Pacquiao punches the hyperbaric oxygen out of Marquez

Manny, Juan Manuel, please fight again.

By Anthony O. Alcantara

Juan Manuel Marquez was ready to raise his arms in victory and show off a nice bush of armpit hair. Instead he saw the one belonging to Manny Pacquiao victoriously gleaming in the lights as the winner was announced.

He was flabbergasted.

Pacquiao and Marquez did basically the same types of exercises during months of training. They trained as intensely as they could. They had access to similar supplements to nourish their bodies.

The only difference? Marquez has undergone hyperbaric oxygen therapy for an hour or so after every training day. This involves being locked up in a pressurized chamber and breathing pure oxygen, which he thought would help in muscle recovery.

I would have loved to offer him a cigarette while he’s inside the chamber, just to see how he’ll recover from that. Then again, he doesn’t smoke.

In any case, he lost to Pacquiao by a majority decision. The hyperbaric oxygen was not enough. He couldn’t knock out Pacquiao. And I’m glad I watched the fight live… live from Makati Palace Hotel’s conference room.

I got a deal from Ensogo and I thought it was the perfect opportunity for me to finally watch a live Pacquiao bout. The voucher cost me P900, inclusive of a buffet brunch. The food was not great, though. They probably hired the street vendors nearby to cook for them. Yet for a hungry man, it was good enough.

I was nervous all throughout the fight. I didn’t want to be the jinx who would cause Manny’s defeat. I just wanted to know how it was to watch a Pacquiao fight live on a big screen.

I was alone. Every time Pacquiao landed punches on Marquez, there was a collective “ooh”. But every time Marquez pummelled Pacquiao, you’d hear the same “ooh,” though with a slightly lower pitch. I guess it was like that during Pacman’s earlier fights.

This is what I ate. You can find food like this in street food stalls in Makati.

There were a lot of middle aged and older people watching. Around 250 were comfortably seated in round tables in the conference room. Three big projector screens were placed in strategic spots: one each on both ends of the L-shaped room, and one on the corner of the L. A few Americans were with their escorts who giggled too much, as if being tickled. There were a few kids with their parents, too. There were groups of friends in their 20s. I saw laptops and iPads. I guess people just can’t help posting messages on Facebook or Google + and tweeting about the fight.

Most of the time, I found myself, well, talking to myself. “Go Manny!” “Knock him out!” All the others were talking to their companions. But I was one with them. I felt their excitement. I shouted when they shouted. I oohed when they oohed.

It’s amazing how mere spectators can instantly become experts when watching Pacquiao fight. After the 12 rounds, some of my companions at the table were saying that Pacman would probably lose.

And I thought so, too. It was a close fight. It appeared to me that Marquez had more solid and clean shots than Pacman. But I didn’t keep score. I was still hoping that Pacman would win.

For some reason, before the winner was announced, my companions were already leaving their seats. Did they have a sudden urge to empty their bladders? Was there a fire in the building? Did I suddenly zone out and miss the announcement of the winner?

When Pacman was finally announced as the winner by majority decision, I said, “Wow, galing! Ang swerte ni Pacquiao!” I high-fived myself and the table. No use running after my table mates.

I admit that I desperately wanted Pacquiao to knock out Marquez. It was not a satisfying victory for me. But still, I’m glad he won.

Am I going to watch a Pacquiao fight in a hotel again? Probably not. Not unless I know the food is going to be great.

It was an awesome experience nevertheless. I’m not going to worry about any hanky-panky in the results. But I’d love to see another re-match.

So here’s a collective high five to all of you Pacquiao fans out there. Don’t leave me hanging.

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Remember the whip

"I will whip you good!" (Photo courtesy of Pernilla Lindmon Gauffin)

By Anthony O. Alcantara

Some may think that a whip is a kinky toy that you take out only on special occasions. But for me, it’s the perfect metaphor for attacking in martial arts. Even if you don’t care about martial arts, you may find this metaphor of the whip useful, especially when you want to imprint your hand on the face of an enemy as a sign of peace.

I have seen many beginners in martial arts who had a hard time punching or kicking with force and speed. That’s understandable. What may help them achieve the force and the speed much more quickly is a useful metaphor: arms and legs are whips.

