QQS 2-5pm

so QQS was fun. I came home feeling pretty good about things. Sore and exhausted, but good. The run went fine. We had to run for 1/2 hour on the bike path across from the dojo. I almost did 3 miles. Its weird how even if you haven't run for almost a year, your body doesn't forget how to do it. Not like I had forgotten how to actually run, but the pace and the breathing just fell into place. I also know enough about myself to know that I have to stretch my calves out for a good 15 minutes before running. If not, shin splints will ruin it for me. I have to stretch my calves until I can't feel them stretching anymore. Its the only way. So after the run, we went back in the dojo and changed up for sparring. Sparring was great. We all line up in 2 rows facing our partner, then spar for a while, then stop, bow, shake, and rotate to the right. I was paired up with people who I knew wouldn't go to rough, including many little jr blackbelts. Now some of them are half my size. Some have super control and are excellent at sparring. Some of them were trying to be extra tough and going full force. And some of the newer bb's were OUT OF CONTROL. There was this one kid next to me. The one kid who wore his blue gi top when we're all supposed to wear white. He had something to prove, I think. He was all over the place, even punching a couple teen Nidans in the face. (they had EXCEPTIONAL self control and just let it roll off their backs) But the weird thing was, that this little guy was on the verge of tears the whole time.
So after sparring we did kata for the rest of the time. It was excellent. AND B (who got his black belt with me) and I had some time to learn Gojushiho. Cool!

QQS

QQS is on saturday. I need to go. QQS is 3-4 times/year and is for black belts only. I think I've mentioned it before, it lasts about 3 hours, starts with a 3 mile run, then sparring and kata and weapons. QQS means Quality, Quantity and Spirit testing. I am so out of shape right now the run will probably wipe me out, but its important to go and do your best regardless. It is fun, too. Sometimes Kyoshi will have other events count as QQS...this year, the St Patricks day tournament and summer camp both counted as a QQS for black belts. I did both. Last November was my first QQS and it was held outside at the HS track. We lucked out as it was a beautiful and unseasonably warm day. Not sure where this one will be. If it is in the dojo, we're gonna be packed in like sardines. We'll probably smell just as bad by the end of it too.

Black Belt Challange

This is the 2nd year for the Black Belt Challange, my first one. We have one month and these are Kyoshi's challanges.

Run- 50 miles
Kata-practice 1 either Naihanchi kata or Chinto or Jion~ 100 times. I don't know Jion, so I'm doing Naihanchi Sandan.
Weapons- practice any weapons kata~ 100 times
Crunches- 3000
Spar- 20 rounds-2 minutes each
Power kicks- (must be against a pad or target) Front kicks, side kicks, rearleg roundhouse, back kicks~ 500 each leg (total 4000)
Teaching- teach an underbelt a kata/kumite/or bunkai so that they can do it on their own.
Bunkai- Pinan Godan or Pinan Sandan ~ practice 20 times in a han
Cardio- take 4 cardio kickboxing classes
Wellness- take 2 budokan and 1 tai-chi class
Grappling- learn grappling drill #1
Do 3 things in your home to "go green"
Refer a student
Read- either Weaponless Warriors or You don't need a title to be a Leader.
Atomic pushups- no particular number, get a baseline, set a goal and try to meet it. These are done with your legs in a type of stirrup-off the ground. Sensei T has set the record at 62. I'll be lucky if I can do 5. I can't even describe how these pushups look. they are evil.

So, this challange lasts only for the month of August. AND~ these challanges must be done on your own time. So any sparring that you do in class.....DOESN'T COUNT! same with crunches, kata, etc. WAH! I don't know how I'm going to spar 20 rounds on my own time..but I will do all that I can do.