Owww-zuki

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 21:44:03 +0100

Not technically a karate move, more the feeling you as you walk home from practice ;-)

Today is the first time I was able to go all the way through the first kata with at least a passing resemblance to how it should go. I aim to practice over the week (if I can find a big enough space!) in the hope that I can get it fixed in my mind so that I can begin working on getting the individual movements right. One good point is that I at least thought about my breathing while we practiced today.

I'm basically reaally enjoying this class. Thanks to Stowe for getting me on this road.

However yoga and karate have made me realise how out of shape I am. Balancing in yoga is a real challenge for me (despite the kind words of the instructor) and the karate cardio warm-up has a tendency to get me breathing hard enough that it impedes the early part of the session. I can already feel tiny improvements from when I started but I know I can do better.

I've started weight-watchers point counting again. I currently weight 85.5kg and have set myself a first target of 82kg by May 20th. I'm giving myself 24 points per day which should be low enough to lose the 0.5kg/week I need to reach the goal.

Other things I am considering are going to the gym (it seems I can use the Magnet leisure centre on a drop-in basis which is good because I can't afford expensive gym memberships), Aikido, and also Wu-style Taijiquan. I use to do Tai Chi a few years back and practicing karate has made me yearn again for the harmonius feeling of doing the form in a group. There are moments of magic there.

When I think how sedentary my first year (yes I've been in Maidenhead a year) has been it's amazing to me how active I have become.

The last thing I want to do is some teaching and/or mentoring. I did a little of this when I worked at the University of North London and I found it very rewarding. I'm looking for the opportunity to teach programming at either a basic or intermediate level to individuals or a small group. Ideally once a week either virtually or with local(ish) travel. If anyone knows of any such opportunities please drop me a line.

Curiouser and Curiouser! on taijiquan

Owww-zuki