Cook Ding's Kitchen

It was closer to realistic attacks.

2012-05-25T21:55:45.829-04:00

It was closer to realistic attacks.

That was exceptionally impressive. And was that a ...

2012-05-25T11:58:25.635-04:00

That was exceptionally impressive. And was that a taser the uke held? Yikes.

Nice, Rick, Nice .....

2012-05-23T11:23:15.152-04:00

Nice, Rick, Nice .....

Hi Rick, Many of the aikido greats have passed on...

2012-05-23T03:30:45.353-04:00

Hi Rick,

Many of the aikido greats have passed on, or close to it. I think of Kawahara Sensei here in western Canada who died recently as well.

Condolences....

Regards

Hi Rick, I appreciate your story and reflections ...

2012-05-23T03:26:02.619-04:00

Hi Rick,

I appreciate your story and reflections on dogs... they manage to touch something deep in us.

Regards

Your 'Ku fu is strong!

2012-05-22T23:06:34.495-04:00

Your 'Ku fu is strong!

@Charles and Walt, Autumn leaf falls, A space is ...

2012-05-22T22:18:36.778-04:00

@Charles and Walt,

Autumn leaf falls,
A space is left behind.
The branch trembles.

A month from now, six months from now, a year from...

2012-05-22T22:14:16.297-04:00

A month from now, six months from now, a year from now or 30 years from now starts right here and now.

The comment by Charles got me thinking ... the res...

2012-05-22T22:02:03.306-04:00

The comment by Charles got me thinking ... the result is that I added the haiku and changed the picture.

So sad and sorry to hear :-(

2012-05-22T17:31:24.527-04:00

So sad and sorry to hear :-(

Very poignant to realize one's teacher is no l...

2012-05-22T11:24:59.638-04:00

Very poignant to realize one's teacher is no longer here ... though I'll bet he's still present to you.

It would seem this age, the years 2010 t0 2020, co...

2012-05-22T11:01:36.383-04:00

It would seem this age, the years 2010 t0 2020, could be a decade of great loss to the marital world.

Sometimes we forget that our forefathers in martial arts are reaching the late "winter years."

My Sensei is about 75 years now as well and has health issues.

Sigh, it will create such a vacuum.

I thought I should tell you... This quote, and you...

2012-05-22T08:50:07.652-04:00

I thought I should tell you... This quote, and your explanation, came at just the right time. On the ride home from work yesterday I was going through the list of household tasks that required immediate attention and believed I wouldn't have time for Monday's training.

Then, when I arrived home, I looked at my gym bag, thought of the lawnmower, and then thought about the quote and your explanation.

It was a simple choice, really.

There are many applications, but this one is close...

2012-05-21T13:46:17.455-04:00

There are many applications, but this one is close to home and will serve for now.

You've decided to study karate. Fine. I'm sure that like most of us, there is some tendency to intellectualize about your martial art and your training; making it a mental exercise. That's fine too.

Where you accrue any benefit though, is through your sincere, committed daily practice; not through your intellectual excursions or by going through the motions.

It is from out practice that we become healthy and strong, our coordination is refined and our minds calmed.

By your physical exercise the underlying philosophy of your art is assimilated into your body. Not by force. Not by thinking. It comes slowly over time, like running water wearing down a stone.

"Philosophy practiced is the goal of learning." - Thoreau

sigh Regrettably, I dont understand. Going to ...

2012-05-21T11:21:01.828-04:00

*sigh*

Regrettably, I dont understand. Going to have to apply more than just the usual 4 synapses to figure this out.

-Brett

Not a day goes by that I don't think of her. W...

2012-05-19T20:05:43.305-04:00

Not a day goes by that I don't think of her. We tried to give her a good home. She gave us unconditional love.

"What dogs lack is our ability to dissimulate...

2012-05-19T06:12:11.579-04:00

"What dogs lack is our ability to dissimulate. They wear their emotions nakedly, and so, in watching them, we see ourselves as we would be if we were stripped of posture and pretense."

From your recollections and reflections, it is no doubt you were a good "pack leader". From your quote above, it is no doubt she was the happier of you both because of just how good that was.

