I’ve come to the part of my taekwondo training where the mental aspect is becoming very important, and the depth of the importance of the mental aspect is starting to become apparent. Obviously, it takes mental toughness to make it to class, practice at home, or push through a grueling sparring match. Also obvious is that our forms and one-step sparring have a sequence of moves that has to be learned. What is not so apparent at the start is the mental aspect of executing each technique. Techniques have a preparation, execution, and follow through. Applying a lot of force throughout each technique actually gets in the way of the execution. Rather, the main force should be applied right before contact so that the strength will be most effective and efficient. Also, all the pressing thoughts get in the way of any kind of technique.

So that’s where I am now. Conditioning so my body can be fit to do what I ask it to do, practice so it will remember how to execute technique, and calming the mind so it will get out of the way when it’s time to deliver the payload.

And taekwondo is one of those sports where you can involve the family.

I’m dipping my toes into mobile blogging, now that I have a phone with reasonable text entry.

Now I can blog while hiking!

Testing from my phone. Way cool!

I spend over $200/mo so my family can have a common physical activity/sport we all do together (taekwondo). This in addition to the occasional mountain hikes or walks through the Biltmore estate we carry the children on. It’s the best money we can spend right now behind basic survival.

Some of the earlier epidemiological studies were done on the effect of exercise on heart attack rate in Britain. This was one of those results that passed the “interocular impact test” (smacks you between the eyes): no minuscule effect which has to be heavily powered to see.

Though done in the ’50s, those studies are as important today as ever. The Stats blog has the scoop.

The Catholic Key Blog: Atheists Need Better Liturgists.

Ok, I get the whole power of ritual thing. But I have to agree with the (presumably Catholic) author of this post. Does “de-baptism” frame your situation to make a better atheist?

Or is it all a big stupid joke like dress-like-a-pirate day?

Morons are terrifying in large numbers

Still going. Belt testing is in two weeks. I feel ready now, but then comes the first test: patience. Keep practicing what I know. Become intimate with the moves. Slow them down, and understand the technique very well. That kind of depth of knowledge is going to help at the higher belt ranks.

I did 5 hours of taekwondo this week, including 2 hours of sparring and even some jiujitsu. I also did an additional hour of running.

If I keep up this level of activity, I will have succeeded in my exercise goal beyond my wildest dreams.

I don’t recommend trying this.