Jumper
After several unsuccessful attempts, I finally managed to go see “Jumper” a few weeks ago. I wanted to see the film ever since I first stumbled upon the first trailer – one of my favourite books ever gets made into a movie, this I have to see! =) Because of the trailers and a few interviews with the author of the book, Steven Gould, I knew the film omitted parts of the story completely while including new ones as well (e.g. the paladins and Griffin). So I knew what to expect, and I liked it! =) I am feeling relieved, as I hate nothing more than being disappointed by a movie I’ve been looking forward to. But, no, luckily everything’s fine.
In one review I had read beforehand that Hayden Christensen acts stiff – I don’t agree with that. I think he has performed well, I was able to understand Davy’s feelings, thoughts and actions, and I also liked the way he portrayed Davy. Jamie Bell was great as well in playing Griffin – completely believable, a little crazy (understandable when you know his history from “Griffin’s Story”), yet still likable.
The weakness of the movie, for me, is its story. The producers should have kept to the story of the book – when Davy watches a report on a flood disaster where he would be able to help lots of people due to his abilities, ignores this completely and instead spends a nice evening with a girl he picks up for this purpose – sorry, that’s just not the Davy I’ve come to like in the books. And in contrast to the books, this Davy has no goal, he just lives from day to day after accumulating the necessary wealth through robbing a bank. Well, it is comprehensible, but not an acceptable behavior of a leading character (i.e. “hero”). And then he doesn’t understand why he is being pursued. Well.
Anyway, apart from that the movie is good. Nice effects, good actors, great idea for the end fight (could have been from Steven Gould ^^). The end is ok – open enough to produce a sequel (but hopefully with a Davy who has regained his conscience) but otherwise resolved well. The one big questionmark for me was – does Griffin get down from the power pole somehow? Or does he stay up there until he starves? Or maybe he is electrocuted some time? Hey, wait a moment, those cables were already grounded, weren’t they? Well, maybe I just have no understanding of phyiscs. 
Conclusion: if you like fast-paced action films full of special effects and it’s ok for you if some points are not explained logically, I think you will like the film. Everybody else maybe should be a little cautious with “Jumper”.
No matter which group you belong to, however, the BOOK “Jumper” is definitely worth your time! =)
New insights
On Tuesday this week, we tried an exercise designed to help us beginners understand that it is ourselves creating resistance during a technique. That was really interesting for me, as I think I have more of a problem with that than the other students. Afterwards, I had quite a disturbing thought: what if I create similar resistance in other parts of life? I always go out of my way trying to please everyone. Of course I sometimes antagonize people unknowingly or HAVE to contradict someone, but that’s very unpleasant for me.
That is why it hit me quite hard that I may create “resistance” unconsciously through my behaviour. I don’t think that thought would have occured to me before; I always felt at ease and comfortable with everyone. Most likely I just worry too much… Nevertheless, it set me thinking – and it’s another sign that Aikido is working from inside.
The cracking sounds in my ankles have disappeared in the meantime. My knees continue to hurt a little, but it has improved as well. By the way, the cause was not the backward rolls, as I thought initially, but an instability during standing up: they turn a little to the inside every time. I’ve been trying to change this for several weeks now, but it does not seem to work. Anyway, time will bring steady knees as well. =)
However, I did make a new discovery last Friday: I managed my first-ever (and only, up ’till now) forward roll!! Right side facing front, standing completely normally, without any crouching down or brining my arms in position in advance and so on! =)) I had a feeling it might work, as my right forward rolls have become higher and smoother these last weeks, the supporting arm has become more supporting, the feeling simply better. So I thought I would just try it this once… and with a broad grin, I stood up from my very first forward roll from a standing position. It was such a great feeling – I want more! =)
Across Germany
Last week I took two days leave at short notice. My sister was moving from Berlin some 700 km to a small village next to the French border, and I had to / wanted to help a little.
On Monday last week, I received the call: “We’re moving tomorrow, can you come today?” So I booked a flight on the spur of the moment and after work went straight to the Nuremberg airport. It was my first time flying all by myself, but of course everything went well and I arrived at Berlin Tegel airport only one hour later, and by chance immediately found the bus I needed in order to get to the main station.
