Knives, Jujitsu, and Pyromania

Was it late February or early March that I went on a Jujitsu road trip with most of my dojo? Eh, I can't remember. Time could be just a human construct, anyway.

(But probably not. I just suck at remembering things.)

That means I get to show you more Jujitsu pictures! Yay! Unlike last time, this was not a camping trip (because I don't do camping trips in winter- I'm crazy, but not like that). We carpooled down to Chicago (thank gods I wasn't driving- thank you Sensei Dan!) at breakneck speed because the black belts in our car had to be uke for some black belt tests. Uke (ooh-kay) is the Japanese word for the person receiving the technique. (Interestingly, it can also be translated as "submissive," "victim," or "bitch", but that applies to BDSM more than Jujitsu.) In Jujitsu, an uke is the person who is getting thrown or taken down so that the other person can practice their technique. In practice sessions, students take turns being uke. 

(Here I am being uke while Sarah throws me.)

None of the lower ranks are allowed to watch black belt tests, so no one really knows what goes on. (So technically, it could be BDSM- the imagination runs wild!)

(Okay- MY imagination runs wild.)

I got to do lots of fun things in the Chicago seminar.

I did some hanbo techniques, which were different than the other weapon styles I've done before. In Jujitsu hanbo, we use the hanbo to manipulate joints, instead of striking. I'm definitely used to hitting people with sticks, but breaking people's joints with sticks is fun too!

I did a lot of ground fighting, too. I got a super good workout with all the ground fighting classes I took. My muscles were sore for days afterwards.

I took a Judo throw class. Here I am throwing Sarah de ashi harai. Throws are probably my weakest area in martial arts, so I need all the practice I can get.

I took a knife fighting class, which I think was my favorite. For some reason I just like knives! Plus, it was something I've never done before. Before the sensei had us work with knives, though, we had to learn a basic striking and blocking drill.

Then Sensei Hodgkins showed us the proper way to stab people, using rubber knives.

Then we got to stab each other!

Other than the Jujitsu, we got to do a lot of socializing, getting drunk, listening to loud music, eating good food, and almost getting kicked out of the hotel. For some reason when I was drunk I really, really wanted to set someone's socks on fire. Thankfully, no one let me try.

(Drunk me and pyro Donald Duck are pretty much indistinguishable.)

I'm really enjoying the Jujitsu seminars. I get to do so many fun things plus make new friends and learn some stuff, too.

Group picture!