Stuart Ablett
Member
- Messages
- 15,917
- Location
- Tokyo Japan
Yesterday I started back to a path that brought me here to Japan, nearly 20 years ago, Aikido, which is a martial art.
I went to the place to buy the "Do-Gi" (pronounced "Dough-Gee") which is the same or similar to the "Judo-Gi" that the Judo guys wear, one VERY large size for myself and two smaller sizes for my two daughters. Yep, my two daughters are going to start Aikido, so I figured that it was a good time for me to get back at it, after a 15 year layoff
Thing is this cost some money, I certainly hope it will be well spent, but still
Three do-gi, and three sets of membership at the Hombu Dojo (world headquarters), the girls had to pay monthly dues as well as a one time membership dues, all told, with some other sundries, (knee pads, for example) and I'm looking at over $1000........ but, the time I'll get to spend with my daughters doing Aikido will be priceless, and I hope to set them on a path to learning more about themselves as well. I've found Aikido people to be very open and helpful, much like woodworkers, one reason is there are no competitions, like in Judo or Karate, so just about anywhere in the world they go, there will be a dojo that should be able to help them when they get there and will make up a good community of people for them to be around. The bonus of them being able to whup some low life's butt if they are ever bothered is great too.
I'm turning 45 this year, and I'm way too fat and feel way too old for just 45 years of age.
I recently watched this film "Commando: On the front line" about a group of Royal Marine Commando recruits, it is by a fellow named "Chris Terrill" who makes some great documentary films. He went through the training with the 50 recruits, and he made it and he is 55 freaking years old
There is a short film on him doing the training too, called "The 55 Year Old Commando" >> YouTube Link <<
Really made me sit up and say "Crap Stu, you get winded on 4 flights of stairs" time to do something about it, so that is what I'm doing this weekend, setting up for a lifestyle change and returning to the thing that brought me to Japan.
One last thing, it was really neat to see my eldest daughter, Erika, in her do-ji, (I had to show the girls how to wear them) as she would not be here today, if I had not started Aikido back in Canada, and then came to Japan to pursue it, now to see her ready to do some Aikido, well, that is full circle for me
Stu
I went to the place to buy the "Do-Gi" (pronounced "Dough-Gee") which is the same or similar to the "Judo-Gi" that the Judo guys wear, one VERY large size for myself and two smaller sizes for my two daughters. Yep, my two daughters are going to start Aikido, so I figured that it was a good time for me to get back at it, after a 15 year layoff
Thing is this cost some money, I certainly hope it will be well spent, but still
Three do-gi, and three sets of membership at the Hombu Dojo (world headquarters), the girls had to pay monthly dues as well as a one time membership dues, all told, with some other sundries, (knee pads, for example) and I'm looking at over $1000........ but, the time I'll get to spend with my daughters doing Aikido will be priceless, and I hope to set them on a path to learning more about themselves as well. I've found Aikido people to be very open and helpful, much like woodworkers, one reason is there are no competitions, like in Judo or Karate, so just about anywhere in the world they go, there will be a dojo that should be able to help them when they get there and will make up a good community of people for them to be around. The bonus of them being able to whup some low life's butt if they are ever bothered is great too.
I'm turning 45 this year, and I'm way too fat and feel way too old for just 45 years of age.
I recently watched this film "Commando: On the front line" about a group of Royal Marine Commando recruits, it is by a fellow named "Chris Terrill" who makes some great documentary films. He went through the training with the 50 recruits, and he made it and he is 55 freaking years old
There is a short film on him doing the training too, called "The 55 Year Old Commando" >> YouTube Link <<
Really made me sit up and say "Crap Stu, you get winded on 4 flights of stairs" time to do something about it, so that is what I'm doing this weekend, setting up for a lifestyle change and returning to the thing that brought me to Japan.
One last thing, it was really neat to see my eldest daughter, Erika, in her do-ji, (I had to show the girls how to wear them) as she would not be here today, if I had not started Aikido back in Canada, and then came to Japan to pursue it, now to see her ready to do some Aikido, well, that is full circle for me
Stu
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