Updates, but a little late

The winter semester was quite demanding on my time, and I spent most of my down-time being a lazy potato.  Then I had the summer semester — shorter, but no less demanding as it was a completely different subject — and up next is my wedding.  So I haven’t had a lot of time to think about topics to write about; my contributions to my sponsor’s blog have dropped as well.  But let’s look at the goals we set down in January:

• earn my purple, brown, and black belts in BJJ
• research the time and cost for becoming a Registered Massage Therapist (to supplement BA and MA)
• earn my Sport Science diploma, Kinesiology specialization
• obtain my PDP from SFU UBC
  
• graduate from the BPEC program
• continue coaching the NWSS Hyacks
• complete rough draft of paper on BJJ for peer review and editing
• learn how to properly skip rope for cardio
• improve skip rope technique and increase intensity

In six months, what have I crossed off?  Well,

Earn my Sport Science diploma, Kinesiology specialization: I didn’t actually receive my diploma because I had heard that getting your diploma required you to reapply to the BPEC program.  Two pieces of paper seems nice, but I’ll still be able to obtain the Kinesiology specialization with the degree.  However, I did complete all the requirements for the diploma, and posted my well-loved “report card” on my Instagram.

Learn how to properly skip rope for cardio: thanks to some friends I’ve been able to not only start skipping, but maintain it in a decent rhythm.  I’ve also added in the cross-over, though it needs a bit of work.  Perhaps once I get a more properly-sized rope, or get more reps in, I’ll be able to hit the next bullet point about improving technique and intensity.

Next we have some modifications:

Obtain my PDP from SFU UBC: I’ve modified this from SFU to UBC.  SFU has their requirements laid out in a fairly neat and tidy package, but they require a declared minor in a Science type (Math, Physics, Chemisty, etc.) or French.  While re-learning French is a great option to take, at this point in my time at college it will mean at least another year; my competency isn’t enough to challenge an exam.  On the flip side of this PDP coin is UBC.  I actually hadn’t done any research for the Professional Development Program because I (incorrectly) assumed SFU was the only school that offered it.  Imagine my surprise when a Google search turns up eight school in B.C. from the Island to the Okanagan.  UBC does not require a declared minor, but their site is a bit more finicky to navigate and find the requirements.  I do have an “inside track” by way of a friend who recently got a job teaching at the same school I started my fieldwork, and so far UBC has been fairly prompt and decently informative with e-mails.  I’ll have to look in to attending an info session as well.

While I continue to complete my classes in my upcoming third year of the program, I take a long look at one of my more serious goals:

Complete rough draft of paper on BJJ for peer review and editing: My initial thought was to write something more sociology-based even though there is a bigger shortage of peer-reviewed articles based on physiology and psychology for the sport.  I got in contact with a fellow Redditor who was running a poll to collect data for non-research ends; the man is looking to do a full proper study starting in the fall, and I have asked to be a part of this process in any fashion.

Research the time and cost for becoming a Registered Massage Therapist (to supplement BA and MA): To be honest, getting my RMT status may be a bit too much.  The best programs are a full-time four-year process, with a cost equal to a Bachelor’s degree.  Being able to supplement my services with massage therapy is a wonderful idea, but I may have to look at alternate massage certifications.  It stays on the list, but will likely be modified before the year’s end.

Finally, I add a special goal to honour a friend of mine who is taking his learning to the next level:

Make it Raf’s Place to Challenge Him! Co-host of the MMA-comedy podcast “Verbal Tap Cast” (find, subscribe, and rate them on iTunes!), Raf Esparza and I have forged a relationship that consists mostly of trash talking each other and a certain Kevin T. Phillips.  I have vowed to meet with Raf on our field of battle: the mats of North Hollywood (or whatever sub-section of the sprawl known as L.A. Raf resides and/or trains in).  Perhaps Kevin Phillips can make it to town, where I can avenge my loss from our time on Over/Under Kevin.

And now, the new list:

• earn my purple, brown, and black belts in BJJ
• research the time and cost for becoming a Registered Massage Therapist (to supplement BA and MA)
• obtain my PDP from SFU UBC
  
• graduate from the BPEC program
• continue coaching the NWSS Hyacks
• complete rough draft of paper on BJJ for peer review and editing
• improve skip rope technique and increase intensity
• meet with, challenge, and defeat Raf Esparza of Verbal Tap “fame”
  • knee-bar or heel-hook Kevin if he’s in town

How are your goals progressing?  Let’s chat about them!

