SELF-DEFENSE FOR ALL

SELF-DEFENSE FOR ALL AGES, MALE AND FEMALE.

KRAV MAGA :

The name in Hebrew can be translated as “contact combat”. The root word krav (קרב) means “combat” and maga (מגע) means “contact”.

Krav Maga has a focus on emphasizing aggression, neutralization, and simultaneous defensive and offensive tactics. Krav Maga has been used mainly by the Israel Defense Forces. It was introduced by Hungarian-Slovak-Israeli martial artist Imi Lichtenafeld who developed skills from street fighting during the years defending the Jewish quarter against fascist groups in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia.

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Remember, you can join my self-defense training course at Kuro-Obi Dojo, in Hunter’s Creek Florida.

OSS!

Ki [ 黄 ]

It has been a challenging first 4 months practicing Shotokan.

First, being post-partum and recently having had a cesarean section; truth is that it probably causes certain strains that I would not otherwise be experiencing. I am very much used to putting my body through the strains and stresses of any athlete, but my body does feel much more tired and less stable since giving birth, especially in and around the incision.

Second and in direct relation to the first, having a baby; I am lucky that I have a dedicated daddy in Mr. Benavides, and he picks up Victoria in order for me to train. The only way I can train is by heading directly to the Dojo from work, and hoping for the best when it comes to traffic on southbound I-4 so I do not arrive obscenely late to class.

Third, in direct relation to the above -I am exhausted. Every day. Every week. All things at home plus getting back to work. Victoria still gets up at night sometimes, and my weekdays start then as early as 4 AM. By the time 4 PM comes around I am dragging, and I train Shotokan 6-7 PM, to then get home and take care of Victoria plus get everything ready for the next day… Imagine what is like for me to get to Thursday…

Add to this research and all things that I am doing for my ‘other’ work; fortunately this last item is more mental than physical, perhaps balancing it all out. I do lots of this work during my lunch hour or in the wee hours of the weekend -when everyone is still asleep.

Similarly to Bikram, in Shotokan it is as much physical and external as it is mental and internal. To learn to not allow your body to control your mind, but learn to use your mind to control and tame your body… both practices are very challenging, and both do something that I truly enjoy : unveil -revealing- your true essential self.

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Another reason to love the practice is that it is a Japanese; not only was it born in Japan but it also is learned in Japanese; commands are learned and are followed in the language. I have made the decision to take that a little further and learn the language in full. I have always had a fascination for that culture, so I say i am Japanese at heart.

Despite of it all, and all the tiredness, I do work hard in training. I go in there and push myself for an hour. I try to be there every day, but usually ends up being more like 3 times a week; part of it is that as exhausted as I am, Victoria is too by weeks’s end, I concede to her tiredness sometimes… opting to stay home.

When I train I do train hard because I want to be good. I have this amazing opportunity to have joined my husband in his dedication and self-discipline in martial arts, and I want to develop into a top martial artist, as he is: a Master of his practice. 

 

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On that note, I truly want to thank my husband for introducing me to this lifestyle, also I am truly proud of my sister for adopting it when and for the reasons that she did, and thankful to both due to sharing it with their children. In the same, I am thankful to my Sensei for his dedication to his Dojo and his karateka students, and for his understanding of my particular situation; if my Sensei were not who and how he is, I probably would not be starting in this journey… it takes a certain kind of person, and a certain kind of energy, to help inspire a grown woman to put on a White Belt each day and practice with karateka students 25-30 years her junior.

This week I was elevated from White Belt to Yellow, or Ki [ 黄 ]. I do have a long road ahead, a couple of years to get to Black or Kuro [ 黒 ], but we all know… a Black Belt is the White Belt that never quit… I will not quit. I live in a household full of martial artists, and I have a daughter who was born for it… I will be there for her, as an example and as her biggest fan, when it’s her turn…

 

 

@ Kuro-Obi Open

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Last week, at the first ever local Kuro-Obi Open, space fell short. People came from many places including out of state to compete in the open -a Shotokan Regional led by the regional leader himself, our Sensei Oquendo.

Upon arriving, proud parents and karatekas of all ages were out in the hotel’s courtyard awaiting for the doors to open. Volunteers from the Dojo ran around putting all last details in place.

For a first event, we will stand by the fact that it was a pretty successful one.

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We had an amazing line up of Senseis, guests including international Sensei Carlos Vasquez from Venezuela, standing by to judge in the various divisions throughout the day.

For our family it was also a first : the four of us were in karategis, and the fifth -for reasons mostly of lack of coordination- had to be taken care of (thanks to my sister in law and her family for helping) while looking on at her not-so-distant future as a martial artist herself

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Competing was the added bonus.

Although waiting our turn was long, we all did compete except for Jorge Jr. who, despite signing on for Kumite, had no opponent ready in his division to take on; instead, he helped as referee at one of the mats along with dad throughout the event.

Diego competed in both Kata and Kumite in his division, taking both gold medals.

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As an adult beginner, Tabitha competed in Kata in her division taking also gold.

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I competed in both Kata and Kumite, taking silver and gold respectively; though my Kata I am told was more precise and technically clean, it was not a par in difficulty with the opponent’s during the last round of exhibition.

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Sensei Oquendo was pleased, tired, and we truly thank him for hosting us all at this event, and for his continued commitment to the development of his karatekas of all ages.

Many more competitions, including Tokyo 2020, to come…

Remember, as Mahatma Gandhi once said : “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from indomitable will.”

You too can  BE BLACK BELT !    OSS !!