Never throw a phony technique.

by Ryan Gregory, March 12th, 2012

An admonition from my previous Sensei that has stuck with me even after all these years is:

“Never throw a phony technique.”

What this means is that, even — make that, especially — while “just practicing”, you should never perform a technique in a sloppy way. Instead, you should perform every single technique that you throw as though it were real, although obviously this needs to be adjusted to fit the circumstance when training with a partner.

There are several reasons to never throw a half-assed technique:

1) Teaching your body bad habits. The most obvious is that the point of doing techniques over and over is to train your body to do them automatically. If you throw sloppy techniques day in and day out in the dojo, you are not suddenly going to perform them properly if you ever need them.

2) It’s not fair to your partner. Exercises like paired walking basics, renzoku kumite, and kakomi kumite allow two or more students to practice both strikes and blocks with real contact under controlled conditions. This serves several purposes, including working on accuracy, speed, and timing, as well as providing the sensation of what actually blocking an attack feels like. It also contributes to conditioning (e.g., of the forearms when used to block). If you throw weak punches, don’t aim for the actual target (for example, you already direct your punch away from the opponent before he or she even has a chance to block it), or don’t perform a strong block, you do yourself and your partner a disservice.

3) You could get hurt. If you practice sloppy techniques during walking basics, you will probably do the same when you hit shields or heavy bags. See here for why this can lead to significant ouchies.

4) Effective vs. ineffective technique. The most effective martial arts techniques have a solid basis in anatomy, biomechanics, physics, physiology, and psychology. Of course, early masters did not possess modern scientific knowledge, but that does not mean that they could not sort out what works and what doesn’t. In retrospect, we can explain why certain techniques generate more power or do more damage than others. Much of the time, it has to do with maximizing velocity and the amount of mass behind a strike — Newtonian mechanics plus biomechanics. (I am planning to write more about the science behind martial arts techniques in the future). Sometimes, the difference between an effective technique and an ineffective one can be subtle (in execution, not in outcome). If you are practicing improper technique in class, you will almost certainly fail to generate as much power as you could if you worked on improving your technique each and every time you throw it.

I think this video does a nice job of pointing out the importance of technique — and of practicing proper technique even when training by oneself. In case you don’t recognize the guys featured in it, they are Michael Jai White (action movie star with black belts in multiple martial arts) and Kimbo Slice (street fighter and UFC mixed martial artist).

Remember that you are training your body, so be a good teacher and never throw a phony technique.

Bad Sanchin.

by Ryan Gregory, February 25th, 2012

I’m no expert on Sanchin kata, especially after such a long break in training. But these folks really, really have no clue.

BONUS! Two horrendous renditions of Gekisai ichi!

Learning kumite exercises.

by Ryan Gregory, February 25th, 2012

Meibukan Goju-ryu does not include free sparring (jiyu kumite), but instead uses pre-arranged sparring exercises (yakusoku kumite) to develop strong technique, coordination, and timing. One of the first kumite exercises taught is Jo Chu Ge, meaning “high, middle, low”, which is performed either in a linear sequences with one partner, alone as a sort of kata, or in a group with one student surrounded by four others. This can be tricky for new students to learn, but with some examples to study and a recognition that the three different exercises are actually all the same sequence, it is easier to pick up quickly. Let’s consider three different levels of the Jo Chu Ge sequence that are performed in class.

Level 1 (renzoku kumite, or “continuous sparring”) — Linear two-person exercise:

In this exercise, two students work together and go through the entire sequence. They take turns being the “attacker” or “defender”, with the junior belt attacking first. I have written up the sequence step by step below.

 

Download this table as a PDF documentYou can see the basic exercise in the video below.

Note that the sequence is divided up into two rounds of the block-attack-block series, then one block-attack-attack-attack, then two more block-attack-block, one more block-attack-attack-attack, then two more block-attack-block. In this case, the sequence is linear so there are no turns, just forward and backward steps. You may notice that the block-attack-block sequence is the same as the first three moves of the Gekisai ichi and Gekisai ni katas.

Level 2 (kata) — Solo exercise with turns:

A slightly more complex version of the sequence is also performed, this time with blocks and attacks in different directions rather than just forward and backward. This may be taught as a solo exercise first, much like a simple kata that students can practice on their own. Remember, the basic sequence is the same: two rounds of the block-attack-block series, then one block-attack-attack-attack, then two more block-attack-block, one more block-attack-attack-attack, then two more block-attack-block. The only difference is that there are turns involved. The video below shows the performance of this exercise.