Unfortunately, I entered the main station at exactly 10:50 p.m. – which was, as even I know now, immediatley after the soccer game of Germany vs. Austria had ended. As soon as I entered the imposing structure, I heard a muffled rumbling coming from the other side. Unsuspecting, I continued on, looking for the streetcar lines, expecting maybe a huge waterfall or something like that. Instead, all of a sudden thousands (that is no exaggeration) of singing, cheering, whistling, honking, roaring soccer fans charged the station. I’d have loved nothing better than to turn around (I don’t like crowds, least of all when everyone’s drunk), but I needed to get through somehow – and they all wanted to get into the streetcar with me! *shudders* But, anyway, thanks to the presence of Berlin’s police force (in full combat gear, the only thing missing were drawn weapons) I was able to reach my streetcar “untouched and alive” (quoted from Dean Koontz ^^) and arrived at my sister’s home at midnight.
Tuesday morning, I was awakened early by my crying nephew who really gets cuter every time I see him. We hurried to cram some travel bags into the car, and at 10 a.m. we started, our goal more than 700 km to the southwest. The journey was ok, besides the long time and the frequent breaks (as of course the little one wanted something to eat or a new diaper on a regular basis).
When we arrived at the new home, I took my time to admire the house and the great view of green hills all around. I’m almost a little bit envious.
Then I spent a much too short night on a creaking camp bed (the furniture would be transported the next day), and on Wednesday I took a train (it was late, of course) back to Fürth.
The end of the story: I was totaly wasted, but nevertheless still a little proud of being able to be so spontaneous. I missed an Aikido training for the first time since February… and for the first time in ages, I was not there to lead the training of our Musical dance group. In return, I spent a few wonderful hours with my cute little nephew and of course my sister and her husband. Well worth it, in my opinion. And now I’m looking forward to the next visit (which will be tomorrow – a drive of only 2.5 hours, yay! ^^) – and I’m looking forward to spending more time with them and less time driving. =)
“Cloak of Silence”
Please try for a short moment to imagine the following situation: it’s Saturday morning, you’re finally allowed to sleep for as long as you want to. However… at 8:30 a.m. the people living one floor below yours start doing their piano lessons. The noise wakes up the baby in the apartment next door and he begins at once to cry at the top of his voice. This in turn leads to the neighbours above pounding on the floor and finally turning up the volume of their TV to the highest setting. Through all this ruckus, you are tossing and turning in bed, desperately trying to find a way to make your ear plugs fit even tighter.
I admit, not even I in my noise-plagued little apartment have experienced such a situation (yet). However, as you might have read a few days ago, I sometimes long for a little more silence.
Now there is hope: scientists in Spain have discovered the theoretical basis for an invention that would make not just me very happy but also lots of other people suffering from city centre street noise, presumably. Apart from this, of course, there are countless other possible applicabilities. – These scientists have found, in theory at least, a way to shield an object from sound waves by covering it with so called “sonic crystals”. These crystals are expected to be able to deflect sound waves. Using such a material in the walls of my apartment would finally get me my much-desired haven of tranquillity. =)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7450321.stm
I am always delighted to hear of such SciFi-become-reality stories (there was also some talk about a functioning mechanical exoskeleton which can be used to lift heavy loads), as I am a huge fan of science fiction and the possibilities it describes. The article mentioned above also mentions the search for a way to break light waves – so some time in the not too distant future, there might be cloak of invisibility after the “cloak of silence”.
Today we learn… “how to stand”
There is one part of Aikido that is starting to leave me at least a little frustrated: the ki tests. With the techniques, I just know that it will take forever to internalise the movements and coming to terms with the subtleties. Rolling and falling for me are a process so complex that it seems natural to keep trying time and again before there are any noticeable improvements; furthermore, I have to master my hesitation each time I try to roll from a higher position. But just finding a stable, relaxed stance should be easy by all means. Yeah, well – think again. I keep feeling like I’m just a mass of knotted and tensed-up muscles falling over at the slightest touch. *sighs*
There was, however, a day my stance was relatively firm. That time, I had been thinking about relaxing and trying to stay centered and so on all day. While I was driving to work, while I was working at the computer, while I was drinking a coffee with my colleagues. These past two weeks, I have not thought about it that often, as my mind is occupied more than usual with all the things to do, decision to make, appointments to remember etc.). Maybe that is the reason why I don’t feel any advancement right now? So: keep thinking about it more! =)
Aikido, mice and police checks
Today we worked on a new technique where we sit face to face to somebody on our knees and (try to) throw him. It was a good training session, relaxed, quiet and leaving me with a calm feeling. Nevertheless, it was hard as well – my knees are complaining to me about sitting on them for so long, and of course there was a lot of new information to process and apply (as always! ^^).
