My Tai Chi Journey

Discussion in 'Survival of the Fittest' started by Hanzo, Sep 23, 2015.


  1. Hanzo

    Hanzo Monkey+++

    Really more my commute today. I taught about 3 1/2 hours of tai chi classes and commuted by bike for about 19-20 miles.

    Had to start with... coffee and a meal bar. Was running late.

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    The morning had my longest biking of about 16 or so miles including a long 2 mile uphill to get home. So on the ride home, the notable things were I saw a Jackson chameleon lazily crossing my path and had to swerve to avoid it. Never did stop to take a picture though. Most times, I am just trucking it to get to my destination. Last week, near the chameleon area, I also had to swerve. A mongoose chased a frog into my path. My going by saved the frog. The mongoose was just about to chomp it. Sorry mongoose. Bad timing.

    There's a bunch of mangrove swamp on one side and ocean on the other for a good portion of my ride. I choose that path over riding on the road. Maybe about six miles of my commute in on the road though. I ride by a golf course on one side and Navy ships on the other. Pretty cool. Today, on my way back I took a side trip and rode to our largest soccer complex.

    And there was a headwind most of the way home. One thing I have to say about the Pedego battery... it is long lasting. Granted, I turn off the pedal assist and ride with it off, I do use the throttle on the hills to aid my pedaling. I started at five bars and ended 20 miles later with five bars. It makes me feel very confident that I have some pretty good range. But being a heavy fatbike with only seven gears, I don't ride very fast. Especially since I pedal instead of just opening up on the throttle. But I still average 12-15 mph. I would be in the 20's if powered the whole time. But my intention is to also get a workout.

    By the time I make it home, with my soccer complex side trip, I have about 45 minutes to eat and head out to my long class. Fortunately, it is a short commute.

    I wasn't even hungry. But I knew I would be, so I ate. Had a quick lentils with cheese and crackers. Or what @Bear calls exploding chunky baby diaper. The microwave helped with the exploding effect.

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    After I ate, I was feeling a little tired, so I had a Bear orange. Bear gave me some Hawaiian oranges. They were juicy and a good pick me up. Just glad Bear didn't give me berries. Would have sounded very wrong.

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    So I make it my long class. My gear... Pedego Trail Tracker fatbike, Nutcase helmet, Frost River Mesabi Range Bag, Bose bluetooth speaker, Hydroflask, and gamcha. The gamcha had sweat wiping duty. But I was also going to use it as a speaker sling if the compression strap on the bag didn't work so well. I play music for my students because they like it. Normally, I just put the speaker on the stool I packed, but I like this set up. If it rains, just cover with the flap.

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    My student's sword photobombing my bike.

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    Good classes, as usual. We probably spend equal time on forms and ideas. The ideas would include the applications of moves. I try to work on their structure because that is really important. And I try to be scientific in explanation, and simple in showing. I show them how structure can help them apply power without exerting muscular strength. And I show them how they can apply multiple vectors of force against an opponent's single line of force to collapse their structure. All without using muscular force. One example was I had a tiny old lady (think she is in her 70's and is maybe 4'9" or something) get grabbed by an big Hawaiian guy. And applying those principles, he couldn't hold her and was sent away. She didn't do it smoothly, so he could feel the force incrementally applied as she did her move instead of all at once. So I explain it like ganging up on your opponent 4 to 1, in this case. Four vectors of force against his one. And in a fight, all's fair.

    And during the class, I was sooooooooooo thankful to have our trade winds back. During out water break, I even videoed our trees.



    When I got home and cleaned up, I hung out with my neighbor for a little while. We have both been busy and I haven't had a chance to speak with him other than the occasional wave. During our conversation, I was also enjoying the late afternoon and early evening sky. Beautiful! Lucky live Hawaii!

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    So since I had already fed the monkeys. And mommy was out running. The monkeys came over wanting yogurt. So I take them out for yogurt. They had a good workout day too. They swam for about 45-55 minutes and biked for an hour or so. Good job on their part. And I take the neighbor kid too.

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    So my kids say thank you. Neighbor kid says nothing and just chomps away. And I tell her, "You should say 'thank you' too." She says, "What for?" Oh I had to restrain the fist of death from head slapping her. I couldn't believe I had to explain that I brought her with us and bought her her yogurt. So after she looks at me for a few seconds, she says thank you. I did not go into how it is important to appreciate things and not to feel entitled to everything and anything. Figure that's her parents' job. So when I told Mrs. Hanzo, she said having other people's kids around makes you appreciate yours more. I always appreciate my kids though. They have always been mostly polite.