–Kiyoshi “The Prototype”
Your #1 Canadian eh?
Respect the Technique, Triangle Army

 

2016 BCWA High School Provincials

February 25th, 26th, and 27th were the B.C. Wrestling Association High School Provincial Championships.  The New Westminster Secondary School Hyacks attended in force, along with their coaching team.  The 25th was weigh-ins, and thankfully everyone made weight.  We followed up with a team dinner that night, having some nice White Spot.  The 26th was Day 1, and everyone wrestled.  About half of the team made it to Day 2, securing themselves a Top 6 spot.  Connor and TJ were in the Finals, which meant that we would be there all day long again.

Day 2 is where grit and determination is truly tested.  Injuries accrued from Day 1 don’t heal, and only get worse as you wrestle more.  You’re mentally tired, physically drained, and you might have to wait until the afternoon for your match.  All of the Hyacks did well, and felt pretty good about their performances, and identified areas they need to work on.  Connor placed 1st, after being down 8-0.  He brought the score to a narrow margin, 8-9, but was still down that one point.  Then he snagged a cradle-pin for a strong finish.  TJ’s match was fast-paced affair, but he got caught up in the scrambling instead of forcing his opponent into a position, he took 2nd.

In an unexpected turn, there were no devastating teams this season.  The Hyacks boy’s team placed 1st, and our Pacific Rim affiliate STM placed first as a girl’s team, and as an aggregate team.  Our little area of New West is a huge concentration of champions.

The National Championships took place April 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th.  I was unable to attend due to my exam schedule, and I hope to not have that problem next season; I should also have my NCCP certified status by then which will allow me to coach at the national level.  Three of the Hyacks placed 1st, a rookie placed 2nd, and the rest placed in the top six.  As a club team, Pacific Rim took 3rd in Men’s Freestyle, and the province of B.C. took 2nd in the country.  Pretty impressive considering how little mat time we had this season.

–Kiyoshi “The Prototype”
Your #1 Canadian eh?
Respect the Technique, Triangle Army

2015’s Year of the Sheep: In Review

We may remember that 2014 was good.  But 2015? Yowzah.

Sheep!  I could go the obvious route about sheep and flocking and yadda-yadda-yadda, but then I’d feel a little sheepish about it.  Ba-DUM-tish!

Once more (with feeling) these are just some of the important days, notes, and highlights in my year.

-January: After reviewing the requirements for entry into the Bachelor of Physical Education and Coaching (BPEC) program, I arranged with former Professor Gord Sturrock to become an assistant coach for the Hyacks’ Wrestling Team out of New Westminster Secondary School.  I helped out with their first tournament of the season: the Western Canada Age Class 2015 Championship, where they all wrestled to a podium finish.  I attended Battlefield Fight League’s 34th card featuring a hefty line-up of friends and training partners: Jeremy Kennedy, Shawn Albrecht, Micah Brakefield, and Christiaan Allaart.  Christiaan’s opponent would no-show to the weigh-ins, forcing him from the card.  Micah would lose to Ash Mashreghi via questionable stoppage, but it was an exciting fight nonetheless.  Shawn would win a unanimous decision and put him as the #1 contender in the Featherweight division.  Jeremy would win a unanimous decision (including a 50-43 score) to claim the Featherweight title belt.  My seat-mates were Sterling Redlack and Stu Deleurme – invited down from Kelowna by BFL to honour Cam’s passing – and Matt Dwyer – former BFL Middleweight champ and current UFC fighter.

