No pain, no gain? The past year I have had more pain and injuries than I can remember since my accident many years ago. I am eager to get past this and transition into a different phase of training and more balance for my not-getting-any-younger body. As I type, I have a black and blue toe, a jammed finger and …
Week 43 – Dirk Herfurth
If you’re a fan of martial arts, you won’t want to miss the Dixon Ryukyukan Karate and Kobudo tournament. This annual event brings together practitioners of all ages and skill levels to compete in karate, kobudo (Okinawan weapons), and sparring matches. I had the opportunity to participate in the tournament this year on November 5th and it was an unforgettable …
Week 42 – David Brezinski
Empathy Training (Black belt requirement) – Some reflections The past week I have been going back through my personal training journal whereas I have kept tabs on my progress against my black belt requirements, jotted down some of my thoughts and observations, and kept notes of my various injuries I’ve had to work through over the past year. One experience …
Week 41 – David Brezinski
Ski Day is a good day! Being in the final stretch before testing for black belt, I decided to get a day trip in with my oldest son as to enjoy the snow and some slope time. I thought about the risks like twisting my knee or any number of other injuries that could occur while skiing, but time is …
Week 42 – Dirk Herfurth
This Friday, November 4th, we had House Sorting Day at the dojo. As you might know the dojo consists of four different houses – Tatsu (dragon), Tenko (fox), Suzaku (phoenix), and Shisa (lion dogs). Each one of them represents a different virtue. Once a year new members of our dojo family are getting sorted in their houses. This is done …
Week 41 – Dirk Herfurth
Halloween is here. After two years of reduced Corona festivities we had an office party where all dressed up. My choice to go was as a Plague Doctor – kind of fitting after the pandemic. Plague doctors were medical professionals who treated plague patients during outbreaks of the disease in Europe. They wore long robes and a mask with a …
Week 40 – Dirk Herfurth
Before saying Good Bye to the Germans we attended one more American thing to do – a NBA game. We got tickets for the Memphis Grizzlies vs. our own Sacramento Kings. This basketball game was a first for all my visitors despite being in the US several times before. So, after a day of outlet shopping we showed up at …
Week 39 – Dirk Herfurth
After spending the night in Santa Cruz my German visitors, my son and I drove to Monterey to have a visit of the Bay Aquarium. I already got my katas as well as push/ sit ups in on the hotel room floor before the morning coffee. However, despite living in California for almost 12 years now, I did not make …
Week 40 – David Brezinski
11th California International Marathon in the books. A little over a week after I had pulled up with my hamstring issue during the annual Thanksgiving Run to Feed the Hungry, I decided I’d give the CIM a try wanting to keep my streak alive (plus, I just really enjoy the CIM and running through the neighborhood I live in East …
Week 38 – Dirk Herfurth
This last weekend we went to Santa Cruz and later on to Monterey. Both René and Nick are vivid kite surfers and wanted to get a peek at the Californian surfer scene. What better place than Santa Cruz? So, in the early morning we went to the beach on 43rd street, right in time for the early tide. We found …