pleasure of watching Barbara Sensei and then Soshihan do some long calligraphy. This is everyone laughing after he made a mistake doing a 'correct' version of the shoto Barbara Sensei was attempting to do. I greatly enjoyed this moment of beauty--sunlight shafting through the dojo, everyone enjoying community, and me being part of it despite an injured knee. It was quite nice.
After class it was time to hurry back to Tokorozawa and clean for kids class. Shortly (very shortly) I'll head back to the dojo. I may not be able to update for awhile--tomorrow is the tri-annual testing for the whole organization. They rent the entirety of hombu's 4-story building and use multiple dojos there to do it. I'll be taking Soshihan's bag and caring for him the whole time, which is a high honor (also logistically necessary as all other male uchideshi are testing). I cannot take pictures but am interested in seeing what their kyu and dan tests are like. That night Kevin-san (and presumably O-san and Anya-san) will be celebrating with a party, and the following day (usually our free-ish day), Soshihan will be taking us to Yokohama to celebrate and see sights. Tonight after class I'm treating the candidates to an onsen (hot springs) to help them loosen up before their tomorrow. Anyways, thanks for reading!
Japanese Ingenuity #2
How do you store tables in a compact multi-use dojo? Use them as shelves to put baskets for clothing on, of course!
(A video of uchideshi napping/resting)
This Thursday's class with Soshihan was one of my favorite classes period. The exercises we did were completely different from anything else I've seen here up until now (and they were fun and were supposed to be fun). The techniques were also very enjoyable--including learning a few 'shihan' magic tricks (there's a brilliant sankyo transfer that looks fake but is highly effective in reality due to a very temporary and functional finger lock). I am highly likely to repeat some of this course when I get back and teach at the Warrensburg Intensive.
Thursday evening was interesting; I'd eaten some strange food Thursday afternoon in a hurry (some prepared by O-san, our Chinese uchideshi, and some from Seiyu, a marketplace I had to visit to buy food for the 'American Breakfast' I was cooking Friday morning for the Sensei). It decided it did not want to stay in my stomach about 25 minutes into class. I moved slowly in technique and waited until Sensei got close enough to let him know I may have to leave the mat. He told me to take a break then, so I did; part way into my break of watching class on a pillow on the hardwood, I had to make a polite and quiet dash to the restroom. I'll spare you the details, but it is fascinatingly challenging to remove a hakama (the black pants we wear with all the belts) and gi at lightning speed in an itty-bitty Japanese-sized bathroom (they basically have just a toilet in a room--kind of like an outhouse but inside the building--the sink etc. are elsewhere). I did survive, and eventually I rejoined class, though with some continued digestive disatisfaction with my recent life decisions.
During tea they had a ton of extra special food for Kevin-san's departure (he's leaving Monday), which I regretfully had to decline. It's usually something you never do--if Sensei offers food you eat it no matter how much you don't want to; however, one sip of green tea and I was almost to the restroom again, and Sensei seemed to understand this time. On the bright side, I was almost certain this was something I ate--I didn't feel sick, just very digestively out of whack.
The next morning I woke up, had a regular class (albeit without having had food since lunch the day before), and then it was time to cook 'American Breakfast'. Each uchideshi (live-in-student) is required to cook a meal from their country of origin for Hiroaki Sensei and up to 4 other instructors and the other uchideshi. I had all of them plus Hiroaki Sensei's daughter, so I was cooking for 11. It has to be ready in 45 minutes, still hot, and ready to eat all at once. On the bright side, the other uchideshi become your assistant cooks and helpers, so I had built a meal that allowed everyone to pitch in even with the highly limited space in the kitchen (some was made out on the tables). We served bacon, eggs (up to 4 eggs and 4 bacon per person, though the plates only had two), bread with a variety of jams, jellies, and chocolate frosting (apparently a Japanese favorite), hash browns, orange juice, and Yogurt with freshly bought and cut-up bananas, apples, and blueberries. Overall, it went over quite well, I think (and we even had extra food).
After breakfast, I biked out with Kevin-san and Hiromi-san for some lunch. On the way, my right knee, which had been a little stiff, began quickly getting worse. Lunch was at a meat buffet (where you have a live grill at your table and meat you can cook, plus regular buffet food and drink).
