Is it the hormones in milk?

So, right after teen and adult sparring class on Saturdays is the kids sparring class. I usually don't see it, even though I am at the school, because it is in one of the matted rooms and I am practicing in the big room. But last Saturday they had a really big turnout and were in the big room too.



I was confused. There were kids that looked older than some of the kids in my sparring class. I wondered "why are there teens in the kids sparring class? What criteria do they use to decide who goes to kids sparring class and who goes to Teen/ Adult class?"



So, when I saw an instructor later on, I asked him this question. He was one of the instructors teaching the kids sparring class. To my shock, he told me age is the criteria. I said, but I saw teens in the kids class. He informed me the oldest kid in that class was 10 and most I saw at that size were only 8 years old!



:confused: I still have trouble believing it. They were big- not fat- just big!



I have heard that hormones in milk are making kids go through puberty earlier. Is there truth in that or is that just an urban myth? A lot of American kids don't eat so great, so I have trouble believing it is great nutrition, but maybe it is?



Seriously, anyone notice kids getting bigger than generations before and maybe hitting puberty earlier? What is causing this? Is it natural evolution or something more convoluted?

You must eat bitter

My Sifu was talking about this a while back. Apparently, there is an old Chinese phrase "you must eat bitter." The idea behind it is that you must endure hardship in life to reap the benefits and joy in it.



My Sifu was talking about it in a martial arts context (of course). He said that to become a good martial artist you must do some of those practices that are not easy and fun. He was particularly talking about stance training and slow motion kicks. Those not so exciting foundational exercises that are oh so easy to skip in lieu of the more "fun" parts of our training.



Honestly, I was not focusing much on "eating bitter." But we had a seminar where I learned directly from our school's founder for the first time. And it brought home what my Sifu had talked about. Frankly, I didn't do so good in some foundational drills- all focused on balance and leg strength. I was embarrassed by my performance. For example, he had us locking out kicks for 5 seconds. I couldn't do it to save my life. I am considered an advanced level student, I SHOULD have done better.



So, I have a new commitment to "eating bitter." I will learn and grow from that experience. It's only been a week, but I have a new commitment to stance training and slow motion kicks.



It got me wondering. About those two exercises and the larger concept both.



So, if you are a traditional MAist and are supposed to to them, be honest? Do you to much stance training and/ or slow motion kicks? Or do you find reasons to focus on other parts of your training?



And to everyone, do you have some sort of foundational exercise like these that you maybe don't focus on like you should? What are they?



And when you have focused on them, have you reaped the benefits?

1967 Winchester 1200 20 ga mint condition

I was cleaning out the basement closet and came across the shotgun my dad bought me when in 9th grade in 1967. It was fired for maybe 10 sessions at a trap range shooting clay targets. I'm sure I cleaned it meticulously after each outing. I never wanted to shoot any animal, never became a hunter, and it hasn't been used in over 47 years. It is a Winchester model 12 (1200) 20 ga. pump with a modified choke, holds 4 +1 shells. My dad was a real duck hunter and even wrote a field guide that got published.



It is in mint condition with no scratches on the wood stock or pump handle. The barrel is pristeen. It has been in a soft lined gun case these many years not subject to mold or mildew. It never went hunting.



I haven't taken it to a dealer yet but assume it is worth at least what a new similar gun costs. If anyone has an interest in this or wants to suggest what it may be worth, please let me know.

1000 Acre Swamp - Lake Desolation 2/1/15

We skied at the 1000 acre swamp that was recently acquired by NY State. This parcel is just off of Fox Hill Road adjacent to the Albia Pond parcel near Lake Desolation. There are posted signs on the property, but we confirmed with the local ranger that the property is open to the public. We could tell from the satellite images that the area has been heavily logged. The area is crisscrossed with logging roads and there are many log yards. The terrain was quite flat with a number of swamps and vlys to explore.



Snow conditions were outstanding. There was plenty of powder (12+) over a solid base. Skiing across the vlys was very nice. There is a buffer of mature trees and scrub that remains around the vlys, giving the area a wild feel from out on the vlys. It will be interesting to put together a trip by skiing from vly to vly. You just need to be very careful to watch for open water and thin ice. We didn’t have any issues with water today.



Beautiful Sunny Sky





Clouds moving in as we head home.

Cellphone receception in and around Speculator

I was wondering if anybody could tell me about cell reception in and around Speculator besides Verizon Wireless? After six years with that carrier I am fed up with their inflated prices. My wife and I need to stay in touch with the kids while at camp, so first hand experiences would be appreciated. I have looked at other carriers who claim to have service in this area but figured feed back from folks here would aid in making the right choice. Thanks.

Improving your aikido throws by practicing them while on your knees

Greetings everyone,



As a beginner student in Aikido, I am enjoying my aikido classes.



Say, somewhere along the line I heard from someone, I can’t remember exactly who or where, either before I recently started taking aikido class or perhaps shortly thereafter, that an aikido student can help to advance his or her aikido skill by practicing the aikido techniques or throws while they are on their knees. I believe that wherever I heard this from, this person was possibly inferring that, for instance, either, no. 1 or no. 2, below.



1. Nage or Tori practices the technique with Uke while they both go through the motions of the technique together from their knees. Thus, they both remain kneeling on their knees, as opposed to both Nage and Uke otherwise going through the moves of the technique while standing up on their feet. Or,



2. Nage practices the technique on his knees, alone, going through the motions as if there was also an Uke present with him who was also kneeling on his knees.



I already went to YouTube.com and searched on the keywords, “aikido techniques performed on knees”, as well as, “aikido techniques on knees”. What I get returned to me are mostly videos on the “Aikido knee drop technique”, or videos on Shikko knee walking, or other aikido videos on techniques not related to working on one’s knees in order to perform aikido throws.



Thus, can someone possibly recommend or refer me to some good aikido videos related to this, that is, showing Nage executing, for instance, say, the complete throw of iriminage from his knees, or, say, shominage, ikkyo, or any other aikido throw while he is moving around the floor on his knees, either alone, or with Uke?



Any responses would be greatly appreciated.



Thank you very much.



The best to all,

Greetings!

physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse in clubs

This subject was raised tangentially in another thread. I think it deserves deeper consideration.



Writing this I find myself hesitating in starting this thread because of the risk of being tarnished through association simply having a discussion of this in public. All the more reason to have it though.



Physical, emotional, and or sexual abuse are not unknown in martial arts.



What should clubs do to protect their members from abuse?



What should instructors do?



What should individual members do?