For those who have trained in Japanese Goju-ryu, you will recognize the basic pattern and the full turn as being very similar to the Taikyoku katas. Honestly, I thought I would never use these katas again after I switched to Okinawan Goju-ryu, but here they are in another form.

Level 3 (kakomi kumite, or “surrounded sparring”) — Surrounded exercise:

In class, this exercise is practiced with a group of five students: one in the middle and surrounded by four others. The sequence is exactly the same as in the solo exercise.

Here is a diagram showing the overall sequence.

Download this diagram as a PDF documentAdditional notes:

• The person on the left (L)  starts with a right-hand technique. The person on the right (R) starts with a left hand technique. Then they switch hands for the second attack, then switch again for the third attack.  A good way to ensure that you use the correct hand is to set up for your first attack, then after you perform the sequence once DON’T CHANGE YOUR FEET.  So, if you start as the left attacker, you will be setting up with your left leg forward so that you can begin by punching with your right, then you will be blocking left, then punching right. At that point, your right leg will be forward — keep it there. Now you know that you next attack will be with the left hand as you step through with your left leg.
• The beginning positions for students are, from highest to lowest rank: middle, L, F, R, B.
• The student at the L position calls the sequence of attacks that will be done for the student in the middle. They also get everyone ready by announcing “Onegaishimasu”, then indicating that the first attack is coming with “Hai”.
• Once the complete sequence is complete, the student in the middle moves backward to B, and the others rotate around counterclockwise (B to R, R to F, F to L) and L goes into the middle.

Different techniques:

In kakomi kumite, the first attacker may call any one of a number of combinations of techniques. However, it is important to remember that the steps and overall pattern (but not necessarily the stances) are the same regardless. Once you have the basic sequence down, it’s relatively easy to substitute in different techniques.

For example, here is the same exercise (being performed solo) but with Chu Shuto Ge as the combination of attacks rather than Jo Chu Ge.

This one (performed as kakomi kumite) is Chu Geri Ge, with a middle punch, front kick, low punch combination of techniques. But again, the steps and sequence are the same.

The thing to remember is that you are not learning a lot of different things but rather one basic sequence with some variation in direction and techniques.

How to build a breaking board holder.

by Ryan Gregory, February 24th, 2012

Board breaking is not a major part of traditional karate, but it can be fun as well as informative about one’s technique. I recently purchased some rebreakable boards, which are made of plastic and come in several different difficulty levels. In this particular set, there are four colours that represent easy (yellow), intermediate (blue), more difficult (red), and expert (black). So far, I like the rebreakable boards as they can be put back together easily and used again and again without creating a large pile of firewood.

One issue with breaking boards, whether rebreakable or wood, is that one usually needs a partner to hold the boards. If no one is around, or if family members are reluctant to assist by holding the boards, one may be limited to downward breaks with the boards resting on cinder blocks or some other supports. If you want to practice more common techniques like punches, knife hands, or elbow strikes, you’re pretty much out of luck in that case. However, there are options for purchasing portable board holders that allow horizontal breaking without needing a willing helper. From what I have seen, these range in price from about $100 to $600 depending on materials and features. All I need is something to hold the rebreakable boards, so this seems a bit much. Plus, I enjoy DIY projects, so I thought I would make something myself.

After looking at various examples online, both commercial and home made, I settled on a design that works well. It can be easily attached to a heavy bag or could be mounted on a wall or held by a partner (if handles are attached), and it has a capacity to hold up to 7 3/4″ pine boards or about the same number of black (expert) rebreakable boards.

Here are some details on how to build one of your own if you’re interested.

Materials list:

1. 3/4″ plywood (see below for list of cuts)
2. Eye bolts and nuts (x2)
3. Wood glue
4. Screws
5. Foam padding
6. Staple gun
7. Bungee cords (x4)

All told, the board holder can probably be made for under $20.