It seems like more and more of my joints are aching these days… it started with my knees, from rolling (only now starting to grasp how to do it correctly), and now my ankles are cracking… I hope this goes by soon!
After Aikido training, I was driving home as usual, when I was stopped for a police check! Eeek! That was only the second time for me during the 10 years I’ve been driving… The first time, some 6 years ago, was quite a disaster – my license in the messy trunk, I had no idea where my warning triangle was (luckily I wasn’t asked) and the first aid kit was stored under the passenger seat, but in such a way it could only be taken out from behind, and just then the back door was broken and could not be opened. Awful!
Well, today it went a little more smoothly. Ok, my license was in the messy trunk again (together with a cushion, sleeping bag, lots of bags and stuff, a CD-player, an empty container of windscreen wiper fluid and of course my Aikido wooden SWORD, which thankfully wasn’t that noticeable between all the other stuff). Ok, I would again not have known where the warning triangle and the first aid kit are stored. All the time since I’ve bought the new car (approx. 15 months ago) I wanted to check where they are, but noooo, I’ve never had time – well, I will make sure to check now asap!
But before the friendly young policeman could ask for them and even before he could look at my license, along came a car with cheering soccer fans, honking, their car so covered in flags that they could hardly see anything – just seeing this car was worth getting stopped! =) Anyway, of course the policeman stopped this car as well, telling me to “wait just a moment”. So I sat down on the edge of my trunk and watched. It took a little longer to check them (apparently they didn’t have their license with them or something like that), so after some time the second policeman came up to me and asked what I was waiting for. When I said “Err… for someone to look at my license?”, he laughed out loud…
So, all in all this second police check was somehow better (or at least more fun) than the first one. However, I should not depend on soccer fans coming by as a distraction the next time… Note to self: Check where the stupid warning triangle is stored. ^^
Tuesday, Thursday and free training
We started with a new technique, where Uke (the attacker) grabs Nages arm with two hands; Nage first steps away and raises his free arm and then enters the attack.
On Tuesday, when we where doing the technique for the first time, I was not feeling comfortable with it yet – however, I was not feeling as uneasy as the other times when doing other techniques for the first time. Maybe that is because I’ve been developing some kind of basic “movement memory” (meaning maybe my body begins to grasp what I want it do, veeeery slowly)?
The special hour of stretching on Thursday was wonderful – almost completely concentrated on shoulders / neck / throat muscles. I’d been having a lot of cramped muscles all week, and after this hour they were feeling great and ‘loose’ again. I should try doing this at home more often!
Free training today on Friday was great once again. We started with Flow Drills: first we repeated the new complicated technique very slowly. It worked better than last week, but we still kept bursting out laughing because I lost the rhythm again and again. Repeating the other two techniques after that seemed quite easy suddenly – both techniques being shorter and thus at least a little easier…
After that we did a lot of rolling exercises – I think I found out why my knees have been hurting since one or two weeks ago: on the one hand, they tend to be too far in front of me and not enough outside of the movement during back rolls and when I stand up after rolling (I don’t do that consciously, but that might be part of the problem), and on the other hand I am still not able to control the back roll completely, so I touch the mat with my knees first, sometimes with quite a lot of force/speed. I’ll definitely have to practice that.
Afterwards, I received hundreds of valuable tips for the new technique for which I was immensely grateful. I understand the basics by now, but now there is once again the question what to do EXACTLY with my hand / leg / hips / arms etc.
Finally I repeated the basic sword positions and the beginning of our kata as far as we’ve done it yet, and I rolled again for 15 minutes. When I take the time to relax consciously, the right forward roll works from really high and really smooth. During the normal trainings I feel I don’t have time for consciously relaxing, as we can’t take that much time for rolling exercises there, so I look forward to exercising and deepening this in the free trainings.
English Version – hello! =)
As I’ve noticed several visits from outside Germany on my German blog, I’ve decided to translate those texts and start a parallel blog in English. It’s good exercise for me to get my rusty English going again, and apart from that it’s fun… =) I probably won’t update the English version as often as the German one, but I’ll try to translate the new entries at least once a week. So… welcome once more! =)
I will of course continue the German version as well: http://alexielsheaven.blogspot.com
