Pneumatised!

Another busy week…

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

I went to the do jang for gumdo and taekwondo class. I’m starting to realize how much the horse stance in gumdo hurts my knee. Since I have torn cartilage on the medial side of my knee, the gumdo horse stance aggravates it a bit as it puts too much pressure on that one side (instead of balancing it evenly on the knee joint). I took gumdo class anyway. I’m actually kind of torn between whether I want to continue pursuing it or just stop it for the sake of my knee. Plus, I’ve been wanting to learn tai chi sword and am considering trying some classes sometime (assuming I can find a good tai chi school downtown that teaches swords). Funny enough, taekwondo doesn’t hurt my knee as much because the stances are different (the pressure on the knee joint is more even). As well, I have to admit that taekwondo is my first love when it comes to martial arts. So, gumdo or taekwondo? Taekwondo wins.

Of course, I took taekwondo class as well. It was, of course, another cardio kicking class.

After the do jang, I went to meet Nathan at the gym. When I got there, he was still on the elliptical machine, so I decided to do 10 minutes on the elliptical while Nathan finished up. Then, I did the following exercises.

Leg lifts
Pull-ups (aka chin-ups, military and parallel)
Dips
Leg press
Hamstring flexor (called seated leg curls)
Hip adductors
Hip abductors
Seated row
Bar pulls (I think this is called the lateral pull-downs; it works the muscles next to the scapulae on the back)
Shoulder fly
Shoulder lift (this is called the shoulder press)

Free weights:
Situps (on a incline bench; worked out the obliques as well by doing double punches during the situp)
Bicep curls
Squats with weights
Chest press (with bar)
Shoulder strengthening exercises

After the gym, we headed home for food and rest.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

I went to the do jang again. This time I took three classes. The first one was patterns class. I actually got to practice patterns instead of teaching it. I practiced all my patterns including the black belt one. Then we practiced the one-step sparring techniques. The second class was a regular taekwondo class. We did some warm-up kicking and then practiced some combination kicking techniques (e.g., hop-step roundhouse, roundhouse, double roundhouse, tornado roundhouse, spinning hook kick). After that class was a half hour extra training class. We ended up doing techniques we felt we needed work on. I decided to practice some counters (i.e., counter-attack techniques), side kicks, and back kicks. Still lots to work on, but after more than two hours of training, my knee was starting to get tired. (I ended up putting some ice on it afterwards when I got home.)

Thursday, May 18, 2006

I went to the do jang for the third time this week. 😀 I took gumdo and taekwondo class again. Gumdo class is pretty much the same each time, we do the same drills, then practice kyogum and ssang-soo.

Taekwondo class was tough. I figure it’s because it’s closed Friday to Monday due to the fact that the Master is going to be away (he’s the coach for the Ontario women’s team) at the National Championships in Nova Scotia. He’s probably assuming us students aren’t going to be training much when he’s gone and decided to work us hard in Thursday’s class. Ouch! The younger colour belts were collapsing onto the floor thirty minutes into the class. Ah well… it’s good for us to be pushed every so often. There was loads of double kicking and lots of speed kicking.

After class, I took some time to mull over what I need to do for the black belt test. We have to make up our own one-step sparring techniques – I have to make up five since I’m testing for second dan. Those testing for second dan and up have to make up our own pattern. So, I was mulling over that. I don’t mind actually because I was thinking of making up my own pattern sometime (just to see if I could). But anyway, Master Kim said he was going to talk about that at the next test training class (next weekend). I guess I don’t have to worry too much about that yet.

As I mentioned, this weekend my do jang is closed so no crazy training. I should get some gym time in and hopefully some running in. Ah… I miss the running sometimes (and I used to hate running when I was younger), and it’s actually pretty good for my knee.

Official countdown: seven weeks one day left.

BB,
Cassandrah
Your local black belt
Brigid’s Flame

MM,

Well, it’s been a busy week. Here’s a recap of my training the past week.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

I went to the do jang for taekwondo class and then to the gym for some conditioning training.

Leg lifts
Pull-ups (aka chin-ups, military and parallel)
Dips
Leg press
Hamstring flexor (called seated leg curls)
Hip adductors
Hip abductors
Seated row
Bar pulls (I think this is called the lateral pull-downs; it works the muscles next to the scapulae on the back)
Shoulder fly
Shoulder lift (this is called the shoulder press)
Back extensor

Free weights:
Situps (on a incline bench; worked out the obliques as well by doing double punches during the situp)
Bicep curls
Squats with weights
Pectoral fly
Chest press (with bar)

I also got in 10 minutes on bicycle before the gym closed.