Plywood cuts:

1. 10″ x 9.5″ (x3)
2. 15.5″ x 9.5″ (x1)
3. 12″ x 11″ (x1)
4. Side panels, as shown below (x2) — these can be cut out with a scroll saw or band saw

Assembly:

Put the pieces together using wood glue and screws. Once assembled, it should look like this:

Note that I ended up adding an additional piece of plywood to the top, so that both top and bottom have double sheets of wood for strength. The bottom has an extended platform to help hold the boards, but this is probably optional since they will also be held in place by bungee cords. The eye bolts have also been attached at this stage.

Finishing:

Using a belt sander (or just sandpaper and elbow grease), round all of the edges and smooth all of the outer surfaces.

Then, add foam padding to the edges and surfaces on the inner part of the holder where your hand will travel if it breaks through the boards. This will help to prevent injury in case your strike has more power than you anticipated and you come into contact with the holder beyond the boards. I used foam floor mats, which were on sale for about $7 for a package of 4. This provides nice, firm padding for added safety. There is a single layer of foam on inner surfaces with the exception of a stack of 4 pieces of foam on the back inner wall. I also attached a sheet of foam to the back of the holder to help prevent damage to my heavy bag or the wall when it is hung up.

Finally, attach the bungee cords to the eye bolts. You will need two for holder the boards in place plus two if you wish to attach the board holder to a heavy bag. You can also attach the holder to a wall or build an adjustable stand. You could also attach some handles to the sides if you want the board holder to be something that an assistant can grasp without having to have their hands on the boards as you break them.

UPDATE: I decided to cut off the bottom shelf so that it could also be used for kicks and downward strikes (by placing it boards-up on the ground). I also painted it and attached a chain to the top so that it could be hung on the wall.

Testing:

Attach the board holder to a heavy bag, wall, or stand, put the boards in place, and give it a try. My initial tests were very successful, and the only thing I will look to improve is how it is attached to the heavy bag (probably just some tighter bungee cords).

[dmalbum path=”/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/holder/”/] 

Not bad! I’m glad I added the internal padding, since that elbow strike went all the way through — hitting solid wood at the back would have been unpleasant.

If you decide to build a board holder, make sure you know what you are doing when it comes to breaking. It is better to have a friend nearby even if you use a holder. The design suggestions provided here are for informational purposes only. I assume no responsibility or liability for any injuries you may sustain if you build and use a board holder based on the design presented above.

As my son would say, “Lello!”.

by Ryan Gregory, February 22nd, 2012

There was a white belt grading last Saturday and several of my fellow students took part. Tonight was the new belt awarding ceremony, and I was very happy to see some of my fellow students move up. What I didn’t expect was that Sensei decided to also promote me tonight, so I am no longer wearing a white belt. I took part in the senior belt class on Sunday, which Sensei described tonight as a “mini grading”. Fair enough! I think the approach is that once I have demonstrated that I have caught up and can perform the kata and drills at a particular level, Sensei is comfortable letting me wear that rank. This suits me very well and inspires me to work even harder while also ensuring that I develop a solid foundation throughout.

Two things I had forgotten about getting a new belt. One, how nice it feels. I was already enjoying the promotions of the other students vicariously, with a vague recollection of the feeling of accomplishment that goes along with a promotion in kyu rank. But then I also got presented with a new belt, and a lot of feelings came rushing back. By the time I stopped training the first time, I had already been a brown belt for about 9 months, and a blue belt for 8 months before that. Add on 15 years in between, and I barely remembered the feeling of putting on a new belt for the first time.

The second thing is that the class after new belts are awarded is usually brutal. Tonight was no exception, as it was a “leg workout” class. I have been getting into better shape and am generally not stiff anymore after class, but I suspect that tomorrow I will be feeling it.

Obviously, tying on my yellow belt (or, as my 1 year old son says “lello”) is a long way from where I was before, but it feels like a significant step and it is a feeling that I am enjoying again for the first time in a long time.

And to my fellow yellow belts who are experiencing their very first promotion: congrats, and keep up the good work!

Magical chi powers, debunked.

by Ryan Gregory, February 22nd, 2012

If you have trained in eastern martial arts like karate, kung fu, aikido, and the like, then you are surely familiar with the notion of “chi” or “ki” or “qi”. You may not be able to define what it is, but that’s not surprising since it’s a rather vague concept. It is often equated with “life force” or “energy”, and is often described as something that can be developed, harnessed, and even projected outwardly. To the extent that the concept of “chi” helps martial artists to focus their techniques, it is useful even if it does not actually correspond to anything in physical reality. I think most martial artists, including the skeptics and professional scientists among them, would have little problem with seeing “chi” as a helpful metaphor for a combination of mental focus, physical strength, and proper technique.

