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So, class is canceled today, since it's the day after Christmas and the whole sports center I take lessons at is closed down for holiday renovations. I'm sick as hell anyways, so it's not like it matters much. So instead of practice on my own, I'll be starting my series of posts relating to what I do in class and why. I've had some people ask me about this and wouldn't mind expounding in the least.
So who are you and what is it that you do?
I'm Atma. You know me. Probably. Mondays and Wednesdays I attend various martial arts classes. On Monday and Wednesday evenings I do kickboxing mixed with basic physical conditioning for 40-45 minutes and after that on Wednesdays I do Okinawan Karate for one hour and Japanese Swordsmanship (a mix of Iaido, Iaijutsu, Kenjutsu, and Kendo) for one hour.
In the past, I've done kickboxing, boxing, and Kenpo Karate.
What the hell does that all mean?
Let's break it down one by one, shall we?
What is Physical/Body Conditioning?
This is a catch-all term for exercises tailor-made to get you into shape for a certain sport. It trains your muscles and bones and such to move and build in certain ways depending on whatever it is you need to toughen up for whatever sport it is you do. You can train agility, endurance/stamina, strength, all sorts of stuff. I do a lot of leg, ab, and arm work as well as things like learning how to contract my muscles and fall/recover properly. It gets your body into shape and properly moving; a very solid foundation for anyone. While it doesn't sound like much, it's drastically important so my body doesn't hurt itself and recovers easier, and makes any other training/fighting I do stronger and easier. It's also important you do it right lest you develop your body in weird ways.
Stuff like this for me includes sit ups, push ups, weight lifting, jumping rope, relay races, balancing, stretches/contractions, shadowboxing, and tests of endurance.
What is kickboxing?
Kickboxing is a strong, base martial art that works well as a beginner's martial art. It has origins in Muay Thai, Karate, and boxing. You learn a lot of the basics used in a lot of martial arts styles such as kicking, punching, kneeing, stomping, elbow smashes, and dodging/ducking. A lot of it is very straightforward, strong movements such as uppercuts, roundhouse kicks, hook punches, knee kicks, and learning how to properly move your feet/step around while both attacking and defending. I also learn how to properly form fists so I don't crack my knuckles on someone.
It can be used as a competitive sport, like boxing or wrestling, as a self defense art, as a way to stay healthy, or some combo of. I use it to refine my basic skills for self defense and to stay healthy. If I wind up doing it competitively someday, that could be fun.
What is Okinawan Karate?
Karate itself originated in what we now call Okinawa, which is in the Ryukyu Island chain south of Japan and now a part of Japan itself. They took Chinese martial arts and developed their own styles based on it. Karate itself is a martial arts style mostly focused on striking with hands, elbows, knees, and feet and some styles include grappling and screwing with someone's vital points, but for the most part it's focused on striking.
The styles I am learning are called Gōjū-ryū and Matsubayashi-ryū, both which focus on soft and hard strikes and movements and deeper or more natural stances. They include blocking, grappling, throwing, takedowns, and dodging as well as the basic striking skills.
What is Japanese Swordsmanship?
This is just as it sounds; learning how to use a Japanese sword the Japanese way. This covers Iaido, Iaijutsu, Kendo, and Kenjutsu.
Iaido and Iaijutsu focus on drawing and returning the blade, as well as counterattacking or defending or outright attacking from the drawing point and even removing the blood/guts off of your blade, but the primary focus is to get used to using both sword and scabbard and controlling both at all times.
Kendo and Kenjutsu focus more on swordplay and dueling/attacking/stances/slashing now that the damn thing is out of your scabbard.
Iaido and Kendo are modern forms based on analyzing older Iaijutsu and Kenjutsu work.
The style I am learning is called Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū, which is an Iaijutsu and the most practiced Japanese sword style in modern times. I am expected to use bokken (wooden katana(, shinai (bamboo sword), and iaito (metal katana, unsharpened, meant to get me used to using a scabbard and the weight/feel of an actual metal weapon). Eventually I will be expected to cut things with a live (sharpened/edged) sword.
I also am very fond of using suburito, which is a much bigger/heavier bokken used for strength/endurance training and perfecting technique. The one I use at class is about the size of a nodachi, which is a cavalaryman's katana that didn't really catch on (spears were cheaper and easier to use). It comes up to just past my armpit in height. (I'm 5'2" / 157cm for comparison.) I am the only one in class fond of using ones that large. They do my lower back in but I find the more I use it, the tougher/quicker I am with all other weapons and the less my back gets wrecked as I get used to it.
