Monthly Archives: October 2008

10/11/08

Acceptance of The Fiasco

I have come to accept the aunty hairstyle fiasco. I have also accepted that my hair is much too short for the hairstyle I wanted.

I have done damage control by visiting my friendly neighbourhood barber.

Hopefully, in three months time, I’m able to revert to the hairstyle I wanted. I will take up my friend’s advice to go to the Japanese salon.

Life goes on, here’s a list of things I’ll need to get:

  • Make Up Primer (for oil control, and covering up scarring)
  • Slim Jeans (Grey or black)
  • Footless Ankle Leggings

Besides this, I’ve decided that I need to train harder for Aikido and incorporate pressure point striking. I finally realise they were serious when they said that Aikido is usable in a street situation only after years of training. The reason being that you have to get used to not resisting, but redirecting and blending with your opponents attacks.

I need X and Sandaime Hououkage to help in my training. 😀

Logen L.

10/10/08

Aikido Haircut

I’m back from the salon with my new haircut. As before, I’m not even sure if I like it.

I gave the hair dresser picture references and told her to make it suitable for my head shape and hair texture. It turns out now that my fringe seems bulky and the hair at the sides of my head is short. I can forget about the blue highlights already…

Sighs. I should be able to make adjustments though, considering my resourcefulness for the past few haircuts. I won’t be surprised if I end up liking it. But for now, I’ll have a neutral attitude towards my hair.

Anyway, I have Aikido later. Hopefully we’ll be doing rolls. I need to perfect my back roll and work on my front roll as well. It seems that I’m relying too much on my shoulder. I tried rolling a few times a day on my tiled floor and ended up bruising my shoulder. Not to mention, I’m not able to complete Shomenuchi Ikyo on a full-forced overhead strike.

I just hope that I won’t pair up with a rough senior… especially if we do Irimi Nage.

I remember when my head was locked underneath a seniors musky armpit. As it is, the technique requires the defender to off balance the attacker by doing a 180 or 360 degree spin and then throw him, which is very disorientating if done at natural speed and force. This senior was rough and his musky armpit odour just made me feel nauseous. Imagine having to keep getting up to get thrown again and have your nose directly under someone’s sweaty armpits. Urgh…

Kowaiye Desu!

Never mind me. I’m just feeling neurotic and moody..

Logen L.

10/5/08

Aikido Grading at Tanglin

I had Aikido grading this afternoon and think I did well. I only fumbled for a moment during the free-style phase when I misinterpreted my partner’s attack. However, I managed to apply the basic joint-lock and throwing techniques.

As much as I knew that one had to be calm and relaxed when facing an attack, I’ve found out first hand as to what happens otherwise. In aikido, we aim to blend with the opponent’s force unresistingly, and then redirect the force to defend ourselves. Because an opponents attack is unpredictable until few seconds before point of contact, one should never plan his defense. He just blends an attack according to the flow of the force.

All in all, my mistake in the free-style phase was timing, insufficient practice and over-thinking. I mistook the attack and tried to parry what I thought the attack was to be too soon.

Oh well, I’m still at white belt. And the sensei says that it takes many years to master these crucial factors.

I should be able to get an orange belt in 2 to 4 weeks time. But I’d be really happy to have a double promotion to blue. Haha.

And yea, some of the villagers’ Japanese costumes have arrived in Singapore.

Logen L.