This is a sundial in queens at the Hall of Science. Kids love to climb on it, this was one of those rare moments when it was free of kids. The moment was brief.
All posts by sensei.orlando@yahoo.com
Archimedean screw
This is Rey at one of his favorite spots – the Hall of Science. This is the outdoor park in 90 degree weather and we were learning the properties of an archimedean screw and splashing ourselves with water. Lots of fun!
Growing Winter
Winter at 7 months. She now outweighs each of the children.
Hojo Undo
I punch and kick trees as part of my practice.
Before you start thinking that I have acquired some strange animosity towards trees(I haven’t) let me explain. This part of my practice was something I did before I knew it even had a name. Hojo undo is translated as “supplementary exercises “, these are exercises that are used to condition the body and specific body parts in the training of martial arts. These are used to build functional symmetry in physical strength, stamina, coordination, stances, techniques and velocity. The tools themselves are made from stone, wood, steel, sand or any other material that can simulate these.
The origin of this training goes back to Okinawa which is the birthplace of Karate, and subsequently China which influenced the development of the martial arts in the Ryukyu Island nation. The most common of these tools is the makiwara which can be seen in most schools (although it is becoming harder to find in practice halls) and is used as a striking post. Contrary to the belief of many, it is not for the development of large knuckles, but rather to create powerful strikes. The large knuckles are just a side effect and only mean that you have hit something often enough to create calluses.
Why subject myself to this kind of training? I recall a conversation with a sempai I once had. It was after a particularly brutal sparring session of which I was the recipient of most of the brutality. I asked him how he was so strong and more importantly ,why? His answer made quite an impression (as did his fists and kicks). He told me that there were others who were more naturally talented, faster with better reflexes and techniques. He couldn’t control that. The one thing he could control was his conditioning, he was going to make sure that he was never out conditioned. To this day I thank Sempai George, because of this short albeit very painful lesson that he would repeatedly impart to me.
So in essence, Hojo undo is designed to strip away everything else until you reach your core. There are no excuses or reasons when you arrive there. It’s just you and the tool (or tree). It shows your level of training or lack thereof and becomes a reliable mirror into where you are. The tools used are quite numerous although you would be hard-pressed to find many of them in most martial arts schools these days. If you are serious about your practice and wish to seek another level of training to further your conditioning you will gravitate to some form of them, like I did with the tree.
I seriously consider hojo undo one of the most important parts of training in any martial art. If you only become proficient at striking air, the day you make impact you will experience a rude awakening, and quite possibly broken bones. If you are serious about pursuing hojo undo in your training you should invest in:
The Art of Hojo Undo by Michael Clarke. It is the only book I have been able to find that not only discusses this supplementary training but also gives instructions on how to build the tools.
Dive deeper into your practice and try hojo undo, it brings you face to face with yourself. We may not want to face ourselves, but on this path we must.
strong spirit-strong mind-strong body
Sensei Orlando
Downpour
After three days of brutal heat the skies opened and cooled us off on the way home from school to the sounds rumbling thunder.
Ants
Lately my little ones have been fascinated (and scared) of ants. To remove some of the fear, I decided we should see where ants live. As we explored this anthill the fear turned to curiousity and they were able to be next to the ants as they went about their ant duties. This was a stark difference from a week ago when we had an ant related meltdown.
On the cusp
I’m about to launch two books in ebook format. One a fictional novel, the first of a series, the other a book celebrating fatherhood. There are several projects on the way. It has taken a few years to get here, but this is exciting, scary, and amazing all wrapped up together.
Stradivarius next
After weeks of practicing with a box violin, Rey finally gets his real one. He is making impressive progress.
Confronting the Wall
Let me begin with a short story.
Somewhere in the mountains there is a temple. One day a man journeyed countless miles to arrive at this temple. When he approached the temple he encountered a massive wall blocking the entrance. On on side of the wall were several small huts, where he was directed to stay. He was given tools and one instruction; to enter the temple he must tear down the wall. He also had the option of leaving at any time he chose if he found the task too difficult. Each day he would remove part of the wall only to find it restored the next morning.
This continued for many days, then weeks,months and finally years. Still the man would not give up. Each day he arose and approached the wall. His body became stronger along with his will and strength of spirit. Then one day as he made his way to his wall, instead of a wall stood the abbot of the temple before the open entrance.
The man approached the abbot, who had not spoken to him in all the time he had been there.
“What happened to the wall?” the man asked.
The abbot looked at the man and looked around the entrance and said “What wall?”
The man clearly surprised and a bit annoyed, responded in a very unzenlike manner.
“The one I have been toiling at for years now!”
“Oh that wall, well it seems that you have finally realized that you no longer need it, please come in.” said the abbot as he smiled.
As the man entered past the doors he encountered an immense courtyard. To one side lay a beautiful lake surrounded by trees. On the other side was a serene zen garden.
” You can stay here if you like.” said the abbot “After all you have spent quite some time on that wall.”
“No I want to enter the temple, its the reason I am here.” said the man.
Further in the distance along a winding path was the temple proper. The abbot walked along side the man as he made his way to the temple.
As they were nearing the last bend of the path before approaching the temple, the abbot reached into his robes and produced some tools.
“Here, you might need these, you left them at the entrance.” he said as he handed the man the tools used for tearing down a wall and left him on the path.
“Why would I need these? ” the man thought as he walked the path and found himself before another wall…
It is inevitable that in the course of your practice you will confront the wall. Unlike the wall in the picture you will not be able to simply walk around it. How long the wall persists depends primarily on how long you need it to be in place. Many times we say would like to go deeper, train harder,or devote more time. We can choose to just embark on the path, taking the actions that lead to these goals with the understanding that along this path there will be obstacles some small, others large, and in some cases some that appear insurmountable-the wall.
What you do when you face your wall determines if your progress or remain where you are. I say your wall because it is a wall of your own creation, just like the man in the story, we each create our walls and they become as solid as we make them.
Some of us are quite content to have a wall, it allows us a fallback position, of course I cant progress any further, cant you see this immense wall before me? It makes all our effort all the more admirable because we are striving against such a large obstacle. Some of us have walls of pride, some of ego, others still have built up walls of towering fear and self doubt. Some of us have walls that contain bricks of anger, and pent up frustration.
Whatever your wall consists of- until you dismantle it (face it), you will not be able to move past it. It took the man in the story years to get past his first wall, only to encounter another wall. It may seem disheartening to have to face wall after wall, until you realize that through this process you achieve growth, strength, compassion, fortitude, temperance,and gentleness.
There will always be walls to face, the question is how will you approach your wall each day? Will you use the tools given to you to dismantle it, or will you discard them and leave the wall intact, hiding in its shadow?
At first, form is needed;
Then doubt and inhibition must be dispelled.
Eventually, form is celebrated with joy:
And expression becomes formless.
Then doubt and inhibition must be dispelled.
Eventually, form is celebrated with joy:
And expression becomes formless.
– Deng Ming-Dao
strong spirit-strong mind-strong body
Sensei Orlando
Snow Trees
My daughter calls these snow trees. From a distance it looks like snowfall has settled on them. When I ask her if its real snow she looks at me sagely and says no, then laughs- those are cherry blossoms!!