Karate

Thursday, Oct. 26th, 2006

Exercise 4/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

I was remembering yesterday that I forgot to mention that I had weighed in on Saturday.
I'm holding steady. (yea?)
I often get to this point. (how many of you out there can identify with me, let me hear an AMEN!)
I have lost a few pounds, I have worked hard (and for longer than 30 days, so it SHOULD be a habit). But now the schedule has changed, the days are shorter, the type of my workouts have changed due to those things, and my weight steadies out. This season has heavier food, Christmas and all its culinary wonders is just around the corner, and then a long, cold, boring winter. My weight starts to curve up again. Then in the spring, when the weather gets nice, I start this cycle all over again.
SO
I am at a cross roads now. I have a blog (accountability). Will I break the cycle? That is what I am aiming for. My one dilema is how to increase my times of "high heart-rate cardio" during my week. (It would seem that this is what most helps in losing weight over time, though it is what I least enjoy in exercise).

It is that time of year...

...to be indoors. Not that it is overly chilly here. The high today was 26˚C and it was sunny....beautiful! But it gets dark before 5:30, and there is not time to BE outside in an exercise manner due to childminding (I know, I have lamented this before...).
But that feel is also in the air now. Tonight we had homemade cream of potato/veggie soup with biscuits. MMMMMM warm \autumny feel. I LOVE that! :-)

...2 months from today is CHRISTMAS! Yatta! (Japanese for "Yippee!")

Exercise 3/6: Tae Bo and Tug-O'-War
Time: 40min and 1 hour

Yep, I said Tug-O'-War. November 3rd is a national holiday in Japan. It is Labour Thanksgiving Day. Our kids have signed on to a neighbourhood team to compete in a city-wide Tug-O'-War Competition on that day. It is being held to promote city-wide unity and "togetherness" since 3 small towns joined Ogaki city this year. (our town being one of them)
Tonight was the team practice. How can you practice for Tug-O'-War, you ask? Well, let me tell you, it is a precision sport, don't you know! There is technique that requires body, mind and spirit (and blisters!). And, the judges are using English!

1. "Pick up the rope!" (we can/must pick up the rope-a big thick old-fashioned rope-...at this point we grip in such a way as to pull the rope "apart", put it under our elbow, stand perpendicular with feet planted.

2. "Steady the reins" - we must pull it taut so the middle mark is in line with the boundary and becomes still.

3. "Pull!" - now we must lean straight back, look at the ceiling, and take baby-steps backwards.

The rope must go 4 meters one-way, within one minute, in order for a team to win.
I have no idea how many teams will be competing...I'll let you know. It could be a LONG afternoon! ;-)

The kids had a blast...so it will be worth it.

Mission 3

Exercise 2/6: Tae Bo
Time: 30 min

So I pulled out another of the Billy Blanks DVD's, Mission 3: Rock Solid Abs.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

My first Karate injury...almost

Exercise 1/6: Karate
Time: 1:30

So, because all my "senpai" (seniors) have gone up a level (as ruefully mentioned in a previous post ;-) the sparring has also gone up a level. FUN!
And as also previously mentioned, I really like sparring with my husband! He is the one in the class (besides sensei) that I can actually let it loose with, and not worry about hurting. But last night, I didn't move fast enough. I brought my hand down to block his front kick and my hand met his shin. His shin won! (No, tears though...sensei doesn't allow crying in class. ;-)
I have a beautiful bruise on the side of my hand below my pinky finger. :-) Don't worry, I am not complaining! In fact, I was kind of hoping it was fractured! How cool would that be! I have never had a broken bone, and this would certainly be a great way to earn one.
I continued sparring...and I moved a lot quicker! And I do not have a fracture. :(

I think my parents named me aptly: Kelly = maiden warrior
(lol)