Jim R.

I lost my dog, Casey Lou, just a year ago this mon...

2012-05-19T02:12:18.050-04:00

I lost my dog, Casey Lou, just a year ago this month. Not a day goes by that I don't miss him. How deep the grief for the loss of a great companion and friend. He taught me about being in the present and resting into the moment. My condolences to your family in your time of loss.

That sounds exactly like what I'm talking abou...

2012-05-17T22:27:38.713-04:00

That sounds exactly like what I'm talking about! :-)

Colin

Thank you. It's part of life. "A flower ...

2012-05-17T20:50:59.110-04:00

Thank you. It's part of life.

"A flower falls although we love it. A weed grows although we don't love it." - Dogen

Hey Colin, Ok, I think I am beginning to understa...

2012-05-17T16:41:29.832-04:00

Hey Colin,

Ok, I think I am beginning to understand. What you describe sounds like what I know to be called "kinetic linking" or "driving up from the legs". If that is the case then yeah, I am familiar with the concept and it can be devastating.

I've been enjoying your blog for some time but...

2012-05-17T13:27:59.782-04:00

I've been enjoying your blog for some time but this is the first that I have been motivated to post. I am sorry for your loss and I'm sure Harry will be remembered with a smile and a tear.

Thank you for sharing him with us.

I am sorry you lost your friend.

2012-05-17T11:21:33.308-04:00

I am sorry you lost your friend.

Brett - by 'The Strongest Karate' handle, ...

2012-05-16T22:34:50.230-04:00

Brett - by 'The Strongest Karate' handle, certainly you must have practiced or explored this concept before. Maybe we're talking about similar concepts you practice but in dissimilar terms? Colin

I have not gone to youtube for this specific issue...

2012-05-16T22:32:11.366-04:00

I have not gone to youtube for this specific issue, so am not sure.

Many of my intermediate students have problems with this fundamental skill, and I suspect it's because of the equipment we use in class - there's not enough feedback that comes from a hand held strike mitt.

On a striking post however, if I use 'arm only' and hammer it, the arm feels 'strong' but because it is disconnected from the body the power predominantly comes from the muscles driving the arm motion.

However, when I strike the target (at short range) for real - the movement is more of a pulse that starts from the legs, goes through the torso, and then launches the body forward. The arm is held connected with the side of the body as long as possible, and in the end - as it is released, the mass of the body is injected into the target.

The arm itself feels almost relaxed as opposed to the first strike. But the feedback is unmistakeable - as the body has been fired all at once, the striking power has significantly increased.

This happens for lunging type strikes somewhat similarly. You gain forward momentum, but before you make impact, the body 'locks' or freezes so that the forward drive from your legs can be transmitted through the body into your striking tool.

Just to be sure - The punches I'm describing above are for 'basic' type punches - not shoulder-high roundhouse type strikes.

Colin

Cook Ding's Kitchen

It was closer to realistic attacks.

That was exceptionally impressive. And was that a ...

Nice, Rick, Nice .....

Hi Rick, Many of the aikido greats have passed on...

Hi Rick, I appreciate your story and reflections ...

Your 'Ku fu is strong!

@Charles and Walt, Autumn leaf falls, A space is ...

A month from now, six months from now, a year from...

The comment by Charles got me thinking ... the res...

So sad and sorry to hear :-(

Very poignant to realize one's teacher is no l...

It would seem this age, the years 2010 t0 2020, co...

I thought I should tell you... This quote, and you...

There are many applications, but this one is close...

*sigh* Regrettably, I dont understand. Going to ...

Not a day goes by that I don't think of her. W...

"What dogs lack is our ability to dissimulate...

I lost my dog, Casey Lou, just a year ago this mon...

That sounds exactly like what I'm talking abou...

Thank you. It's part of life. "A flower ...

Hey Colin, Ok, I think I am beginning to understa...

I've been enjoying your blog for some time but...

I am sorry you lost your friend.

Brett - by 'The Strongest Karate' handle, ...

I have not gone to youtube for this specific issue...

sigh Regrettably, I dont understand. Going to ...