The problem arises when people become convinced that “chi” is an actual physical substance that can be used as the sole basis for defense or attack. For such believers, chi may be seen as the source of magical superpowers such as the ability to knock out an opponent without touching them, becoming impervious to attacks, or even moving objects with their minds. The fact that this would violate any number of well-established scientific principles does not phase them. Nor does the consistent failure to demonstrate any of the purported effects under controlled conditions or with opponents who are not acolytes of the master doing the demonstration.

In our first example, George Dillman makes the claim that he can render people unconscious without contacting them physically by focusing his chi. He makes some specific claims about the physical properties of chi as well, such as it consisting of “radio waves” that can be formed into a “chi ball” and hurled at others, and which can alter the physical appearance of his fingers when used. National Geographic filmed Dillman and his students demonstrating some remarkable abilities, including the afore-mentioned no-touch knockout. But what happens when this technique is tried on a “non-believer” (Dillman’s words)? I think you probably can guess.

What I find particularly interesting is the fact that Dillman has several rationalizations for why the technique failed miserably. The skeptic’s tongue was in the wrong place, or maybe his big toe was raised. A more likely explanation, that Dillman’s powers are actually the result of suggestion and therefore only work on believers, is not considered. We’ve seen it before.

The Dillman example is by no means isolated. Here is another example:

 

And another, this one showing the effects on fellow practitioners…

…and the lack of effect on a non-believer:

Now, you may be thinking to yourself that this is the kind of thing that could get you hurt in a real situation. And you’d be right.

Wait — it gets worse, such as when a person believes that their chi can be used to block a sword.

WARNING: This next clip is not for the squeamish!

So, if chi is not a real thing, then how do we account for the ability of martial artists to perform impressive acts of strength like breaking boards and bricks?

 

It’s physics plus anatomy plus skill.

Maybe you find this to be a let-down. I see it as just the opposite. Knowing how something is accomplished, that it does not require supernatural abilities, and that it is the result of hard work and practice is much more interesting to me than pseudoscientific nonsense about radio waves and big toes. I particularly like the following quote, from a fellow martial artist and skeptic:

“When I used to break in competition I used to psych myself up by running through a few simple facts of human physiology and physics: Bone is denser than concrete or pine wood and force is mass times acceleration. If my targeting was on and I was calm I could generate the required speed to break stuff and I could do it consistently. Reverse time a few hundreds years when science was still lacking and I have to suspect that the best explanation of the day for some of these feats was ki.”

Use the concept of chi however it works for you, but beware of setting yourself up for a harsh encounter with physical reality.

Links:

Physics of Karate – No Woo Required (Skeptical Teacher)

Karate (Newton’s Apple)

Karate blow (Harvard)

Busted Explanations for Karate Breaking (Gleaming Retort)

Do most fights end up on the ground?

by Ryan Gregory, February 21st, 2012

If you’ve spent any time in the martial arts, you will have heard discussions about which is the best, often in the context of real self-defence application. Name a martial art, and someone will be all too eager to tell you why it is not useful on “the street”. As often as not, the discussion will include the well-known assertion that most real fights end up on the ground. There might even be an impressive statistic attached to the claim, like 80%, 90%, or even 95% of fights end up on the floor. Arts like karate therefore are inferior, it is argued, because they focus on strikes and blocks instead of takedowns and grappling.

As we say in science, strong claims require strong evidence. I was therefore intrigued to learn that this well known “fact” about street violence not only has been greatly exaggerrated but also was based on inappropriate data to begin with. It seems that the claim that 90% of fights end up on the ground comes from a 1991 report by the LAPD. The problem is, the number wasn’t 90% and it wasn’t about street fights. It was about the frequency with which police officers engaged in physical confrontations with suspects, and how often this ended with both the arresting officer and the suspect on the ground. The data from the LAPD study and other law enforcement statistics were discussed in an article in the Journal of Non-Lethal Combatives in 2007 by Chris LeBlanc. As LeBlanc wrote,

“The LAPD study does not show that “90% of fights go to the ground.” Instead, the LAPD study shows that 95% of altercations took on one of five familiar patterns (with which any street cop will be intimately familiar). It also shows that of that 95%, 62% ended up with both the officer and the suspect grappling on the ground.

