Shuri-Ryu
« Previous Entries Next Entries »Smoke Blog: Sancho Panza
Monday, March 3rd, 2008I bought a six-pack sampler of lonsdales from Famous Smoke last week, thinking they would be the ideal size for late winter and early spring smoking. Last night that proved a sound theory when I lit up the box-pressed Sancho Panza included in the sampler.
The weekend weather teased us, hitting about sixty degrees yesterday afternoon [...]
Ode to the Cup
Friday, February 29th, 2008The man who invented the athletic cup is my hero.
I did get my second green stripe last night, but then I spent a good ten minutes as an attacker while one of our purple belts demonstrated his self defenses. Several of these involve snap kicks, hammer fists, or rear thrust kicks to the groin.
If I [...]
Plateaus
Thursday, February 28th, 2008I hit a definite plateau in my weight loss recently, holding the same weight from late December through the middle of February. I thought I was going to have to start the running program before I saw any change, but then I got sick. That fever and infection knocked seven pounds off me in a [...]
A Year in Pictures
Wednesday, January 9th, 2008What a difference a year makes.
Despite falling behind on my 52 Weeks Flickr group contributions, I now have an entire year’s worth of self portraits in my 52 Weeks set. Sure, I’ve got 8 more to post, but time-wise there’s a year in there and it’s neat looking back and seeing if things have changed [...]
2008: The Year to Come
Tuesday, January 1st, 2008It’s been an interesting start to the year already, but there’s a lot on the horizon.
For starters, Muy Mal is officially back, complete with a rockin’ new look provided by Russ Dickerson. John and Weston have already posted their first contributions and mine won’t be far behind. I’ll be wrapping up Down Vendetta Road and [...]
2007: Year in Review
Monday, December 31st, 2007If someone were to ask me how this year went, my first reaction would be to call it a write-off. Then I got to thinking about it, and it actually hasn’t been so bad after all. Let’s look back, shall we?
I started the year by selling the German rights to Deadliest of the Species to [...]
Wheezy No More
Sunday, December 30th, 2007Feeling much better now. Karate class went well yesterday, and at the moment I’m taking a break from a last-ditch workout in hopes of hitting this month’s weight goal tomorrow morning. The burn and wheeze is gone from my chest, and while I’m feeling a bit winded after the first half hour tonight, I’m not [...]
They Call Me Wheezy
Thursday, December 27th, 2007The worst of my pneumonia passed in time for the holidays, but I’m still feeling its effects in my lungs.
I’m going to have to ask the doc why. The megadose of antibiotics made short work of the fever, and I’m on a ten-day course of the stuff (last pill tomorrow). The bacteria should be good [...]
Blue Belt Karateka, White Belt Seamstress
Thursday, December 13th, 2007Karate Tailor
Originally uploaded by MikeOliveri.
I may have learned a lot of cool karate moves, but my sewing skills really need some work.
Between my own impatience and my wife having more important things to do, I decided I best start learning to sew patches on my karate uniforms myself. I did a little bit of sewing [...]
Blue Belt, Blue Kata
Sunday, December 9th, 2007We just finished review week at my karate school, and I’ve officially been promoted to rokyu, or blue belt, in Shuri-ryu. With it comes a new kata called Anaku, which I learned in class yesterday and which I’ll be practicing intensely for the next few months.
You can get a look at Anaku (aka Ananku) on [...]