Chris Dwan

Tag: martial arts

  • Level up

    I tried something new at the gym today: There’s a guy who teaches karate and does (light) open sparring both standing and on the ground on Sundays. He’s around 220 pounds of solid muscle, has perhaps 2 inches of height on me, and is wicked fast. I worked in, with some nervousness. Stand-up sparring is hard work, and I’ve never grappled without a gi before. Very different, very humbling, and yet one more thing that I don’t know.

    The phrase that kept going through my mind was: C’mon, it’ll be fun. You’ll level.

  • Test

    I passed. Got the certificate and everything. The only mishap was my own dumb fault, when I got kicked in the fingers. If I had, for example, been making a fist like they tell you on day one, I wouldn’t have four kinda-sorta-jammed fingers now. All things considered, a small price to pay.

    Also lots of joy on the shins. Shin bruises are totally fair though, because whatever you’ve got, you know the other guy has too.

    Then, as I was settling into a well deserved dinner, around 5:30, Southwest Airlines called to tell me that my 7:30pm flight was delayed to 11:30. However, if I could make it to the 5:45 flight, that one was delayed until 6:30 and I had a space on it.

    I abandoned the dinner and hauled ass. I made it, and am now posting from the gate, watching the “A” group board.

    Who is the fastest? I am the fastest!

  • Test

    Today I test for a new belt at the karate school. I’ve eaten my high-carb dinner and breakfast, I have my bottles of water, and I’ve got the *material* pretty much down (though at this point there’s enough stuff that I’m sure I’ll blank on something). I’m in good enough shape that while several hours of exertion will tire me out … there’s pretty much no chance that I’ll keel in the middle of a form or anything. The other people on the test are similarly prepared, so there shouldn’t be any injuries through carelessness or incompetence. Accidents happen, especially when people get tired, but it’s a good group and I trust them.

    Now all that remains is to pass the test.

    After that, I get on a plane to Baltimore to see my brother’s guitar recital.

    After that, I drive with my dad as far as Richmond, where I pick up a rental car and head to Hampton VA to work for NASA for a week.

    Rock star?

  • Television

    I may have mentioned the news crew that came by the dojo to film some self defense footage. Well, it aired.

    Yup. That’s me on TV. Yup.

  • Public beatings

    I have a couple of public beatings scheduled for the next few days:

    On Sunday, I plan to enter the Mass State Judo Championships. I’m eligible in two divisions: Seniors (over 17) and Masters (over 30). The seniors will be, by far, the larger division, so there will be subdivisions by skill level. I will most assuredly be a novice. Masters will all be older guys. On the positive, we omit the aggressive and uncontrolled 18 year old wrestlers. On the negative, I’ll be up against the entire spectrum of competitors.

    My sensei advised me to enter both. He says that the masters crowd will be more fun to work with and have greater overall control so I’ll learn a lot. Conversely, I have a chance of winning at least a few matches in the senior novices.

    Then on Tuesday, a unique opportunity has presented itself. Dan was contacted by the local branch of ABC (channel 6). They’re doing a little series on ‘how to protect yourself.’ The first two episodes were about escaping a burning building and something similar. The third will be on “self defense,” for the special case of “someone jumps you in a parking lot.”

    I’m to be the punching dummy. I’ll don the padded suit and get thrown around.

    It’s going to be an awesome week.

  • Judo open workout

    On the first Friday of any given month, the Judo club I’ve been attending has an “open workout.” Anyone, from any school (or no school) is welcome to participate. Tonight was the first one of these I’ve been to. I learned a couple of valuable lessons:

    1) If someone has a big “USA” patch sewn to the back of their uniform, it’s an necessary (though not sufficient) indicator that they compete internationally. That patch might as well say “serious badass.” Fortunately, he worked with me rather than simply throwing me to the mat like he was doing to the black belts.

    2) Landing on one’s face hurts. Landing on the same spot because I made the same mistake twice in a row bruised the pride in addition to the flesh.

    3) I felt intimidated. I was in a room filled with guys who were (with only one exception) both stronger and more skilled than me. Frankly, I was way out of my depth. On reflection, that means that I’m going to learn fast. I think it’s good (for me, where I’m at right now, your milage may vary) to experience that sort of physical intimidation in a relatively safe and controlled environment. All the better to be ready for it and not panic when it’s neither safe nor controlled … and also to recognize that some people feel that same way when they interact with me.

    Oh yeah: “ow.” Holy hell I’m sore.

  • Karate Update

    A status update on the martial arts