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March Melodies

Afterall, having the weekend to study for an exam where the Professor was a no-show does not necessarily mean better results. In fact, I might've felt better if I had just taken the exam last week. Nonetheless, my scattered study for midterm exam was sufficient and I'm sure I made the grade. As for my essay responses, my rambling was probably a bad choice.

Once I left my late night class, I scurried over to East High to catch the last few pieces of my sister's band concert they titled March Melodies. The conductor Dr. Eckel, my once proud teacher, stood up on the podium as usual as he performed where he does best, leading young pursuits in music. The difference now is that I see the aging in his face. The years have been kind to him but other facets of life has taken its toll. For starters, because of school district budget cuts, he's making less money now then he did when he first started. But it's not like money is his main concern. He's turned down positions to teach and work at the University level because he believes in the shaping of young minds early. Furthermore, he's gone through a tough year fighting for his wife's success in cancer chemotherapy. I am glad to report that she's doing well.

Despite all the downturns, he looked most comfortable on the podium almost lost in the music. His passion, the love of music and the desire to teach, is the thing I'll remember most of Dr. Eckel. I once sat front and center under his direction. Now, my sister has taken that place. We will most likely be the last two Xiao's to play the oboe under this great man. I wish him and his wife the best.

Fei-O-Meter
Activity: 3 | Energy: 3 | Friends: 2

Natural Eating

Beginning Sunday, I pledged to clean up my disarray of artificial eating. I am going as far as to make sure that all my meals this week will be prepared by me with the least amount of preservatives and fresh whenever I can get it. On the menu will be a cayenne pepper chicken, fettucine Alfredo and my famous chili rotini. I will serve freshly made FeiShakes and juice drinks when fruits are available. Lastly, I've got this big juicy pineapple that's asking to get eaten.

Yum. :)

Fei-O-Meter
Activity: 3 | Energy: 3 | Friends: 2

Exam, No Exam

Thursday was suppose to be the Gaunlet--an endless day of papers due and two exams. I had stayed up nearly all night studying and craming any last bits of information regarding the early iconography of Buddha Sakyamuni as well as his historical record and doctrines for the earlier exam. In an odd turn of events Prof. Powell did not show up to the exam. No test was given and after 25 minutes the first student left the test. Followed by then another. Soon, an exodus lept for the exit and I left as well.

I was a lot more prepared for the second exam. So confident was I that when Prof. Vajracharya could not get the digital projector to put images up on the screen (and thus delay our test) so I got up and worked my technical healing.

Fei-O-Meter
Activity: 3 | Energy: 1 | Friends: 2

Tournament Celebration Dinner

The steady development of the Tech Buddies website took a short hiatus as I prepared for last week's tournament. Getting back on track I called for a meeting this Sunday afternoon. Decisions made and decisions set aside we re-grouped to concentrate in the current phase.

Immediately after the meeting I run by Kendo practice and there's a huge showing of club members. Though the workout wasn't so terribly exhaustive, we had fun mixing it up a bit. Mark commanded us to choose our favorite weapon. Then, the people interested in Naginata fought against those of us who preferred Kendo. Long spear versus the sword was an interesting spin on short-range combat and new techniques had to be learned.

With a short practice session over we clean up and head for Imperial Garden for our after tournament celebration dinner. Kiyota Sensei was invited and our big lot got the special banquet room in the corner as always. The outcome was good and the food was well served. The Kendo Club looks to be going strong and we talk about keeping it that way. All is takes is a consistent showing at practice and people who are dedicated to their art--a bit of sweat and lots of dedication.

Fei-O-Meter
Activity: 3 | Energy: 2 | Friends: 3

Ginza Lunch with Grandfather

My grandfather has been staying with us this last week until my aunt and uncle get back from their trip to Vietnam. Since he's usually home just sitting around alone, I decide to take him out to lunch at the Japanese restuarant just down the road. I don't believe he's had sushi before so I get him a nice simple sampler from Ginza of Tokyo here out on the eastside. Though their lunchtime menu is short, the meal was excellent and my grandfather and I had a good time.

Fei-O-Meter
Activity: 3 | Energy: 2 | Friends: 3

8th Annual Detroit Open Kendo Tournament

So far so good. I get up an hour before anyone else does and unlike last year's stupor, I make my way to the weight room for a light lift and after, a morning swim. When I get done I wake up Henry and we're the first ones down for breakfast. But then that's good to not rush through the meal and we're left with time to get warmed up.

Though Henry and I were the first to be ready, the slow morning pace always seem to get someone behind and our vans leave the hotel late. We arrive at the Seaholm gym just after the start of morning ceremonies and our club quietly sneaks into the back row for warm up and kihon (drill practice). After a pledge, an anthom, a few works from Tagawa Sensei, the tournament begins.

I help out the newer members find their way around and get to their respective courts. I look myself and find that I'm in Court E. I stretch a little more and was startled by a tap on the shoulder. It was Tei Fujiwara who had been in our club before moving down to Detroit and joining the Detroit Dojo. He had taught me a lot in my early days of training and so we wish each other luck.

Looking over the tournament schedule again, I see that I have the first round bye. What luck? I take that time to meditate for a short moment and then tie up my bogu (armor) and get ready to fight. In the second round I face W. Tang from the University of Waterloo-Ontario Kendo Club. I had seen his fight from the previous round and he earned his spot to this round by ruthlussly pounding his opponent with a flurry of attacks. He basically outpowered the other guy to win his way to me. My strategy was simple, stay calm, stay relaxed. I followed this mantra throughout and I won the match in just under a minute with two hits to his men (head).

By the third round I was facing J. Hankins from the Central Kentucky University Kendo Club. He was much faster than me but he was rather tense. With no points scored, he knocked me out of the ring and I was penalized a half point. But before the match could go into encho (overtime) I got a hit off his men. Since there was still some time left, I calmed down and attacked only when needed and so I hung on to the only point scored and won.



A year ago, I lost out in the first round and now I'm suddenly in contention for a place. However, in the fourth round I would be pitted against a familiar acquaintance in W. Debruhl from the Eastern Michigan University Kendo Club. I had met him in other tournaments and even got to know him better at the National Championships last year. We had a similar amount of training and had both failed our shodan tests just months ago but the big difference, and I mean big, is that he's over a foot taller than me. And if there wasn't already more pressure in the matter, Sugawara Sensei was the head judge in the match. I fought what I believed was a valient fight but alas, I was not able to get a hit on him. His men was far out of my reach so I tried for kote (wrists). On a few hits, I saw a flag up for my point but with only one judge's call, it wasn't enough to score. Grimly, I lost and went out in the fourth round.

In the Teams Competition I took the ever so important roster Chuken spot (third member) who is responsible for winning the point and keeping us in the match. Augelli took the first spot, followed by Tia, then me, John, with Mike taking the last match. One by one we faced the tough and highly skilled fighters from the Etobicoke Kendo Club and one by one we fell to each point. In fact, Etobicoke's Chuken had earlier won first place in the shodan division. Though we lost, I don't think we can be faulted for trying our best against a very tough team.

After the closing ceremonies, the medals and trophies were awarded to the top finishers. This left us going home nearly empty handed if it wasn't for Mark having earned a third place medal for his win in the sandan division. I would say of this experience we improved vastly over last year's results. All of us, especially myself included, had overcome our own personal goals and the long road back will be a time for reflection.

8th Annual Detroit Open Kendo Tournament
Gallery | Movie

Fei-O-Meter
Activity: 3 | Energy: 3 | Friends: 3