-February: Keri and I moved from our place off of 240th and into a newer place on the Haney Bypass.  We moved the big objects during my study break, and got the rest during the month.  With cement floors and ceilings – plus underground parking – it is an upgrade in layout, noise (the lack thereof mainly), and time saved by not scraping frost.  The stairs don’t go down to the parkade, which is a touch annoying, but that’s a mild complaint honestly.  The Hyacks went to the BC Provincials at the Abbotsford Agricultural Rec Centre at the end of the month, and several team members made the top eight to get onto the podium.  I also attended a tournament, the 2nd Marcus Soares Invitational Championships, my first of the year.  I opted in for Gi and No-Gi, feeling decently confident in my stand-up.  Since this tournament only awarded points for submission attempts, I probably would have been safer to jump guard ASAP, but I wanted to test myself.  I lost both of my rounds, but hit an amazing lumberjack sweep in my No-Gi match.  Then I proposed to Keri.  My friend James from Caliber Media was there to help with pictures of the moment.  She said yes.

-March: WarPath hosted their first card in about two years.  I am sad to report that it was not up to their usual standards, plagued by delays and a lineup that was not finalized until the night of the event.  Of note, my friend and former opponent Creigh Sullivan won via dominant fashion, securing a triangle choke in the first round. Battlefield’s 35th card occurred on the 28th, featuring well-known talent such as Nick Ghaeni, Jamie Siraj, Matt Baker, and my friend and former teammate Christian Tremayne.  It was a great night to watch the local talent grow, as well as see their corners evolve.  Notably in attendance were UFC bantamweight veteran Sarah Kaufmann, and ONE FC featherweight Champion Bibiano Fernandes.  Christian won with crisp boxing and slick transitions, getting the Unanimous Decision.  Keri and I celebrated our 2-year anniversary with some lovely relaxation.

-April: Keri celebrated her birthday in conjunction with the Easter Long Weekend, which made for quite a time for all.  Apparently people know us as fans of Doctor Who, as many of her gifts were Doctor-themed.  The final weeks of my classes finished, and then exams.  During that period I had enough stress to lower my immune system and catch a cold and a low-grade fever.  Despite that, I managed to pass all of my classes and up my GPA.  One more course to register and pass, and then I am accepted into my Bachelor’s program.  Keri scheduled an interview at the end of the month at Ridge Meadows Hospital, and her professionalism and knowledge made her a sure-fire hire.

-May: Keri began her training and orientation for her job, traveling to Royal Columbian, Surrey Memorial, and Ridge Meadows.  Then she got an e-mail from ARH asking if she was still available for shifts on the Maternity ward.  While the timing could have been better, it does mean that she could pick up casual shifts from both hospitals and thus have a decent amount of hours.  My summer semester started, and a day earlier than I had previously believed.  Fortunately I caught my erroneous belief before the start, so I managed to appear prepared. The end of the month meant Proving Grounds VI in Bellevue, a tournament I was quite eager for.  It was the same weekend as the IBJJF Mundials which saw a lot of my friends and teammates compete.  Unfortunately I came up short in my tournament thanks to a call that should not have been made.  The experience soured the day for me, but the evening was able to pull it back thanks to Battlefield 36.  It was BFL’s 5th Anniversary. and the card featured five title fights: three amateur titles, one inaugural kickboxing title, and one pro title.  My friend and former teammate/coach Christiaan Allaart would suffer a loss via guillotine choke in the first round, going unconscious and making him unable to claim the Featherweight title.  Christiaan would also retire from MMA following his fight, leaving him able to concentrate on his family and his job teaching BJJ.  Friend and former teammate Christian Tremayne would weather a hard first and second round before going on to win the final three rounds to win the vacant Lightweight belt via unanimous decision, 48-47.  Friend and former co-worker Tylor Nicholson would be unable to continue the inaugural kickboxing bout due to receiving unintentional illegal blows; that coming after his opponent missed weight by 5 pounds.  Chris Anderson would defend his Middleweight title via KO in the second round; Ash Mashreghi would claim the vacant pro Middleweight title via RNC in the third round.

-June: The first Saturday was a taste test at Austin Gourmet, a wedding catering company.  We selected a 3-bean salad, southwestern potato salad, spinach and feta cannelloni in a white sauce, and a beef lasagna.  All of it was amazing, filling, and not greasy.  While eating, we chatted about the general layout of the Old Mill Boathouse, and got some experienced input on where the head table should go.  The staff at Austin Gourmet were very pleasant to deal with, and we recommend them to anyone looking for a caterer.  The next Saturday was the CBJJF 3rd Annual Provincial BJJ Championships, hosted in Abbotsford at the Events Centre.  I volunteered with the set-up and the scorekeeping, plus I competed in Gi and No-Gi; medalling in both.  The following Monday I attended a seminar hosted by top Featherweight competitor Gianni Grippo, learning about a berimbolo set-up.  Friend, roommate, and teammate Jordan and I would complete the Grouse Grind for the first time in many years.  It is quite different now with a lot more completed staircases and fewer rocks to scale.