Obviously, being professionally charged with restraining someone versus being primarily focused on escaping an attack will change the dynamic of a confrontation after the initial engagement. This is why I believe police in an arrest situation are more likely than a citizen in a self-defense situation to stay on the ground during a physical encounter.”

This last statement is important, because regardless of the number in the original study, these statistics are not really relevant to the kind of situation most martial artists envision when they make the claim.

The likelihood of engaging in combat on the ground in “street fights” is more difficult to assess, because the participants generally do not file a written report afterward. However, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner (and communications professor) Bakari Akil took an interesting approach to quantifying this. He established search criteria and used content analysis to evaluate 300 fights that had been filmed and posted on YouTube. His results were presented in a brief document that is available for purchase from Amazon. I won’t spill all the details, but here are some highlights:

– Both fighters went to the ground in only 42% of the fights. (At least one ended up on the ground in 72% of the fights). It bears noting that most of these fights probably did not involve a martial artist. Someone with training in karate would be expected to attempt to end the fight quickly before it ever went to the ground, which may not be the case for untrained combatants.

– Of the fighters who ended up on the ground, 57% got there by virtue of a throw, a trip, or by being pulled to the ground. 35% of them headed groundward as a result of a punch. So, even if most fights do not, in fact, end up on the ground, developing skills in stopping throws, trips, and other takedowns is a good idea. Striking is one way to prevent takedowns like this, but many karate students also train in various grappling techniques that are relevant in this situation.

– Perhaps the most important result of this analysis is that you really don’t want to be the one who goes to the ground first. If you do, the odds are that you will lose (59%) or at best will struggle to a draw (33%).

To summarize, there is little data to support the claim that both fighters will end up on the ground most of the time (let alone 95% of the time). In fact, it seems like most fights do not end with both participants on the ground, but if someone does end up there you definitely want it to be the other guy. Training in grappling is a useful thing to do, but this is best spent focusing on stopping takedowns or escaping when pinned under an attacker. Going to the ground on purpose is not a good idea, especially if there are multiple opponents.  Training in striking arts like karate can be useful for ending a fight before it ever goes to the ground, but this should include realistic practice for combat against attackers who do not use martial arts techniques.

If you do end up in a conflict situation, it is best to stay on your feet — that makes it much easier to walk away.

Chicken wing bad, chicken head good.

by Ryan Gregory, February 20th, 2012

If you maintain a sloppy arm position when your hand is in chamber, with your elbow sticking out sideways rather than being properly tucked straight behind you and your forearm flush with your ribs, you may be accused of having a “chicken wing”. This is bad, but it’s relatively easy to correct with practice.

More difficult to develop is the habit of keeping one’s head level when performing steps in a given stance, especially lower stances like shiko dachi. The key is to move with the hips and to maintain a straight posture when stepping.

Chicken wings may be an example of how not to chamber your hand, but few animals are as good as chickens when it comes to keeping their heads in a constant position.

So, get rid of those chicken wings in chamber, but try to be like a chicken when you are performing your steps.

Three battles.

by Ryan Gregory, February 19th, 2012

The foundational kata in Okinawan Goju-ryu is Sanchin, or “Three Battles”. The simplest interpretation is that the kata is meant to simultaneously focus the mind, body, and spirit. The kata contains only one stance (the eponymous sanchin dachi, also called “hourglass stance”) and for the most part consists of straightforward middle blocks and punches, with a few additional techniques near the latter part of the sequence. And yet, Sanchin is one of the most challenging kata to perform correctly — precisely because it involves much more than the movements of the body. It is not something that one perfects, it is something to work on throughout one’s training.

In addition to the sequence of steps, turns, blocks, and punches, performing Sanchin requires strong mental focus, the use of proper breathing, and a balance between the hard (go) and soft (ju) of Goju-ryu. I freely admit that this kata is the one I am finding the most challenging as I am returning to some manner of decent form. In part, my performance of the kata is rather poor because I am consciously thinking of the sequence, the breathing, the timing, the turns, the target for the punches, the position of the hands, and so on. In the past, I could do this kata without thinking about any of this, which was neceessary in order to have the proper mental focus when being tested.