    Sorry for rambling, but I just remembered something that happened with my big monkey when she was little. This was before little monkey was even a sparkle in my eye. Mrs. went to a book group, so I dropped her off and took the monkey out to eat. Two years old and already a sushi snob. That's why I have always said that my girls will not be cheap dates. After we eat, we are walking around this mall. And we see a store with stuffed animals. So we go in to look around and she sees this little cat thing that she fancied. So after checking the price, I ask her if she wants it. So she says yes and hands it to me. I tell her, "Why are you giving it to me? Take it to the man behind the counter."

    This is where it gets really cool. She holds it up to him and says, "Excuse me. May I buy this please?" I wish I had a camera then. The guys reaction was classic. He looked at her, then he looked at me like I was a ventriloquis. Then he asks me, "How old is she?" So I ask her to tell him how old she is and she say, "I am two." And he freaks out some more. And tells me that his son is three and doesn't even say words yet. The thing is, I did not tell her what to say. I just told her to take it to the man because we have to get it from him. Sorry. So proud of my girls.

    So I did not have yogurt. I really do prefer the veggie ginger smoothie that wifee made for me. It came out blurry so as not to mess any of you up.

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    Good night.
     
  2. Wild Trapper

    Wild Trapper Pirate Biker

    A simple 'like' is not enough, I greatly appreciate the time and effort you put into this post. Thank you for sharing the pictures and story.
     
    pearlselby and Hanzo like this.
  3. Hanzo

    Hanzo Monkey+++


    Mahalo for the kind words, @Wild Trapper.
     
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  4. AxesAreBetter

    AxesAreBetter Monkey+++

    We did something similar with our child. Always fun to remember, and you are right. Peoples reactions are priceless.
     
    Hanzo and Ganado like this.
  5. JohnSteven

    JohnSteven CHUNKY MUNKY

    Seriously- this is a nice post.
    And, interesting bike.
     
    Hanzo likes this.
  6. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    @Hanzo , digging it! Truly, inspirational.....
     
    Hanzo likes this.
  7. Hanzo

    Hanzo Monkey+++


    Mahalo @JohnSteven.
     
  8. Hanzo

    Hanzo Monkey+++


    Mahalo @Dunerunner. Inspirational was not the intent. Just wanted to share the pictures, but there was a story with them.
     
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  9. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    I never spoke any first words. First thing I ever said was "Let me get out of here";)(truth)
     
    Hanzo likes this.
  10. Hanzo

    Hanzo Monkey+++

    My commute so far was 15 miles. Saw big and little mongoose, chicken, and what I am pretty sure was a cat, but it looked like a fox.

    After heading back, had some watermelon juice and pan de coco that wifee got for me.

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    So maybe something else small to eat. Then a short commute to a long tai chi class. My knees have been hurting every since I was pressed into emergency soccer referee duty. That and the steep hike. And the soccer practice where we didn't have enough players to pair off for their drills. So I partnered with one. Knees, heck whole body, are old.
     
    Wild Trapper likes this.
  11. Hanzo

    Hanzo Monkey+++

    It is a beautiful day today. Had my coffee outside and planned on taking a ride after breakfast.

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    Had a special treat today. Got to ride with my wifee. We didn't go too far. 11.5 miles.

    I planned the route and she was happy with it. Also planned a stop on the way home. Got her her favorite milk tea. I had her go first to set the pace. My ultra athlete wife was cranking along on her Specialized road bike. And I always had a good view.

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  12. Hanzo

    Hanzo Monkey+++

    After all that food last night, I wanted to do hills today. Especially since it stopped raining after a sudden squall. So my plan was to do two consecutive long and steep hills. Wifee has been wanting to go with me, so I asked and she said yes. But she didn't have time for two because big monkey had dance class.

    So off we went. First freaking hill was as long as as steep as I remembered. But easier than the second one. We did the first one at wifee's pace. Stopped when she wanted to stop. So we stopped at this park near the top.

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    Close up of my lovely bride.

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    Tree she was under

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    Made it to the top.

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    Where we stopped was a trail head. Bummer that they closed it to the public. Fenced and barb wire topped it too. That was an awesome mountain biking trail. We hiked it too. Now you have to access the area from one of a couple ridges over. Not as conducive to biking.