-July: After a few false bookings, I booked and completed my Standard First Aid & CPR level C + AED certification; a prerequisite not only to graduate from my program but also to start my fieldwork courses in the fall.  The two-day course was a lot easier than the provided First Aid Reference Guide suggested, but there are skills that I want to continue to practice.  Keri and I went to lunch with my cousin Courtney, finally allowing the two of them to meet face to face instead of relying on stories from me.  Professor Cobrinha returned to town for a two-day seminar, concentrating on the double-under guard pass and utilizing a Kimura grip in a variety of ways.  My cousin Mike came down from Kelowna to participate as well, which was fun.  That same weekend I attended Battlefield Fight League’s 37th card, which was aired on the Fight Network.  My teammate and friend Shawn Albrecht fought but fell prey to a superior stand-up game despite his control of the ground game.  UFC Bantamweight fighter Sarah Kaufmann was in town to coach her teammate and fellow professional fighter Ryan Janes to a successful and exciting Middleweight title defence.  A day later my parents arrived in town for a quick vacation, allowing for an impromptu reunion of sorts followed by a family engagement party.

-August: Longtime friend Jordan tied the knot in a wonderful, simple, and fun Hawaiian-themed ceremony; myself and longtime friend Niv were the groomsmen, along with fellow Edmontonian Jan.  Friend and training partner Matt Kwan would host an open mat at his new academy On Guard BJJ, and receive his well-deserved and long-awaited brown belt.  I volunteered at the Katana BJJ Roots BJJ Challenge III, and ended up competing rather spur-of-the-moment.  I had enough warning to invite my cousin Courtney to come watch, it helped that the tournament was at the Richmond Oval.  I took gold after two good matches, and I got another two takedowns.   I would make my way up to Kelowna to attend a Rafa Mendes seminar – thus completing a third seminar by one of the best BJJ Featherweights in the world – and managed to get in a couple of training sessions with the beasts at RDC Jiu-Jitsu.  While there, I went (or tried) wakeboarding, and then had a blast on a huge tube — until it flipped and launched me into the air.  Apparently my body made a very unmistakeably loud noise when it hit the water.  But, no injuries to report from that!  Amanda and I (and everyone else) pulled a surprise engagement party for Keri (and for me, but one of us had to be in on it).  Finally, Keri and I managed to sneak off for a week-long trip to Alberta to visit my parents and test-drive some Subarus.  We managed to avoid the massive windstorm as well.

-September: I finished the last round of my Twinrix Immunization, bringing me up to date on Hep A/B, MMR, and Tetanus.  Another Fall semester started with an unexpected fire alarm, an expected Violent Intruder Drill, and Fieldwork Orientation.  Amanda and Ben had their engagement party, which was a fun mingling experience with mini pumpkin pies!  Just as my school schedule became normal, Keri and I jetted off to Florida/a quick Bahaman cruise (BOAT DAY!) for my good friends Jeff and Claire and their wedding!  Yay!  I helped Jordan get his first sponsorship with Just Saiyan, a company that has a collection of shirts and rashguards featuring costumes from DragonBall Z.  Jordan picked up Vegeta and Frieza, Keri grabbed a Vegeta (which can double as child Gohan on Namek), and I grabbed a Goku.

-October: We celebrated my 31st birthday in a low-key style: watching the UFC 192 card with friends.  I started getting back to the weights to push my weight solidly into the Middleweight bracket, with the assistance of Twin 1: Jack.  The entire household went to the advance voting polls to cast our votes for the Federal election, an action that over 800,000 Canadians joined in on.  My Fieldwork site was a voting station, and they didn’t seem terribly busy during the scant moments I was inside to notice them — but that doesn’t mean they weren’t getting a good turnout.  Battlefield Fight League held their 39th card, “Halloween Hell”, at the Hard Rock Casino.  Friend and sometimes-teammate Stu Deleurme fought for the first time since Cam passed away; Stu unfortunately lost via first round TKO.  Mr. Kitty unfortunately passed away, but it appeared to be painless for her.  She will always be loved, and missed dearly.

