Peter’s Soapbox

My New Bujin Bokken

My new bokken from Bujin Design just arrived. I opted for the hickory jigenryu style, and chose the smallest one I could get because I really like having a lighter, nimbler sword.

McConnell Taping

This weekend, after starting a new round of physical therapy for my knee, I experimented with McConnell Taping to see if it could keep my patella in place. I’d tried something like this before, and was pretty skeptical.

To my surprise, the technique not only moved my kneecap into a more proper location, the tape actually held through hours of hot, sweaty aikido practice, including kneeling and suwariwaza techniques. I definitely will be using this technique in the future.

Shobu Aikido Vermont Summer Gasshukku with William Gleason Sensei

This weekend I had the pleasure of training with William (Bill) Gleason Sensei, who taught several classes at our dojo in Woodstock, Vermont. Gleason Sensei has been incorporating more techniques to develop internal control and power into his teachings, which is still new to me, and very interesting. I am looking forward to more of this training in the near future.

One Hundred Push Ups, Week 3, Day 3 (Column 3)

Whew! I did it! Week three is DONE.

Now for another exhaustion test and the dreaded week 4, which always kicked my butt the last time(s) around.

Don’t Throw That Old Coffee Away, Freeze It and Make Coffee Cubes!

Do you like iced coffee? I do. And one thing I hate is watery coffee. Here’s a great way around that. Have some extra coffee left over in the pot after you’ve had your morning fix? Don’t toss it – freeze it! Just pour it into your ice cube tray and you get coffee ice cubes! They keep more of that great coffee flavor in your iced coffee. Enjoy!