It's important I also try to live by the code of bushido and respect my weapon by bowing to it and caring for it. Formalities are as key as actual combat skill.
You mentioned boxing and kenpo, what are those?
I'll touch on these fast since they're part of my history.
Boxing is something most people are familiar with. It's competitive fistfighting. Can be insanely brutal.
Kenpo Karate is an American style born of both Japanese and Chinese influence. It's very rapid fire and a mix of karate and kung-fu basics.
Why do you mix all these styles?
They compliment each other very strongly, actually, and by practicing all of them at once, I strengthen all of them significantly.
How long have you been doing this?
Technically, well over a decade. As an early teen I took Kenpo Karate, which mixed kickboxing and boxing in with it to round us out, and I got to orange belt (3rd of 8 belts) before being pulled out due to family issues. However, I kept practicing on my own, so a lot of that never left me.
I started doing Swordsmanship at the beginning of September 2011. Kickboxing/conditioning was thrown in within a month, so I'll say start of October 2011. A month after that I started Okinawan Karate, so let's set the date for that at start of November 2011.
I have paid for and signed up for all three of these through the start of 2013. I intend to go as far as possible with all of these, and when I've mastered all that I can in these styles, attempt to learn even more.
I practice outside of class when i can, at least once or twice a week. I cannot overwork my body by doing much more than that, lest my body grow shredded and sore and unable to move or heal right.
What other styles are you interested in?
Krav Maga (Israeli arts), Wing Chun or Kung-Fu (Chinese arts), Judo (Japanese throwing arts), Jujutsu (Japanese art of counterattacking armed foes while unarmed or using a knife/small weapon), Kyūjutsu/Kyūdo (Japanese archery), and Bojutsu (Japanese staff fighting). A few of these further compliment what I already know and am learning.
I'd also like to learn fencing, how to wield western swords, and how to handle guns in general.
Why do you do all this?
I'm fascinated with warrior culture/history and combat. Always have been. From tales of knights to the fact I come from a military family and am of warrior descent, it's just something that pervades my existence. This is just how it takes form with me. It makes me strong, capable, healthy, and I can protect myself and others if it ever comes down to that.
You're one kawaii motherfucker.
That's not a valid question.
You're an idiot.
This, however, is entirely valid and true always.
If anyone has any other questions or comments, feel free to ask and I'll field them as I can!
So who are you and what is it that you do?
I'm Atma. You know me. Probably. Mondays and Wednesdays I attend various martial arts classes. On Monday and Wednesday evenings I do kickboxing mixed with basic physical conditioning for 40-45 minutes and after that on Wednesdays I do Okinawan Karate for one hour and Japanese Swordsmanship (a mix of Iaido, Iaijutsu, Kenjutsu, and Kendo) for one hour.
In the past, I've done kickboxing, boxing, and Kenpo Karate.
What the hell does that all mean?
Let's break it down one by one, shall we?
What is Physical/Body Conditioning?
This is a catch-all term for exercises tailor-made to get you into shape for a certain sport. It trains your muscles and bones and such to move and build in certain ways depending on whatever it is you need to toughen up for whatever sport it is you do. You can train agility, endurance/stamina, strength, all sorts of stuff. I do a lot of leg, ab, and arm work as well as things like learning how to contract my muscles and fall/recover properly. It gets your body into shape and properly moving; a very solid foundation for anyone. While it doesn't sound like much, it's drastically important so my body doesn't hurt itself and recovers easier, and makes any other training/fighting I do stronger and easier. It's also important you do it right lest you develop your body in weird ways.
Stuff like this for me includes sit ups, push ups, weight lifting, jumping rope, relay races, balancing, stretches/contractions, shadowboxing, and tests of endurance.
What is kickboxing?
Kickboxing is a strong, base martial art that works well as a beginner's martial art. It has origins in Muay Thai, Karate, and boxing. You learn a lot of the basics used in a lot of martial arts styles such as kicking, punching, kneeing, stomping, elbow smashes, and dodging/ducking. A lot of it is very straightforward, strong movements such as uppercuts, roundhouse kicks, hook punches, knee kicks, and learning how to properly move your feet/step around while both attacking and defending. I also learn how to properly form fists so I don't crack my knuckles on someone.
It can be used as a competitive sport, like boxing or wrestling, as a self defense art, as a way to stay healthy, or some combo of. I use it to refine my basic skills for self defense and to stay healthy. If I wind up doing it competitively someday, that could be fun.
