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melredcapWe had our first 'real' Budo lesson yesterday, as opposed to last week's, where we just watched Bittmann-sensei and his assistant hit each other a bit and then got our outfits and sticks. It was fuuuuuuuuuun! (And I know, "Bittmann" isn't a very Japanese name... that's because he's German.)
The form of Budo (martial arts) we're learning is called Jodo (*not* Judo; there's supposed to be a long O in there but I can't type one in...), which literally translates as "the way of the stick". The sticks are sort of like broomsticks, about four feet long, and we advance pace by pace across the gym, yelling "EI!" and hitting imaginary opponents in the head. In a focussed, controlled way, of course. *grin* We are not doing this just to have fun and look good in hakama.
...even if we DO look good in hakama... *ahem* anyway! I didn't get any pictures this week, but will try to do so next Friday, so you can judge for yourselves whether or not I'm deluding myself.
Either I was doing things (fairly) right, or else I managed to correct my mistakes before Bittmann-sensei felt compelled to point them out; he only adjusted my stance once, when I had my jo pointed too far above my imaginary opponent's skull. (Bittmann-sensei pointed out that your opponent will not obligingly jump up to meet your stick with his head; you have to bring it down to him.) I'm definitely not a natural genius at this or anything, though; if my jo is going in a straight line over my head, my feet are in the wrong place. If my feet are in the right place, my hands are dropping too soon. If my hands are staying up during the strike, the jo is wobbling to the side... Still, like I said, it's a lot of fun. I think I managed to mortally scare a punching bag, and I plan to keep doing my best to coordinate myself... it's like walking and chewing gum at the same time, it just takes practice. *grin* Besides, my hakama stayed properly tied through the whole class... unlike some. That's got to be a good sign.
In other news, I went to watch a class at an English cram school today; I don't have my student visa work permit, so can't teach yet, but it looks like fun. (Someone is willing to pay me 3,000 yen an hour to play word games with three seven-year-old girls? There's gotta be a mistake here somewhere...!) And there is also a chance that I can get credit next semester for translating manga. "Independent research project", here I come!
The form of Budo (martial arts) we're learning is called Jodo (*not* Judo; there's supposed to be a long O in there but I can't type one in...), which literally translates as "the way of the stick". The sticks are sort of like broomsticks, about four feet long, and we advance pace by pace across the gym, yelling "EI!" and hitting imaginary opponents in the head. In a focussed, controlled way, of course. *grin* We are not doing this just to have fun and look good in hakama.
...even if we DO look good in hakama... *ahem* anyway! I didn't get any pictures this week, but will try to do so next Friday, so you can judge for yourselves whether or not I'm deluding myself.
Either I was doing things (fairly) right, or else I managed to correct my mistakes before Bittmann-sensei felt compelled to point them out; he only adjusted my stance once, when I had my jo pointed too far above my imaginary opponent's skull. (Bittmann-sensei pointed out that your opponent will not obligingly jump up to meet your stick with his head; you have to bring it down to him.) I'm definitely not a natural genius at this or anything, though; if my jo is going in a straight line over my head, my feet are in the wrong place. If my feet are in the right place, my hands are dropping too soon. If my hands are staying up during the strike, the jo is wobbling to the side... Still, like I said, it's a lot of fun. I think I managed to mortally scare a punching bag, and I plan to keep doing my best to coordinate myself... it's like walking and chewing gum at the same time, it just takes practice. *grin* Besides, my hakama stayed properly tied through the whole class... unlike some. That's got to be a good sign.
In other news, I went to watch a class at an English cram school today; I don't have my student visa work permit, so can't teach yet, but it looks like fun. (Someone is willing to pay me 3,000 yen an hour to play word games with three seven-year-old girls? There's gotta be a mistake here somewhere...!) And there is also a chance that I can get credit next semester for translating manga. "Independent research project", here I come!
:D
Re: :D
Got to love the Australian National University's student exchange program, that's all I can say!