OMGWTFBBQ

Photo by Nick Clute-Reinig

It just hit me that I'm going to be flying out to Japan this summer to fight in the World Naginata Championships. Flipping so many shits right now.

GRAWR.

面付け

Photo by Nick Clute-Reinig

The time comes again for me to suit up and prepare for another pivotal event in my martial arts career. My performance this weekend will determine whether or not I'm going to compete in the World Championships in Japan and find out if I have what it takes to fight with the best. If it all works out, then I'm not nearly as bad as I think I am. If not, I have three years to work my ass off and try again.

Let's see how this whole thing plays out, shall we?

Thwacking people on the head

Some select pictures from the 12th USNF Championship Tournament. Cool beans.

Battered and bruised.

Just competed in the 12th United States Naginata Federation Championship this past weekend. That all worked out surprisingly well. You see, I had been training for this tournament since I was twelve, so for this thing to finally happen was a bit scary. But in the end, I didn't choke up like I thought I might. On the contrary, I seemed to have had a damn good weekend.

First place in engi.

Second place in Individuals.

and first place in Team Matches. Yeah So Cal!

So yeah... things went pretty well. Met some amazing individuals at the tournament, had my eyes opened to the greater world of Naginata as a whole, was pushed to my limits and then some, and a bunch of other fun stuff in between.

一本

There's a sharp crack.

Flags go up.

The competitors reset in the center of the court.

二本目。

focus.

Ready weapon.

Stab through chest.

Remove weapon.

Repeat as needed.

Oh, if only all problems could be solved with such ease.

lines.

Suit up or shut up.

조금 기다려

"I'm training you hard because the rest of the world won't be easy" - Kevin Saxton

______________________________________________________

A random moment of introspection reminded me that the Nationals are coming up for naginata, here in sunny Southern California. If I do well there, I'll be representing the USA in 2011, pitted against some of the strongest practitioners of naginata in the entire world. To add a touch of romanticism, the whole shindig's going down in Japan. I've been training for this since I was twelve, looking forward to the day when I'd be able to join Team USA and give it my all against the international naginata community.

And now, I'm stuck practicing on my own, with the biggest tournament of my life thus far looming in the distance. I can do nothing but practice diligently... and wait.

Pointless Nostalgia

As I look at this picture, I realize just how desperately I want to step into a dojo and smack someone in the head. Especially with nationals coming up, I fear that I'm getting soft. Hell, I'm losing calluses. My feet are no longer as hardened as disgusting as they once were, and this makes me sad.

Inspired, perhaps?

Just got back from the 2009 SCNF Naginata Seminar and whatnot. Didn't do as well in the taikai as I would've hoped, but at least I got my nidan.

Regardless of my physical performance, at least I took some pretty pictures. Definitely some of my favorite naginata pictures that I've taken.

These ugly things have protected my hands and wrists for years. They've been good to me.


I had an obsession with taking this style of shot over the weekend. Strange.


Soooo this is Yamauchi-sensei. She's older and smaller than me, but still manages to beat pretty much everyone in the country, if not most of the world. Kinda like Yoda.

"You are nidan now! Do not (insert bad habit here)!"

I greatly enjoy shooting wide open.


My teacher and mentor, Kevin Saxton. Bamf.

"I'm training you hard because the rest of the world won't be easy"

And my favorite picture of the weekend. Simple and clean.


Dunno if this will suit anyone's fancy, but I sure enjoyed taking these pictures.