-November: Keri and I went to visit the Shar Peis that Sonja breeds, and enjoyed being once again in a pile of dogs.  We had a sleepover with one of the gorgeous dogs, and soon realized that separating a grown adult from her pack was not the easiest task in the world; especially compared to raising a puppy.  It was a good lesson to learn, but at least we enjoyed a night of having a dog sleep on the bed with us.  I did my first solo stint as a wrestling coach at a takedown tournament.  It was a great way to give our youngest team member some competition experience before War On The Floor; a big thanks to the Pinetree wrestlers for ignoring the 25kg difference in weight and giving him several matches.  My fieldwork at Maple Creek wrapped up, and I was gifted one of their shirts.  More than 10 years after graduating high school I’m finally starting to feel school pride.  Finally, I got my seasonal flu shot, continuing the trend I started in the summer.

-December: The month started out with my last tournament of the year: the 1st Annual Vancouver International Open.  I competed in Gi and No-Gi, and volunteered all day.  My Gi division didn’t go as planned, but I managed a better show in No-Gi, taking Gold.  My cousin Courtney came out to watch, and we had a little family reunion with our cousin/my teammate Mike.  The first official tournament of the wrestling season kicked off right as I had to write my big Anatomy & Physiology final, but the timing worked so the Hyacks had a coach with them all day.  I solo coached four of my wrestlers at War On The Floor, two of them were second-year veterans and two of them were new.  None of them have any big holes in their games to deal with, just small things to be corrected in practice and with more experience.  Back on the dog front, we puppy-sat the gorgeous little Muji while Sonja tended to the newest litter of puppies.  This gave her the opportunity to work somewhat less impeded while giving Muji lots of love and attention.  Keri and I had multiple Christmas dinners with family and friends, including some haggis!  ‘Twas delicious actually.  Finally, I felt my first earthquake on the 29th, a 4.9 on the Richter scale.  It was a bit underwhelming, but perhaps this building is a bit more earthquake-ready as compared to older places.

What a year it’s been!  I know some of what 2016 will bring, but I’m looking forward to all of it!  How was your 2015?  Any big highlights — or small ones — that you’d like to share?

–Kiyoshi “The Prototype”
Your #1 Canadian eh?
Respect the Technique, Triangle Army

Soaptacular Facts

Ringworm is a common affliction to those of us who grapple on a regular basis. It is so common that virtually everyone who grapples will have knowledge on how to deal with it. Being a fungal infection, ringworm takes time and diligence to deal with. There are steps you can take to keep your defences in check and stave off such infections for your entire career.

Tea tree oil is often used in soaps, and has long been used as a topical treatment by the Australian army for a variety of purposes (Barnetson, Bell, Satchell, & Saurajen, 2004), mainly due to the major component of terpninen-4-0 L. As many companies will tell you: tea tree oil has tonnes of antimicrobial properties; that is why it is a key component in many products. Barneston et al. (2004) conducted a study on a mix of male and female patients totaling 158 total, all between the ages of 17 and 83 years old. The group was randomly divided into three groups: placebo, 25% tea tree oil concentration, and 50% tea tree oil concentration. When the study wrapped up, it was found that an effective cure – defined as both mycological and marked clinical response – was found in up to 50% of the participants in either tea tree oil group, versus less than 15% in the placebo group (Barnetson et al., 2004).

While greater amounts of tea tree oil is required to reach the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFCs), as compared to fluconazole and N-terminated palmitoyl lipidated peptide Pal-Lys-NH₂ (Abruzzetti et al., 2009) it was found to reduce Microsporum canis and Trichophyton rubrum fungal biomasses in a statistically significant manner.

There is a lot more research to be done with tea tree oil, as seen in clinical reviews, such as one by Bagerhani, Kazerouni, Pazyar, & Yaghoobi (2013). The current research suggests that tea tree oil can assist in removing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, or more commonly known as an antibiotic-resistant staph infection) from the skin, is a good alternative antioxidant, and has potent virucidal effects against herpes simplex virus I.

