Kigami Biraki

Kigami Biraki in the park at Lake Wendouree.

Our opportunity to start the year officially and set goals for not only our martial arts journey, but life in general. Sensei Dick held a class which was brief due to the extremly hot weather, but which was inspirational all the same. We were treated to a drumming demonstration and some board breaking by several of the sempais from BMAC.

Just another PFS class

Yes, a person with a camera came with me!

Having only recently learned about leg locks and the like, here I am trying to get one on Conan (my PFS instructor). If you look (not too) hard, you can see that I don't have a really good grip. What you can't see is that he has the same leglock on me. Had I been quicker, I should have 'outleglocked' him, seeing my legs are longer than his :-) That they are also better looking would not have helped! In any case, the outcome was that about three seconds after this photo was taken, I tapped out. As usual. :-)))

Another BJJ class :-)

We had another good BJJ class today. A friend came along and took a couple of photos, here is one of them. Looks to me like Zeb was just about to pass my guard :-)

Karate grading

I passed the grading for yellow belt (6th kyu) today.

It was interesting to see the higher kyu grades. I have much to learn :-)

Beginning BJJ

Today I started BJJ classes at The Ballarat Dojo.

I was welcomed by Sensei Glenn and the other guys.

I've had a minor amount of no-gi grappling during my PFS classes, so I'm not worried about the close contact, the getting squashed and the resultant achy body and bruises.

Grappling with the heavy gi is a wholly different ballgame though... This will be interesting!

Richard Norton seminar

I went to a seminar held by Richard Norton at the Ballarat Martial Arts Centre.

Karate grading

I graded for my blue belt (7th kyu) today at the Ballarat Martial Arts Centre.

Here is a photo of Sensei Dick presenting me with my blue belt.

White belt no more

Today I had my first Karate grading at BMAC.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a white belt but there is a great satisfaction in being the wearer of a coloured belt. It means that I'm on my way. Sensei thinks that I have successfully learned something and applied myself sufficiently that I have earned the right to wear a coloured belt.

The grading was great fun. I had to push myself, but not too hard. That in itself was a win, as I've been the most non-sports oriented person since my younger days. School sports I hated, and I've never engaged in any sports since. I refuse to count my horse riding and competing adventures as sportsfeats, after all the horse did most of the work!

I'm over the moon :-)))

PFS classes starting today

Today I went to my first PFS class at BMAC.

I wasn't sure what to expect. To be honest, I thought they were offering Krav Maga, which sounded interesting after I read up a little about it.

In any case, PFS sounds interesting as well and if I'll be learning about sticks and knives and lots of other stuff I'll be happy. I will need to research what it's all about, the history of it and what I'm letting myself in for ;-)

The journey begins!

I took the first step.

I took an introductory lesson with Sensei Dick at the Ballarat Martial Arts Centre.