As we hung out and chatted, my leg began locking and hurting quite notably. I opted to not continue hanging with them but to head to Himi-san (a Kodaira student who is also a rehab specialist and works on uchideshi for free). On my way to him, it got to where walking hurt and I had a limp, and I almost couldn't get down stairs. At this point, with about 2.5 weeks left in my uchideshi period here, I was starting to get quite concerned. I just knocked out about 2.25 weeks and was approaching the downward slope, but a person kind of needs knees in Aikido--especially in this style--and I was having pain walking and excruciating pain going down steps. Granted the extremely heavy load of techniques done on the knees multiple times per day combined with sitting on ones knees for very long periods of time during cultural events like tea is likely what was causing this. Regardless, I limped into Himi-san's clinic. With my limited Japanese and his slightly less limited English, we got sorted out that whatever was happening in my knee might be related to a tendon and that I shouldn't sit seiza (on my knees), shouldn't do techniques on my knees, and shouldn't bend the knee much (which basically means no falling). I had kind of figured as much, but it was good to hear confirmation. I then got some electroshock treatment on my muscles and something that I didn't understand/didn't translate (I later learned it was ultrasound used as massage for deep tissue). He also gave me some menthol cold-packs and a support strap.
I thanked Himi-san greatly (he wouldn't let me pay--he always does uchideshi for free), and then agreed to buy him some drinks that night after class. On the way back to the dojo, I contacted my wife and Toyoda Sensei to let them know, and then I headed to Kodaira dojo for class. I also spoke with Barbara Sensei who had gone through a knee injury, and she gave me some good tips for practicing in a way that wouldn't injure me further.
I was fairly nervous for class, but it turns out that it worked out just fine. (Side note--I'm having to fight sleep so hard right now as I type this in a chair inside the heated Starbucks--it's the last kids' class I'll miss because once Kevin-san leaves, we'll have few enough that we can all attend here on out). In fact, I think moving in general got my blood flow going, which helped my knee overall.
By the end of class, I heaved a sigh of relief--it looked like it would be possible to train here injured, after all. Then I got rather annoyed at my knee as I attempted to hobble home at a reasonable pace. Once I had stopped moving continually in Aikido class, it hurt rather miserably. I hobbled towards where we were meeting Himi-san as quickly as I could (he had Kevin-san join so he could tell him bye). He asked if I would eat raw fish/sashimi, to which I replied sure. We went to a place to get drinks for Kevin and sashimi. Himi-san also ordered several appetizers, including some smoked, whole small fish. I watched him eat one, head and all in one bite, tail in the other, and I decided to do it, too, to be polite. I was a bit concerned about how the eyes would be texture-wise, but the whole thing was so crispy that it actually wasn't bad at all. The sashimi dish itself was quite exceptionally good, though the fish that was cut open and still had gills moving spasmodically was a bit disturbing for a second. Things always give their life for us to eat them, though, so I wanted to honor it by eating it; (it just occurred to me how horrifying this might have been to one of my students who has a fear of fish. I feel tempted to tell him about it now. Maybe I'm a bit of a sadist, who knows?) Anyway, the food and conversation were great, and Himi-san wouldn't let me pick up his drink tab--he wanted to pay for everything for Kevin's going-away celebration. I'll have see if there's some other way I can thank him/get him a drink or something.
(Himi-san on the left)
After that I hobbled up the subway steps and back to Tokorozawa with Kevin-san. There I had to figure out how to get down into bed without too much pain--it was interesting. Sleep was poor and painful, but I felt better this morning (though exhausted).
Morning class today actually went quite well, which was great--moving seems to help my knee. It was unbelievable stiff and pissed at the world when I woke up, but after class felt like I could even bend it more without pain. We then had the pleasure of watching Barbara Sensei and then Soshihan do some long calligraphy. This is everyone laughing after he made a mistake doing a 'correct' version of the shoto Barbara Sensei was attempting to do. I greatly enjoyed this moment of beauty--sunlight shafting through the dojo, everyone enjoying community, and me being part of it despite an injured knee. It was quite nice.
After class it was time to hurry back to Tokorozawa and clean for kids class. Shortly (very shortly) I'll head back to the dojo. I may not be able to update for awhile--tomorrow is the tri-annual testing for the whole organization. They rent the entirety of hombu's 4-story building and use multiple dojos there to do it. I'll be taking Soshihan's bag and caring for him the whole time, which is a high honor (also logistically necessary as all other male uchideshi are testing). I cannot take pictures but am interested in seeing what their kyu and dan tests are like. That night Kevin-san (and presumably O-san and Anya-san) will be celebrating with a party, and the following day (usually our free-ish day), Soshihan will be taking us to Yokohama to celebrate and see sights. Tonight after class I'm treating the candidates to an onsen (hot springs) to help them loosen up before their tomorrow. Anyways, thanks for reading!
Japanese Ingenuity #2
How do you store tables in a compact multi-use dojo? Use them as shelves to put baskets for clothing on, of course!
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