5 posts tagged “karate”

On Jan 24, 2009 at 5.30pm I had my karate grading exam. I reached Kamla Devi School at 5.15pm. My sensei Ravi sir was already there. I changed into my uniform and was ready on time. There were almost 100 students appearing for various grades. They were divided age wise in three groups. Warm ups started at 6pm. Then punches, kicks, push ups, knuckle push up, squats, elbow crawls went on for 45 min. Later we were hauled outside into the play ground. There we moved in large circles doing 'mawashi geri'. Later I could not complete my 'walk on the knee'. Never mind. Finally we 'bunny hopped' and 'duck walked' back inside.

Inside we did stretches and then katas started. This is where I stopped. I have forgotten 3 katas that I knew in 2000. Too many years have passed by and I have 'restarted' karate only 4 months back. I will learn first 2 katas in next 15 days, surely. The exam got over at 7.45pm. Well it was one and half hour of solid work out. Certificates were issued to us at the end. I am happy at my 'purple belt' (4th KYU) certificate.

Then on Jan 26, 2009 at 10am, I had WIMP&TVSE Association's AGM held at Juhu. Prateek was going to Bandra. I went along with him till Amitabh's house and then walked through the lane besides Arogya Nidhi hospital. The hall is opposite well known Chand Society.

At 11am proceedings started. B N Tiwari took the mike and later B K Chaturvedi spoke. They spoke about Rasul Pookutty, as he is the first ever Indian sound engineer nominated for Oscars. It is truely a great honour for the association and also for the FTII. A certificate of appreciation was given to him that was accepted by someone else as Rasul was not present. They placed a shawl on his shoulders, handed him a bouquet and a coconut. I was impressed. I regreted not bringing my camera along. I wanted to click picture of that certificate. The honouring did not end there. Tiwari announced Arun Chakravarti's name and honoured him too in the similar fashion... and next was my own name and later Jagmohan Anand's. Strangely we three are from FTII and Chakki and me are from same batch. Somehow it is strange that Tiwari spoke highly about everyone as sincere professional technicians but for me added 'he is a very nice person'. I will relish that comment for long. Long back my friend Macmohan also said the same thing while introducing me to someone at a party.

After this three of us were called to the dias and take over the responsibility of judges for the executive committee elections. Boy that was some marathon. The attendance was nearly 300. All three us had to sign all the votes. Voting process too was quite slow as there only two ballet boxes. After all the voting, counting started. This too was slow. I had to device a method to make it faster. It did work. Finally I announced the results making a small goof up. Bhagat Singh and Subhash sahu won. The proceedings went on till 6.30pm.

I got time for lunch only at 3pm! In fact I eat 7 times a day these days, on Aarti's advice. But this day I did not notice the hunger. BK was nice in asking me if I had 'sugar' problem. 'Thankfully no' I said. Champa was so nice to me during lunch. She waited on me and got me there was to eat.

Fianlly at 6.45 I bid 'bye bye' to everyone and walked out with a tired daze carrying the shawl, flowers, coconut and the precious certificate. Later I got into an auto and SMSed 'Thanks' to Champa.

Yesterday was my karate class after 2 weeks. That means I missed 3 classes. It was very very tiring. A new sensei had come. he did not give us any rest between various sets of workouts. Poonam used to give us 2mins to revive. But in a way it might be good. Many people's stamina got tested. We also did some new combo kicks and punches. I must have done more than 50 push ups (including knuckle ones) and about 100 sit ups. I slept very well last night. In the morning I went for a walk too. Somehow I don't feel lazy these days. Good for me. You never know when suddenly the time will not allow me to work out. It is so important at my age to stay within right weight and and in shape.
I am planning to see an Italian film fest from tomorrow at Nehru Centre.
Today morning I called Ghazala home to read the poem with me again, before I mail it to her. I did send it as she wants to read it's print out at home in a relaxed mood. I feel more or less it is done.
Sachin Tendulkar made his 40th century today at Nagpur test match against Australia. This is the last match of the series.

Not feeling well since Tuesday. I had been thinking what to do about it. On Wednesday my nose was running badly, so I did not go for my karate class. I thought I may slip into flu. I did steaming a few times and became better. Then after 2 days cold became fine but throat started playing up. What the heck! I thought might as well get sick for a few days. Finally yesterday (Saturday) I visited Dr Koppikar in the Ratan Nagar lane. He asked so many questions, like a homeopath. Made me lie down, checked with stethoscope, peeped into my throat, checked my BP (140/90). Then he advised a mild anti-biotic (Mahacef/Si-Fixim 200mg) and a cough syrup (Bro-Zidex). I have to take it for 5 days. He wrote at the bottom of the prescription that if i don't improve I have do a blood test and a chest X-ray. That is if I don't get better.
Today after a lot of thinking I went for my karate class. I had missed the last one. If I miss too many classes, then it is going to be no fun. I will remain raw for long time. I am also thinking to go for the karate camp between 23-26 oct. I guess I will pay the money for the camp.

I have been issued an I-card in my Karate class. I am feeling better, my appetite has become better and I had not been getting any aches and stiffness till now. Last Wednesday (10 Sep, 2008) was my 4th class. I met Ravi sir today. I asked him about his thesis that he write for his Ph. D. in physical training. He did not sound too enthused by it. But may be he will copy it and pass it to me. I wanted to read the thoughts that go on in the mind of a very senior Karate expert, like him. He is 6th Dan black belt! He gave me the Matheran camp form. Everyone who attends the camps gets promoted to the next belt. It is on Oct 23-26, 2008. Let me see if I am free those days. If I am free then I will be there.

Today was my Karate class #3. It could have been #4, but on last Wednesday it did not happen. Being the first day of the Ganapati festival, only 4 students came, so Poonam sensei canceled the class. I felt bad, since it would now be after a week that I will be doing strenuous work outs. I had decided to increaze my strength input in today's class, which I did. I put in more power in my kicks and punches. I also tried to complete 30 counts of various combination. Sensei made it quite tough for us all. We also 'paired-up' and did some kick practice. We were supposed to lightly touch the person; but my partner stayed far away from. My legs are any way were too short to reach him; still it was good doing those kicks as practice. The class went on for 75-80 min.
Last thing that sensei asked us to do was to sit on the ball of the foot, hit 2 punches, hop and turn around, 2 punches, hop to turn around, 2 punches again.... In 5 hops I was out. Perhaps everyone was in the same plight. Sensei called the class off.
My old friend Hemant was there. He is now a black-belt 2nd Dan. I took his phone number. On the first mention, he seemed he to be interested in reading my blogs. Today I went up and down to dojo in rickshaw. I reached home at 9.45am.
I was soaking wet and had breakfast like that only. The body was too hot for bath.
After lunch I coudn't stop hitting the pillow. I fell asleep for solid 2 hours.