What is Okinawan Karate?
Karate itself originated in what we now call Okinawa, which is in the Ryukyu Island chain south of Japan and now a part of Japan itself. They took Chinese martial arts and developed their own styles based on it. Karate itself is a martial arts style mostly focused on striking with hands, elbows, knees, and feet and some styles include grappling and screwing with someone's vital points, but for the most part it's focused on striking.
The styles I am learning are called Gōjū-ryū and Matsubayashi-ryū, both which focus on soft and hard strikes and movements and deeper or more natural stances. They include blocking, grappling, throwing, takedowns, and dodging as well as the basic striking skills.
What is Japanese Swordsmanship?
This is just as it sounds; learning how to use a Japanese sword the Japanese way. This covers Iaido, Iaijutsu, Kendo, and Kenjutsu.
Iaido and Iaijutsu focus on drawing and returning the blade, as well as counterattacking or defending or outright attacking from the drawing point and even removing the blood/guts off of your blade, but the primary focus is to get used to using both sword and scabbard and controlling both at all times.
Kendo and Kenjutsu focus more on swordplay and dueling/attacking/stances/slashing now that the damn thing is out of your scabbard.
Iaido and Kendo are modern forms based on analyzing older Iaijutsu and Kenjutsu work.
The style I am learning is called Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū, which is an Iaijutsu and the most practiced Japanese sword style in modern times. I am expected to use bokken (wooden katana(, shinai (bamboo sword), and iaito (metal katana, unsharpened, meant to get me used to using a scabbard and the weight/feel of an actual metal weapon). Eventually I will be expected to cut things with a live (sharpened/edged) sword.
I also am very fond of using suburito, which is a much bigger/heavier bokken used for strength/endurance training and perfecting technique. The one I use at class is about the size of a nodachi, which is a cavalaryman's katana that didn't really catch on (spears were cheaper and easier to use). It comes up to just past my armpit in height. (I'm 5'2" / 157cm for comparison.) I am the only one in class fond of using ones that large. They do my lower back in but I find the more I use it, the tougher/quicker I am with all other weapons and the less my back gets wrecked as I get used to it.
It's important I also try to live by the code of bushido and respect my weapon by bowing to it and caring for it. Formalities are as key as actual combat skill.
You mentioned boxing and kenpo, what are those?
I'll touch on these fast since they're part of my history.
Boxing is something most people are familiar with. It's competitive fistfighting. Can be insanely brutal.
Kenpo Karate is an American style born of both Japanese and Chinese influence. It's very rapid fire and a mix of karate and kung-fu basics.
Why do you mix all these styles?
They compliment each other very strongly, actually, and by practicing all of them at once, I strengthen all of them significantly.
How long have you been doing this?
Technically, well over a decade. As an early teen I took Kenpo Karate, which mixed kickboxing and boxing in with it to round us out, and I got to orange belt (3rd of 8 belts) before being pulled out due to family issues. However, I kept practicing on my own, so a lot of that never left me.
I started doing Swordsmanship at the beginning of September 2011. Kickboxing/conditioning was thrown in within a month, so I'll say start of October 2011. A month after that I started Okinawan Karate, so let's set the date for that at start of November 2011.
I have paid for and signed up for all three of these through the start of 2013. I intend to go as far as possible with all of these, and when I've mastered all that I can in these styles, attempt to learn even more.
I practice outside of class when i can, at least once or twice a week. I cannot overwork my body by doing much more than that, lest my body grow shredded and sore and unable to move or heal right.
What other styles are you interested in?
Krav Maga (Israeli arts), Wing Chun or Kung-Fu (Chinese arts), Judo (Japanese throwing arts), Jujutsu (Japanese art of counterattacking armed foes while unarmed or using a knife/small weapon), Kyūjutsu/Kyūdo (Japanese archery), and Bojutsu (Japanese staff fighting). A few of these further compliment what I already know and am learning.
I'd also like to learn fencing, how to wield western swords, and how to handle guns in general.
Why do you do all this?
I'm fascinated with warrior culture/history and combat. Always have been. From tales of knights to the fact I come from a military family and am of warrior descent, it's just something that pervades my existence. This is just how it takes form with me. It makes me strong, capable, healthy, and I can protect myself and others if it ever comes down to that.
You're one kawaii motherfucker.
That's not a valid question.
You're an idiot.
This, however, is entirely valid and true always.
If anyone has any other questions or comments, feel free to ask and I'll field them as I can!