    After we blazed it down, wifee went home, and I continued on. Went up at my pace, which was about maybe double wifee's uphill pace. I barely keep up with her road bike on downhills and flats though. And almost to the top, I was forced to my first stop. On one of the steepest parts and already in the granny gear, a mighty gust of head wind hit my full blast. Complete dead stop. So go with the flow right. I dismount and catch my breath until the wind dies down. Then make it to the top.

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    That little single track was ruttier and rootier and steeper than it looked. There is a trail head up here too to the left.

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    Blazed it back home. Mission accomplished.

    Hungry now. And asked little monkey if she wanted to get sushi. She wanted me to go get it and bring it home. Sheesh, how rude. I'll just eat cheesecake in front of her...
     
  13. TXKajun

    TXKajun Monkey+++

    Hanzo, I don't know who it more blessed.....you or your wife or your kids. OK, I really DO know! It's YOU, you lucky devil! LOLOL I bet you thank God every day (maybe several times) for what you have. And I bet your wifee and kids do the same. Kudos to you all. :)

    Kajun and Sweetie.
     
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  14. Hanzo

    Hanzo Monkey+++


    Can't speak for the wife or kids, but I am always thankful. Mahalo @TXKajun and Sweetie.
     
    Ganado likes this.
  15. Hanzo

    Hanzo Monkey+++

    I rode out into this rainbow this morning. It was pretty cool and drizzly, so no sweat until I stopped at my tai chi class.

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    On the way back, I took a scenic detour. And did a little exploring. This is the end of this dirt track.

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    My student gave me more jabong, so I have another pair. Shared it with the little monkey after I got back.

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    And made my between class meal. Made some eggs and had it with leftover smoked fish. Yum.

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    Pretty stoked. Lost six pounds in the last week. I eat whenever I am hungry. Only change is not eating until I am full. So maybe an extra small meal or two per day. Also, only doing bulletproof coffee once a week.
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2016
    Wild Trapper likes this.
  16. Hanzo

    Hanzo Monkey+++

    Small group this afternoon. Brush knee transitioning to play the lute.

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    Our faithful tai chi tree. Always gives us shade and shelter. The rain didn't bother us much today.

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    Steak and pork tortillaless quesadilla. Made with the last of the steak and kalua pig I made for New Year. Both monkeys were snitching my food. Big monkey snitched steak and little monkey snitched pork. Sheesh. Kinda like the little monkey snitching my smoked fish earlier.

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    Snack after tai chi and before soccer practice. I have enough time to grab a snack, drink some water, post my pictures and I am outta here. Gonna sleep so well tonight. Already tired even before soccer. Tuesdays have been my heavy exercise day. And now more so with the soccer season starting up. Other than my breaks for snacks, I am going from 9am until 6:30pm.
     
    Wild Trapper likes this.
  17. Hanzo

    Hanzo Monkey+++

    First day of soccer.

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    Glad I am less tired now, after soccer practice, than I was before.
     
    Ganado likes this.
  18. Hanzo

    Hanzo Monkey+++

    Another view from my ride this morning.

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    The most memorable sight was this guy in a Toyota flying by me on a single lane road. Speed limit was 25. I was trucking it at 22. There were workers on the road ahead standing in the street holding "slow" signs because the road was closed to one lane for both directions. He flew by me. Must have been going 50-60. Then he flew by the workers. Wish there was a cop there at the time.
     
  19. Hanzo

    Hanzo Monkey+++

    Took another ride today. Seventeen miles. Felt longer. But I am happy to get some dirt time.

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    There was one steep rutted downhill section and a stretch of narrow trail where I brushed bushes on both sides. Fun.

    And then I had my "@Bear lunch withdrawal" lunch.

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  20. Hanzo

    Hanzo Monkey+++

    Hills today. Got a good sweat going.

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    The Hill People Gear Tarahumara pack is an excellent bike pack.

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    On the hill, I saw a church with a cafe. Went in to get lunch, but they only have snacks. Unfortunately, they only serve hot food on Sundays after services. But they had coffee! So I had some.

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    By the way, the Nutcase helmets are comfortable and I love their motto. I too love my brain. My original plan was to get a black one that matches my bike. But little monkey picked this one out for me. Said it was cute and more visible. Not as cool as black, but monkey approved.

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    Time for a late lunch. I guess I will polish off the leftover pizza.
     
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