Now what does all of this mean in plain English? It means that tea tree oil is a viable agent in the fight against fungal infections commonly known to us as ringworm, athlete’s foot, and jock itch. It can also help prevent damage to cell membranes caused by free radicals. All of these positive effects and very few negative effects – barring the occasional adverse reaction – coupled with a fairly open and accessible market means skin care products with tea tree oil are a great way to stay healthy and keep training!

And what’s better: tea tree oil is featured in all of the soap products offered by the amazing Arm Bar Soap Company. Chad certainly knows his stuff when it comes to blending the right ingredients together to create amazing products, and he offers them up at a great price – even for us Canadians (available through BJJDepot.ca, where you get Canadian prices from a Canadian company).

–Kiyoshi “The Prototype”
Your #1 Canadian eh?
Respect the Technique, Triangle Army

About the author: Kiyoshi is a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and completing his Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Coaching. He takes advantage of the peer-reviewed databases at his disposal to research important topics to his grappling and educational careers..

 

 

References

Abruzzetti, A., Arzeni, D., Barchiesi, F., Castelletti, S., Cirioni, O., Ganzetti, G., Giacometti, A., Kamysz, E., Kamysz, W., Offidani, A.M., Riva, A., Scalise, G., Silvestri, C., Simonetti, O., & Spreghini, E. (2009). In Vitro Susceptibility of Dermatophytes to conventional and Alternative Antifungal Agents. Medical Mycology, 47(3), 321-326.

Bagherani, N., Kazerouni, R., Pazyar, N., & Yaghoobi, R. (2013). A Review of Applications of Tea Tree Oil in Dermatology. International Journal of Dermatologiy, 52(7), 782-790.

Barnetson, R.S., Bell, C., Satchell, A.C., & Saurajen, A. (2002). Treatment of Interdigital Tinea Pedis with 25% and 50% Tea Tree Oil Solution: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Blinded Study. Australian Journal of Dermatology, 43(3), 175-178.

Katana BJJ Roots Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Challenge III

Saturday August 8th was the 3rd Roots BJJ Challenge, hosted by Katana BJJ.  Originally I wasn’t going to compete, deciding that I wanted to work my game a little more between tournaments.  They changed venues, from the Fridge Gymnasium to the Richmond Olympic Oval.  This move immediately solved the parking issues, even if it did mean paying about $1/hour.  The space inside meant they could run four mats instead of their usual three, and they had a good sized bull-pen area and a clear entrance/exit for the paramedic.

I volunteered for most of the day, being the scorekeeper  for Mat 4.  I got to see a few great matches and watch some teammates and friends compete right in front of me, which is always a bonus of being front row.  I also decide to compete, joining my usual Master’s 1 Middleweight division.  I was a comfortable and relaxed 168 pounds with my gi on, and the third man in my three-man bracket.  Yo Sik and Joshua went first, with Joshua falling prey to a triangle/armbar combination.  After they rested, I faced Joshua and won 10-0 after trying and failing to secure two submission attempts on him.  After another rest, I faced Yo Sik in the Gold medal match, and got myself on the scoreboard thanks to a great single-leg that led to a scramble which ended with the 4-point rear-mount secured. Yo Sik managed to slip out before I could go for any submission, and I stopped his great scrambles and kept him off of the scoreboard.

I had fun in both matches, and so did my opponents.  As it turned out, it was Joshua’s first ever competition, and I’m certain that he took the experience well and will be a force to be reckoned with soon enough.

My cousin Courtenay managed to make it out to watch me compete and record my matches, and she had a lot of fun.  I want to sit down with her and provide some commentary on the positions, scoring, and why we do the things we do.

Maybe the key to success for me is zero prep for two weeks, just something to consider.  For now, back to the academy to train!

–Kiyoshi “The Prototype”
Your #1 Canadian eh?
Respect the Technique, Triangle Army

2015.5 Goals Update

Now, the .5 is for “half”, not for the month it is published in, just thought I would clear that up.

Back to the goals!

