Ok sorry, a little over Zen, but hey, it's true. For a long time now, I have battled with my weight. A number of factor's and events in my life that I won't bore you with have cause my weight to go up to a number I'm not proud of. In fact, I'm down right annoyed with myself cause in the end, I can only blame myself.
Stress Sucks. Allowing it to get the better of you sucks harder... big fat hairy chunks of suck actually.
Enough.
So what do you do? Declare war in essence. Fortunately I have at least three things working for me in this fight - ediets.com, a wife who is dieting with me, and a new passion I'm sure I'll be writing about at length in the future, Shinkendo.
It's all Anne's fault.
Since we first met several years ago, we have worked in eastern and western martial sword arts. As the wheel of time turned, we found ourselves in need of a new instructional path. Ever the researcher, she discovered something incredibly rare here in LA, a true place of study of Japanese Swordsmanship. The best part is, there is a school less than 2 miles from my house! Who slipped that in without me noticing?!
Those that have known me for some time know that I have always had a penchant for Japanese Swordsmanship. It would seem the time for me to study in earnest has finally arrived.
The technique I am studying is one that was created by Obata Toshishiro. Borrowing from his website, here are some details about my newest passion and "workout" routine. Obata Sensei is the founder and headmaster of Shinkendo Japanese Swordsmanship. "Shin (True) - Ken (Sword) - Do (Way)" is a system of Japanese swordsmanship which incorporates all aspects of sword study: Suburi (swinging methods), Battoho (drawing methods), Tanren Kata (solo forms), Tachiuchi (sparring) and Tameshigiri (target cutting). The Shinkendo World Headquarters is in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
After many years of study and mastery of many different schools in his native Japan, Obata Sensei came to America to distill all of the different aspects of Japanese Swordsmanship into one complete and comprehensive art. Obata Kaiso has dedicated over thirty years to teaching and researching the almost lost art of true Japanese Swordsmanship as it was practiced by the Samurai of Japan's feudal era.
Training revolves around our structure of "Gorin Goho Gogyo" (five equally balanced interweaving rings that symbolize the five major methods of technical study). This includes: Suburi (sword swinging drills), Tanrengata (solo forms), Battoho (combative drawing methods including Toyama-ryu Iaido), Tachiuchi (pre-arranged sparring) and Tameshigiri/Shizan (cutting straw and bamboo targets). Students typically train using a bokuto (wooden sword), and later advance to training with iaito (or mogito, non-sharpened sword) and finally with shinken, or 'live blade'.
While Shinkendo requires rigorous physical training, depth of coordination, and intense focus, one of the most important aspects of Shinkendo is the emphasis on spiritual forging, which inspires "Bushi Damashii" (the samurai/ warrior spirit), a quality that we feel is as relevant now as it was hundreds of years ago. Proper practice of Shinkendo should provide one with not only a strong body and mind, but also a calm, clear and focused spirit.
The instructors are awesome. I haven't yet met Obata Kaiso, but I'm sure it won't be long. I think what I like best about the instructors I work with at my dojo (Mashuu Dojo), is the simple and calm approach to teaching and none of the "militant, we will make you ub3r-n1j0r-hum@n-w3@p0n so you will compete and destroy the competition and bring us lots of shiny trophies" BS that is common in many martial arts schools today. It may be great for little kids and people who need to be in that environment, but its not my way. I wish those who train in that environment luck... and health. As for me, Mashuu Dojo (and its head instructor Matthew Lynch), an extension of Hanbu Dojo, is the answer to many long prayers.
For the first time in many years, I actually look forward to going and working out. Now if I can just find my marker to put a big "L" and "R" on my feet so they will know where to go... Trust me, its not been pretty getting started, but I am learning fast. :)
So for those of you who are used to seeing me live online at my computer, sorry, at least 2 days a week, I'm gone. :P
Now we will see how the weight comes off.
Jin-Sei Shinkendo!
This training also helps you spiritually.
It is the spiritual side that we are going for in the long run. For us pagans, it is another piece of the puzzle of an infinite map of our particular way of life. Discipline without force, structure without rigidity, and a body that works in conjunction and harmony with the mind is what I seek. In addition, this is a workout that just rocks :P