Kusanku & kata @ 7100′ A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend a week up at our family cabin; I immensely enjoyed the solitude, filling my lungs with the alpine air while getting some kata practice in on the cabin deck. A few chipmunks seemed to watch with interest, as did a Blue Jay that loves to …
Week 24 – Dirk Herfurth
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Guess who got Covid? – Right, me! I am not sure if I have had Covid before. Yes, I was sick a few times for just a day or two in the last two years and it could have been Covid, or just a nasty cold. Who knows? However, this last week I …
Week 23 – Dirk Herfurth
You know what is cruel? Recovering from injury and getting back to pre-injury performance. You are losing stamina and strength super quick when you stop exercising, but it takes you so much longer to get back to where you used to be.I have reached a level where 200 pushups a day were no problem. Now I can barely do 10 …
Week 22 – Dirk Herfurth
Summer, sun, vacation time! I cannot believe that it is already beginning of July! Half of the journey is over. My wrists still being sprained and I cannot practice as much as I want to. However, patience is a virtue and I know I should not push my luck. It is getting better slowly. I started doing some knee pushups …
Week 21 – Dirk Herfurth
Meanwhile we have had our dojo picnic on June 11th. This is always a lot of fun to get together outside the dojo. The last two years Covid threw a big wrench in our gears. So, this year we made it. Weather was nice, not too hot; just lower triple digits around early afternoon. Geneva san, David san, and me …
Week 20 – Dirk Herfurth
While the sprained bones cut my practice short a little, I started a new book. This will be my third one so far. It is called “Samurai Zen” from Scott Shaw. As the name suggests, it is about the theory of Zen Buddhism for the martial artist. Shaw describes how to refine your physical senses in addition to exercises on …
Week 21 – David Brezinski
1000 Mile Journey plus some achieved! As of June 15th or so and just under the half way mark for by black-belt candidacy, I hit 1000 plus miles achieving my 1000 mile journey requirement. Lots of running, cycling, skiing and walking (some in San Francisco during an annual security conference). This has come at a bit of a price as …
Week 20 – David Brezinski
Back in the saddle! Finally! My hand is back to 99.5% (Still a little less grip strength but improving). Half the battle now is just being careful not to damage my hand again (break or sprain). As I am a little behind on my sparring requirements I am confident over the next few months I will be able to make …
Week 19 – Dirk Herfurth
It finally happened! I crashed with my bike on the way home from the dojo. Over six month I made it through the black belt test without any major injury, besides some minor bruises and pulled muscles. Nothing that really held me back doing my daily exercise nor doing my sparring rounds. But I knew I was living on borrowed …
Week 18 – Dirk Herfurth
I am working now since a few days in the new office, and I have to say I really like it. It is totally different from my last two years sitting at my office table in my flat, spending most of my time on video calls talking to a screen. Now I am in a vibrant open office environment with …