(no subject)

[ewt]

Ohboy.

Okay, so I went to Aikido last night. I can do less with my elbow than I thought, and spent most of the second half doing Ki tests with hairyears while everyone else did making-your-attacker-fly-through-the-air-and-fall-over.

I am actually scheduled for the grading in Wales on the 21st. OHSHIT. I've just had a month off, I don't remember everything I need to remember, there's stuff on that grading I haven't DONE before. All the first-form stuff on the move, plus all the second-form stuff. No Ki tests (but I'm good at those!).

Sensei said I should come on Thursday night and decide then whether to grade. I think I can probably learn stuff if I swot up lots, but whether I actually grade mostly depends on how much better my elbow is by then; there's still quite a bit of visible swelling., and if I can't do it I can't do it. Still, there's a chance I will be able to do it, so I must swot.

I'd really like to get my orange belt with the others in my class. Also, there are very few gradings I can make, because I teach many Saturdays and nearly all Sundays... so if I miss this, I'll probably have to wait until the London grading in April. That's a long time, and the others will be getting Green Belt by then.

Nothing for it but to swot, so swot I will. And keep doing hot/cold compresses on the elbow, and taking my ibuprofen like a good ewt.

Does anyone know where I can get sushi made with Pacific salmon, or with organically-farmed Atlantic salmon? Mustn't be too too expensive but it might be nice to have some once a month or so as a treat.

Must phone students and figure out WTF I'm doing today. Meh. But, money is good.

Comments

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Japan. You're not going to get fish fresh enough to put into sushi that came from the Pacific all the way here; it's not possible.

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

Point.

Might find a London restaurant that uses organically farmed Pacific stuff, though.

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

organically farmed Atlantic stuff.

I can't type.

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, nor can I. Don't do the grading if your arm isn't up to it; if you damage it permanently an orange belt will be insufficient return.

[devvie.livejournal.com]

I heard Oregon salmon is the best....but I watch the cooking show way too much. I would think Washington State would have lovely salmon too. I think this might be a bit far for you to travel though. :D

I've been on a sushi kick for the last two weeks....yum.

Grading

[korpora.livejournal.com]

Don't do it if you're injured, if your aikido gradings are anything like my judo ones, you'll pick up another injury. better to be a happy healthy yellow(are aikido kyu-belt colours the same as judo?) than a tired and falling to bits Orange belt.
if you grade to fast, sooner or later it will catch up to you and you'll stall and feel you're getting no where, it took me a year to move from 4th kyu.

Re: Grading

[ewtikins.livejournal.com]

From what I understand, Ki-Aikido gradings are nothing like Judo ones. The rate of injury in Aikido is very low.

Re: Grading

[korpora.livejournal.com]

:) sounds like fun then.

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

I'd still recommend waiting, rather than grading with an injury. It's perfectly possible for your Sensei to award you the orange belt based upon watching you train regularly once you're healed. At least, it is in every school of aikido that I've encountered...

[battlekitty.livejournal.com]

Ask at your local japanese grocer/fishmonger :)

They should be able to tell you where they source their fish from, as a minimum.

[redcountess]

Moshi Moshi (Canary Wharf, Liverpool Street) *does* use Scottish salmon, but it is from one small farm, Loch Duart, known for its environmental and welfare stance http://www.moshimoshi.co.uk/takeaway.htm (scroll to the bottom)

[redcountess]

More info on Loch Duart's practices http://www.lochduart.com/bestpractice.htm#iso%22

[wuluf.livejournal.com]

You could try Borough market I have had wild salmon from there. Its more red than pink in colour. Not sure from where it is caught from. The Downside is that it does cost a bit more than pink. Though they will cut it to your requiment.

[pplfichi.livejournal.com]

And I'm stressing about my grading...

As long as you don't damage your elbow, I think there is nothing to br lost trying to be ready for it and having a go. The way I'm trying to look at it is that at worst I fail the grading or don't go or something. It might limit a bit what I can do for now, but I'll still be doing Aikido - I'm there to do that and not to get pretty coloured belts after all.

[yellowrocket.livejournal.com]

Where in Wales is your grading taking place?