Still to-do/long-term from 2014:

• earn my purple belt in BJJ
• research the time and cost for becoming a Registered Massage Therapist (to supplement BA and MA)
• re-start my running exercise, re-time my 1-mile, 5k, and 10k times
• improve upon my 1-mile, 5k, and 10k times

New short- and long-term for 2015 and beyond:

• earn my diploma in Sport Science
• enter the Bachelor of Physical Education and Coaching program
• graduate with my Bachelor’s degree

Because bullet points tend to mess with me in terms of getting the format correct, I will simply make each one a new heading and list the updates below!

1. Earn my diploma in Sport Science: my original plan was to get an interdisciplinary diploma, as the requirements were broad and forgiving.  But given the courses I have taken, I am two courses away from completing the Kinesiology specialization.  Those two remaining courses are required for my BPEC graduation as well, so it is a Win-Win situation.

2. Enter the Bachelor of Physical Education and Coaching program: the BPEC program accepts applications in the beginning of each year for the fall semester.  Deadline application is April 1st, with some applicants being accepted as early as March 1st.  Conditional acceptances are given as well, which is what I received.  The conditions were:

• Program deposit paid by April 6 2015 (Completed)
• Background check paid and submitted by April 15 2015 (Completed)
• BIOL 1109 Human Anatomy & Physiology I completed with a minimum of C-, final grade to be submitted by April 30 2015 (Completed)
• BIOL 1209 Human Anatomy & Physiology II completed with a minimum of C-, final grade to be submitted by December 19 2015 (Pending)

3. Graduate with my Bachelor’s degree: this goal will be two more years or so, depending on if I can get into certain courses and successfully complete them on the first try.  I don’t anticipate a lot of problems – at least, no problems that can’t be solved with proper studying.

Now let us readjust those goals.

Short- and long-term for 2015 and beyond:

• earn my purple, brown, and black belts in BJJ
• research the time and cost for becoming a Registered Massage Therapist (to supplement BA and MA)
• re-start my running exercise, re-time my 1-mile, 5k, and 10k times
• improve upon my 1-mile, 5k, and 10k times
• earn my Sport Science diploma, Kinesiology specialization
• enter the Bachelor of Physical Education and Coaching program
• graduate with my Bachelor’s degree

New for 2015 and beyond:

• research institutes for Master’s degrees in Science of Kinesiology or Sport Psychology
• continue coaching the NWSS Hyacks
• complete rough draft of paper on BJJ for peer review and editing

Yes, it seems as though I am merely adding more goals without striking any off, but I am also painting these goals in broad strokes.  I have a running list of courses that I have taken followed by the courses I have yet to take.  It helps me stay organized and provides some direction when it comes time for course registration.  I may upload it as a progress report, currently it is on paper so I can better manage it and myself.

Do you have any updates on your goals?  Any new ones set?  Comment below!

–Kiyoshi “The Prototype”
Your #1 Canadian eh?
Respect the Technique, Triangle Army

 

A day late

But not necessarily a dollar short.  Keri and I spent the bulk of my reading break on packing and moving.  We’re close to being done, just items to be stored and things to be donated left, plus cleaning.  I managed to finish my two papers and a solo project as well, which was followed up by studying for a mid-term.

During the process, eight Hyacks went to Zones and seven of them qualified for Provincials at the end of February.  As a team we placed third overall; three golds, two silvers, and two bronzes.  This coming weekend is a sub-only tournament in North Van for myself.  Busy busy busy.

–Kiyoshi “The Prototype”
Yout #1 Canadian eh?
Respect the Technique, Triangle Army.

Hyacks!

The Western Canada Age Class 2015 Championship tournament was held at the Richmond Oval on the 16th and 17th.  The tournament was filled with wrestlers from Alberta and British Columbia and all ages up to 18 years old; or whatever grade 12 finishes as nowadays.

The Hyacks registered nine athletes, two dropped out before weigh-ins due to injury.  All seven remaining athletes made weight, in categories ranging from 50kg to 130kg.  One athlete was not cleared medically due to a large patch of ringworm.  Despite that, his name would not be scratched from roll-call, a small oversight considering the 800+ athletes and coaches.

The six remaining athletes would all medal: one gold, two silvers, and three bronzes.  The important thing is they all had fun there, and they learned some lessons; maybe it’s important to wake up on-time and eat prior to leaving in order to have some energy.