Thursday, May 11, 2006

I went to the do jang for gumdo and taekwondo class. I learned two new dueling techniques for gumdo. Next time I think I’ll learn one of the patterns. 🙂

Friday, May 12, 2006

I went for a run. As I was meeting up with Nathan, I decided to just run over and meet him. I ran a total distance of 2.6 km. My time was 14 minutes 40 seconds, which was a slightly slower pace than usual. This is not unusual though on my third day of exercise. After two days of heavy exercise, the third day your body is fighting muscle soreness and fatigue.

Saturday, May 13, 2006

I went to the black belt test training class, which is two hours.

Sunday, May 14, 2006

I went to the black belt test training class, which is one hour. Next weekend, the do jang is closed and there is no test classes. So, I can rest next weekend. 😀

Official countdown: seven weeks five days remaining.

BB,
Cassandrah
Brigid’s Flame

MM,

I went to the do jang for our black belt training again on Sunday (May 7). I was quite tired and sleepy. I don’t think I got much sleep on the weekend for some reason. It took me two days to catch up on sleep, and it is only today that I’m starting to feel “normal” – or at least less dazed and tranced.

Tonight, I should go to the do jang and get some more training in. I still need to get some more running in too, but I’m still a tad tired today. I can do one or the other today. I figure I need the do jang today more than the running. Maybe tomorrow if I’m not too tired. (I’ve been reading Battle Royale the past few days, and I’m finding hard to put the book down unless I just can’t keep my eyes awake. It’s a good book – highly recommended.)

Anyway, class tonight is at 7 p.m., and maybe I’ll get some gym time in after.

BB,
Cassandrah
Brigid’s Flame

My horoscope for May 9, 2006 says:

“Love and romance are heightened today by a rush of communication, C. J.. Feelings and memories are shared willingly. Either you or your partner could reveal something about yourselves that the other was previously unaware of, which might strengthen the bond between you. Some of what’s exchanged today might be a little surprising, but nonetheless, your relationship should be much the better for all this open, honest, and loving communication. Make the most of it!”

Hm… romance? Yum!

MM,

I did this quiz and I got Queen Maeve again! See the previous quiz I did. Ah, just can’t escape fate, I guess.

BB,
Cassandrah
Morrigan’s daughter

Maeve Indeed, you are 79% erudite, 70% sensual, 70% martial, and 62% saturnine.

Maeve was once thought of as a historical queen but is now considered part of the Celtic mythology. She is usually depicted as either a winged sprite, a beautiful elf, or a human woman dressed in only the finest robes. She was said to carry two tree-dwelling creatures on either of her shoulders; the squirrel and the raven, resembling her closeness to nature and mysticism. She also frequented the area which was said to hold the entrance to the Otherworld, which is now called the Cave of the Cats. Maeve is known for an insatiable sexual appetite and boasting openly of sleeping with thirty men in one day. Once she meets the hero Fergus Mac Roich, ‘Son of Great Horse’ who himself has a sexual appetite large enough to satisfy her, the tale says that ‘She used to know thirty men every day or go with Fergus once.’ So that�s good for her. :3 She is most famous as a protagonist in the story of the “Cattle Raid of Cooley”, which tells of another dispute between her and her husband, the Connaught chieftain Ailill, with whom she would constantly quarrel. The Fifteen Goddesses These are the 15 categories of this test. If you score above average in � �all or none of the four variables: Neit. � Erudite: Minerva. � Sensual: Aphrodite. � Martial: Artemis. � Saturnine: Persephone. � Erudite & Sensual: Isis. � Erudite & Martial: Sekhmet. � Erudite & Saturnine: Nemesis. � Sensual & Martial: Hera. � Sensual & Saturnine: Bast. � Martial & Saturnine: Ilamatecuhtli. � Erudite, Sensual & Martial: Maeve. � Erudite, Sensual & Saturnine: Freya. � Erudite, Martial & Saturnine: Sedna. � Sensual, Martial & Saturnine: Macha.

