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Well, after devoting myself on Thursday to reviewing all Japanese grammar points and 500+ kanji before my placement exam today, I still wasn't confident by the time the exam rolled around. They were all ready to let me test into the advanced class until I got their intermediate exam and realized that I could: write all the kanji, read all the kanji, and translate back and forth. I surmised (correctly) that my grammar questions were probably about half wrong, but figured I could get away with that since I'd warned them beforehand that my grammar was only so so. But then there was an entire section on keigo (polite language) and every single Japanese course I've taken has always taught keigo after Japanese grammar (a point which I've never gotten to). Leeds, for example, doesn't get around to it in the first year etc etc. Rutgers, however, teaches it integrated in with the rest of their grammar instruction and without keigo there was no way they could let me in the advanced class. I'm a little annoyed about the whole thing, but there's not much I can do about it, and at least I didn't let myself down by failing the exam. I can't help that I wasn't taught keigo.
Attempts to register for said Intermediate course have failed. Hopefully, tomorrow will be the lucky day. *sigh*
At Bujinkan tonight I attempted to ensure myself a pleasant training environment by asking a guy I enjoy training with to train with me. Unfortunately, after an extra long rolling session, then kata practice which seems to have reinjured my ligament a bit, Jack had us do some punching practice using four person training groups so me and my partner teamed up with two other guys. The exercise was to have two people holding a bo at face level right above a punching pad being held by a third person. Keeping proper form and trying to minimize the openings you give your opponent, you punched. If you leant forward when you did so, your face would hit the stick. If you did it right, you'd end up as close to the stick as possible without slamming your face into it. We were all giving advice to each other on what we were doing wrong since that's what you do in training, so I told I. (a guy I don't train with if I have a choice) that his form and distance were off. He was really offended and said it was fine, and I shrugged and resolved to ignore it.
We get around to my turn punching and he tells me I'm pulling my non-punching hand back. Now, we have been training this year that instead of pulling your extended hand back immediately when punching or striking, you wait to do so until the striking hand is in the vicinity cause this keeps the space open. However, you can't do this when there's a stick right above where you're punching since you'll either a) have to move your hand lower/higher and break kamae, or b) hit your hand on the stick if you don't pull it back cause the stick is in the space. I watched Jack do it and saw he was either putting his hand higher than the stick (not really an option for me) or pulling it back slightly faster. I figured since it was training for not leaning forward or showing openings, I should focus on that (in hindsight, I might have been able to compensate by going lower with my whole body, but it didn't occur to me at the time). I told I. that I couldn't do the move with the stick there, and figured that was it. But no, when it was his turn again, he showed me him pulling back his hands and said this is what he'd meant. I gave him my best glare, and said, "Yes, and when there's not a stick there, I'll do that." The fourth guy training with us very nervously said that we're all here to learn, and finally it was the end of that. God, what a stupid pissing contest. And poor M. had to train with I. and he treated her like glass even though she's several levels above him in skill *rolls eyes*
Jack had some metaphor for me involving last night's football game and how short people can overcome big, tall ones. I guess he really liked that game. *L* The rest of training was using those same punches we'd been practising to stop someone from punching normally, then from throwing a haymaker (surprisingly easy so long as you don't panic). Weapon was rope which was fun as usual. I had a good time really, other than the incident with I.
I'm going early to class tomorrow so I can figure out where to park and how the buses work and such. Ja ne!
Attempts to register for said Intermediate course have failed. Hopefully, tomorrow will be the lucky day. *sigh*
At Bujinkan tonight I attempted to ensure myself a pleasant training environment by asking a guy I enjoy training with to train with me. Unfortunately, after an extra long rolling session, then kata practice which seems to have reinjured my ligament a bit, Jack had us do some punching practice using four person training groups so me and my partner teamed up with two other guys. The exercise was to have two people holding a bo at face level right above a punching pad being held by a third person. Keeping proper form and trying to minimize the openings you give your opponent, you punched. If you leant forward when you did so, your face would hit the stick. If you did it right, you'd end up as close to the stick as possible without slamming your face into it. We were all giving advice to each other on what we were doing wrong since that's what you do in training, so I told I. (a guy I don't train with if I have a choice) that his form and distance were off. He was really offended and said it was fine, and I shrugged and resolved to ignore it.
We get around to my turn punching and he tells me I'm pulling my non-punching hand back. Now, we have been training this year that instead of pulling your extended hand back immediately when punching or striking, you wait to do so until the striking hand is in the vicinity cause this keeps the space open. However, you can't do this when there's a stick right above where you're punching since you'll either a) have to move your hand lower/higher and break kamae, or b) hit your hand on the stick if you don't pull it back cause the stick is in the space. I watched Jack do it and saw he was either putting his hand higher than the stick (not really an option for me) or pulling it back slightly faster. I figured since it was training for not leaning forward or showing openings, I should focus on that (in hindsight, I might have been able to compensate by going lower with my whole body, but it didn't occur to me at the time). I told I. that I couldn't do the move with the stick there, and figured that was it. But no, when it was his turn again, he showed me him pulling back his hands and said this is what he'd meant. I gave him my best glare, and said, "Yes, and when there's not a stick there, I'll do that." The fourth guy training with us very nervously said that we're all here to learn, and finally it was the end of that. God, what a stupid pissing contest. And poor M. had to train with I. and he treated her like glass even though she's several levels above him in skill *rolls eyes*
Jack had some metaphor for me involving last night's football game and how short people can overcome big, tall ones. I guess he really liked that game. *L* The rest of training was using those same punches we'd been practising to stop someone from punching normally, then from throwing a haymaker (surprisingly easy so long as you don't panic). Weapon was rope which was fun as usual. I had a good time really, other than the incident with I.
I'm going early to class tomorrow so I can figure out where to park and how the buses work and such. Ja ne!
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