VFF 1st workout: Exhilarating!!!

So after wearing my Vibram Five Fingers (VFF) off and on this week, I finally took them out for a workout this Sunday morning. I decided to do a short jog, about 1 mile, to the De Anza College track to do some core workouts, since I didn't think I was ready for a long run yet. (I haven't run since my marathon in January. :p) The jog there was ok. Felt a little odd, and stepping on a joint between pavement hurt a little bit, but it was fine. Slight detour on gravel was fine, as was grass and mulch under trees. I realized that there are places you can't step in/on though, such as grates with wider holes. I think your ankles also get more of a workout, since the VFF allows and forces you to use your ankles more, for both stabilizing and pushing.

I always disliked stair works, but it was a lot more tolerable with the VFF. Being able to bend and use your toes more made the stairs much more tolerable, both going up and down. Lunges were also interesting being able to use my toes more, but my left toes were not too happy due to a tough and tense kendo practice on Friday. It was also easier to stay on my toes and stabilize during burpees.

But the real surprise came on the jog back. It had felt like the one thing that feels off w/ the VFF is actually running fast, or sprinting. I don't have a good sprinting form. I'm not used to running only on the balls of my feet and my toes. Rather, I lengthen my stride and power faster. But then landing on the thinner heel of the VFF kind of hurts. On the jog back I tried to jog in the toe/ball first form, which is landing on the balls of your feet and not your heels. It's supposed to be how you do barefoot running and how the Kenyans run. It was not easy, but easier in the VFF than regular shoes. It was more of a strain on my calf and ankles, but I kept going. On the last stretch of my block, I started to up the speed and start sprinting. And I could actually sprint on the balls of my feet! And I kept going faster and faster, and soon it felt like all that was touching the ground were my toes!! It was exhilarating!! So it was a great fun first training w/ the VFF and we'll see how we go from here. ^_^

Vibram 5 fingers

Kenney my coworker has been talking about the Vibram 5 fingers for a while now. He's a pretty serious runner and keeps up with the running trends. One of the trends is the benefits of running barefoot, and the Vibram 5 finger is trying to simulate barefoot running as much as possible. I always walk around barefoot at home and kendo is also always barefoot, but I was still kind of interested.

So yesterday afternoon during lunch we went down to Palo Alto to Zombie Runners to try them out. I wasn't sure if I would like them, but neither of us could take them off after having them on. And in fact both of us wore them out of the store. Kenney even threw away the shoes he was originally wearing since they were worn down quite a bit already! I think I'm going to try a little running and core work w/ them this weekend.

The picture is of our feet after coming back to the office. I'm the one w/ white pants.

四段が取りませんでした

今回五月の審査でまだ四段が取りませんでした。本当に難しいでした。今回が十一月の審査よりいい稽古をしたと思いました。だがまだ「四段を取った』と思いませんでした。やっぱりまだ駄目です。もっと練習しなければなりません。先生達、先輩達、とみんなの稽古感謝しました。また四段のチャレンジをします。

Well, it's official. I did not pass my yondan test this May. I thought I did better than my previous attempt last November, but I did not have the feeling of "I got it!" during the test. It really is difficult. I need to practice more, which I plan to do now that I no longer have soccer on Saturdays. I must also thank my senseis, my senpais, and everyone at the dojo for their practices. And the challenge continues.

On a separate note, Tanaka sensei told me during kata practice yesterday that I'm too stiff. Kata needs to have emotion, but also needs to look smooth and beautiful. I am focusing so much on displaying emotion that my motions are jerky and unpleasant. I think my keiko is being affected in a similar way as well.