Another Party and Books
We went to another children's holiday party on Sunday, organized by the spouse's employer. It was at the Rogers Centre (formerly the Skydome), and featured lots of big jumping castles and some carnival rides.
Happy early Christmas to me! My book order arrived.
First, a recently translated collection of Junji Ito's short works from shonen magazines, Museum of Terror 3. I really admire his directorial skills. The way he frames a story is exactly what you'd expect to see in a big screen horror movie.
I used to think Clive Barker's fiction was so original, especially his Books of Blood series, but now I realize that many of his best ideas are borrowed from Japanese horror writers like Ito.
Next, Fudebakudo, that repository of martial arts cartoons by the fabled Beholder. You can see some of them at the official web site, which, incidentally, has pictures of the most awesome wedding cake ever. There's a nice flip book printed at the bottom corner of the pages - fun, wow!
Finally, a hard-to-find book I've always wanted, Gaku Homma's Children and the Martial Arts. It's about aikido as a pedagogy, which is the do (the 'way' or path) aspect that has kept me hooked to the discipline. He writes,
The point is that aikido - being non-competitive (unlike karate or judo, there are no formal competitions or trophies), and "soft", meaning that the force of your partner is deflected or turned back against him, rather than met with equal but opposing force - is a discipline which teaches you to live in harmony with others. Yes, even as you're being flipped upside down at high speed on the mat.
Aikido (mainstream aikikai style) can be used as self defense, but it's not taught as a self defense method.* As the founder, Ueshiba, intended at the end of his life, it is meant to teach cooperation. Any yudansha (black belt) will tell you that if your partner uses 80% of his force on a strike, you use only 20% to deflect it. And if your partner uses only 10% of his force, you use 90%. Aikido develops this skill in cooperation, which will serve you well off the mats, in the real world.
[* Those wishing to learn aikido for self defense should enroll in a pre-war style like yoshinkinai. This style was founded by Ueshiba before he got enlightened, or, as some would say, old and mellowed.]
Some blogging odds and ends:
Here's the fibre content of this post - more crocheted squares.
I'll have enough for a blanket some day!
What else - oh, the local paper asked readers to send in "scared Santa" pictures. I have many of these, but this one is my favourite, because of Santa's expression. My oldest here is a little over a year-old.
A recent picture of the nephew and niece.
The nephew in his school uniform.
Happy early Christmas to me! My book order arrived.
First, a recently translated collection of Junji Ito's short works from shonen magazines, Museum of Terror 3. I really admire his directorial skills. The way he frames a story is exactly what you'd expect to see in a big screen horror movie.
I used to think Clive Barker's fiction was so original, especially his Books of Blood series, but now I realize that many of his best ideas are borrowed from Japanese horror writers like Ito.
Next, Fudebakudo, that repository of martial arts cartoons by the fabled Beholder. You can see some of them at the official web site, which, incidentally, has pictures of the most awesome wedding cake ever. There's a nice flip book printed at the bottom corner of the pages - fun, wow!
Finally, a hard-to-find book I've always wanted, Gaku Homma's Children and the Martial Arts. It's about aikido as a pedagogy, which is the do (the 'way' or path) aspect that has kept me hooked to the discipline. He writes,
In Japan… martial arts training is a highly regarded teaching method. In the United States, most people think of it as simply one of many available recreational activities. I think it is a dangerous mistake for a parent to let a child study a martial art unless the parent understands that martial arts training is a method of education. This book is about Aikido training as an educational tool.
The point is that aikido - being non-competitive (unlike karate or judo, there are no formal competitions or trophies), and "soft", meaning that the force of your partner is deflected or turned back against him, rather than met with equal but opposing force - is a discipline which teaches you to live in harmony with others. Yes, even as you're being flipped upside down at high speed on the mat.
Aikido (mainstream aikikai style) can be used as self defense, but it's not taught as a self defense method.* As the founder, Ueshiba, intended at the end of his life, it is meant to teach cooperation. Any yudansha (black belt) will tell you that if your partner uses 80% of his force on a strike, you use only 20% to deflect it. And if your partner uses only 10% of his force, you use 90%. Aikido develops this skill in cooperation, which will serve you well off the mats, in the real world.
[* Those wishing to learn aikido for self defense should enroll in a pre-war style like yoshinkinai. This style was founded by Ueshiba before he got enlightened, or, as some would say, old and mellowed.]
Some blogging odds and ends:
Here's the fibre content of this post - more crocheted squares.
I'll have enough for a blanket some day!
What else - oh, the local paper asked readers to send in "scared Santa" pictures. I have many of these, but this one is my favourite, because of Santa's expression. My oldest here is a little over a year-old.
A recent picture of the nephew and niece.
The nephew in his school uniform.
posted by ax174 at
5:32 AM