Tested in this case does not mean graded, it refers to the practice of having one’s technique and focus physically checked by an instructor. This is known as shime, and it varies in severity from lightly pushing on the student to check the strength of the stance or providing resistance as the student performs a punch, to much harder methods of testing.

Here is an example of Sensei Kazuo Terauchi (8th Dan) being tested by Sensei Morio Higaonna (10th Dan):

Note the focus and strength of the stance and techniques. Very impressive.

Another good example (also involving testing by Sensei Morio Higaonna):

Here is another example, this time using wooden dowels to test the student in rather dramatic fashion:

Here’s another in which the student is tested using a shinai, a bamboo sword used in the martial art of Kendo:

I have been tested with a shinai. The truth is, when you’re fully focused on the kata, you don’t really feel the pain — but you certainly hear the impact and you see the marks afterward. For the most part, though, we were tested with hands and feet only. Obviously, I am not even close to the level where I can be tested in this way anymore, but in time I hope to get back to it.

I think the three battles of Sanchin reflect my current situation quite well in another way. Obviously, there is the issue of getting my body back into decent physical condition. I also need to re-train myself to perform techniques correctly with both power and speed, and to commit new training sequences to muscle memory.

Mentally, I am working to learn new kata on a conscious level (this is necessary before they can become automatic), and I am also reading as much as I can about Goju-ryu in general and Meibukan Goju-ryu in particular. I am a scholar by profession, so delving into the intellectual aspects of training is important for me.

Finally, I think the battle of the spirit is reflected in the need to be patient with my progress and not to become overly frustrated with myself when I am unable to do what I used to be able to do. I also have had to get over the sense of lost pride that comes with wearing a white belt instead of a formerly much higher rank (not to mention that I also have titles outside of the dojo and am not used to being so junior anymore). Let me say, however, that I think Sensei’s decision for me to start at white belt absolutely was the right one, regardless of whether I end up grading all the way through again or am allowed to don my brown belt again at some point after I get sufficiently caught up. This has allowed me to ease back into the training and to give myself an opportunity to catch up without imposing a lot of unrealistic expectations on myself or adding responsibilities that I am not currently equipped to handle, such as helping junior belts. A lesson in humility is a good thing in general anyway.

It has only been a month since I returned to training, but I already feel more at home in the dojo and am confident that I can build upon what was a solid foundation of training in the past. In fact, I believe I can be much better than I ever was and that this experience will turn out to be quite beneficial in the end. Physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Grading dates.

by Ryan Gregory, February 19th, 2012

I have been trying to remember when I graded to different ranks previously, and how long I spent at each kyu.  Fortunately, I found my old “budo passport” that was used by members of the YKKF (Yudansha Kobujitsu Karate-Doh Federation) when I was a student and it has all this information in it.

Here is my timeline:

• September 20, 1993 — I began training in Japanese Goju-ryu at McMaster University.

• November 24, 1993 — I graded to yellow belt in Japanese Goju-ryu. (Time as white belt: 2 months).

• March 28, 1994 — I graded to orange belt in Japanese Goju-ryu. (Time as yellow belt: 4 months).

• June 2, 1994 — I graded to green belt in Okinawan Jundokan Goju-ryu. By this time, I was training at a dojo in Orillia and was attending a lot of classes. I was surprised when my Sensei told me I would be grading so soon, but he must have thought I was ready. (Time as orange belt: just over 2 months).

• January 21, 1995 — I graded to blue belt in Okinawan Jundokan Goju-ryu. (Time as green belt: 7.5 months).

• September 23, 1995 — I graded to brown belt in Okinawan Jundokan Goju-ryu. (Time as blue belt: 8 months).

• June 24, 1996 — The last entry in my passport for attending a class. I am not sure if I continued to attend classes until the end of that summer but they weren’t logged (this is plausible), but in any case I stopped training regularly by the time I returned to the 4th year of my undergraduate degree and chose to focus on my research and academics. (Time spent training as a brown belt: 9 or 10 months).

Total time spent training: approximately 3 years.

I find it amazing that I remember as much as I do, given how long ago this was. I chalk it up to having been trained well by my Sensei and taking it very seriously when I was training. I used to attend a lot of classes on weekends and throughout the summers, including both junior and senior belt classes and helping with children’s classes.  I am hoping that it will continue coming back to me, or that I can learn it much more quickly this time around because of my earlier experience. In any case, it feels great to be back in the gi.