No way! I must have done this quiz in my “grumpy because of lack of sleep” mood. Apparently, I’m Glorificus when I’m having a bad day. But hey, I’m still kick-ass (even with lack of sleep)!

BB,
Cassandrah
Your local black belt

Glorificus 54% amorality, 63% passion, 72% spirituality, 18% selflessness

You probably have a complicated, multi-faceted personality. Kind of like Glory-Ben-Glorificus. Passionate and driven with a spiritual side that comes out at times, a healthy taste for the finer things in life and a willingness to do what’s necessary to achieve your ends. You’re assertive and have no problems standing up for yourself. And, push come to shove, you’re the closest anyone’s ever come to straight-up beating the Slayer and her gang. Congratulations! If you enjoyed this test, I would love the feedback! Also, you might want to check out some of my other tests if you’re interested in the following: Nerds, Geeks & Dorks Professional Wrestling Love & Sexuality America/Politics Thanks Again! — THE 4-VARIABLE BUFFY PERSONALITY TEST

Interesting… this was my horoscope for May 6, 2006.

“Creative projects, perhaps involving writing or speaking, might take up a lot of your time today, C. J.. You could well find yourself channeling not only your mind, but your very being into your work. You’ll probably be so caught up in what you’re doing that you might have difficulty returning to this world when you’re done, or when someone calls you for dinner. Never mind – you’ll probably be very pleased with whatever results you produce. Go to it!”

Explains the weird tranced-out state I was feeling that day.

BB,
Cassandrah

MM,

A while back, I posted that I was reading Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series. I finally got around to finishing book three, The Dragon Reborn. Interesting books. Captivating. I just can’t believe there are eleven books in the series so far, at least three of which consist of more than 900 pages. Book four, The Shadow Rising, is over 900 pages. Before I can delve into that though, I decided to read Battle Royale by Koushun Takami (the novel version, not the manga, though the manga is probably quite interesting). This book has been lying around tempting me since Nathan bought it to read. I also have to read Nathan’s second novel, which I promised I would as soon as I finished reading book three of The Wheel of Time. Well, at least I have some interesting reading to keep me busy when I’m resting from my workouts the next eight weeks. I expect I will be fairly tired and needing loads of proper rest (writing will be very difficult for me to do during this time, but I will make an effort to keep at the reiki manuals).

So, okay, time to get back to reading.

BB,
Cassandrah
Brigid’s Flame

Friday, May 5

Nathan and I went to the gym. For some reason the weather was making me feel gloomy, and though I wanted to stay home, I went to the gym anyway. We did our usual exercises, but because the gym closes at 9 p.m. on Fridays we did not have time for the cardio machines.

Leg lifts
Pull-ups (aka chin-ups, military and parallel)
Dips
Leg press
Hamstring flexor (called seated leg curls)
Hip adductors
Hip abductors
Chest press
Seated row
Bar pulls (I think this is called the lateral pull-downs; it works the muscles next to the scapulae on the back)
Shoulder fly
Shoulder lift (this is called the shoulder press)
Back extensor
Pectoral fly

Free weights:
Situps (on a incline bench; worked out the obliques as well by doing double punches during the situp)
Bicep curls
Squats with weights
Push-ups

Saturday, May 6

Saturday is the start of the black belt test training. First, there was a colour belt test, then a black belt meeting, and then training. We practiced our patterns and one-step sparring techniques. For second dan, I need to know fifteen one-step sparring techniques, all the colour belt patterns and the first black belt pattern, Koryo. Fairly standard stuff. Tomorrow, we have one hour of training.

The test starts July 8 at 8 a.m. I have adjusted my countdown timer accordingly. So, on a nice, bright Saturday morning, I have to be up and ready to run a 10k. That’s kind of a good thing because I wouldn’t want to be running outside at high noon in the summer here. After the 10k, we head back to the do jang for the rest of the test, which I’m told includes 1000 skips (after a 10k run, skipping might be a little harder than normal). On the 8th we finish at 5 p.m., and then continue on Sunday where we have to perform some stuff at our BBQ picnic in the park in front of an audience. Lovely. People get to come by and watch. Not sure what time it will be, but I think it’s around 9 or 10 a.m.

Anyway, hoping tomorrow (er… today, since it’s 3 a.m. already) I’ll get some more practice in.

BB,
Cassandrah
Your local black belt
Brigid’s Flame