That’s right. Your arms and legs are whips that can do damage to your opponents. As you know, the whip is a very flexible thing. Its tip travels faster than the speed of sound, making cracking sounds as it slices the air. The tip of the whip delivers the greatest damage.

Now if you think of your arm as a whip, your fist becomes the tip of your whip. Imagine yourself whipping your opponent with your arm and letting your fist strike your opponent like the tip of a whip. You will notice too that there is a recoil when you try to hit your opponent.

Just let your hand hang lose and let it travel like a whip toward your target. Then at the latest possible moment, just before impact, you stiffen your hand a little in anticipation of the impact.

Chances are you would have made a more powerful and faster strike… just by thinking of the whip metaphor.

It’s the same with kicking. Your foot becomes the tip of the whip. You deliver more power and much greater speed compared to just being mechanical about it.

I learned this when I took up Kendo, an art dealing with sword fighting. Though I was already proficient with using the bokken, or wooden sword, Kendo still had a lot to teach me.

The shinai, the bamboo sword used in Kendo, is pretty inflexible. The instructor told us beginners to imagine that our sword is a whip and that the tip of our shinai is the tip of the whip. He also gave us another image: our sword is like a fishing rod and that the tip of our sword is the hook with the squirming worms.

I thought the whip metaphor was better and kinkier, and therefore much more interesting and memorable.

I began applying the idea whenever I instruct people in martial arts. The metaphor can be applied to many other weapons. Arnis sticks can be thought of as whips. Wooden staffs can be likened to whips too.

So it may be a good idea to think of the whip when you need to defend yourself. Want to bitch slap that uncouth ogre at the office? Your whip can serve you well.

Just don’t get too kinky.

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Decision-making and Aikido’s 5 martial arts steps

 

That's me trying to look fierce.

By Anthony O. Alcantara

To the uninitiated, Aikido may appear to be a graceful, dance-like martial art taught by men fond of wearing black skirts. And to those who know Steven Seagal, that great popularizer of Aikido, it may appear to be a brutal form of self-defense that involves breaking fingers and arms like twigs.

As an Aikido practitioner for 13 years, I’ve often wondered about the sound of breaking arms. But then I never got willing and enthusiastic volunteers for my live experiments.

In any case, Aikido can be both graceful and brutal. It’s very effective, too. But it’s a long story and I’m here to discuss the parallels of great decision-making and Aikido’s five martial arts steps.

Recently, my Aikido sensei, or teacher, announced via email that there is a video about these Aikido steps for sale. I think the video is a great idea. But having recently attended a seminar on analytical thinking at the company I work for, I thought of using decision analysis.

Should I buy or not?

That’s when the idea hit me. Why not use the five Aikido footsteps as a framework for decision-making?

It may appear silly, but who knows what may come of it. So here are the results:

1. okuri-ashi – Some rough basics first. When you assume the basic stance In Aikido, one foot is in front of the other. In okuri-ashi, the front foot or the leading foot initiates the movement and moves forward. The hind foot follows, and you end up in the same stance.

In decision-making, sometimes we need to initiate the move to come up with a good decision. We initiate the research and gathering of information. In this case, I did a little research and I found out there is no other similar video about the five Aikido steps made here in the Philippines. If there is one, please let me know.

2. tsugi-ashi – Now this involves the hind foot initiating the movement, moving forward until it reaches just behind the leading foot. The leading foot then quickly moves forward and you end up in the same stance. In making decisions, sometimes we are pushed by events and ideas. We don’t initiate the movement. We are pushed and forced to make a decision. The stimulus that we receive forces us to think about the situation and take action.

In deciding whether to buy the video or not, I was pushed or influenced by my sensei, who can be very very persuasive. He’s a 5th dan black belt and has almost 30 years of experience in teaching Aikido.

3. ayumi-ashi – This is just like walking. From the ready position, the hind foot moves forward and overtakes the leading foot, which subsequently takes a similar quick step forward so that you end up in the same initial stance.

Sometimes, when making decisions, we are not pushed by other people but led or directed to certain directions. Other people initiate the move and lead us to certain decisions.

In my case, I was also pulled and led by my sensei to make a certain decision. Of course, the promise of a great product attracted me, too.

Another "warrior-like" pose.

4. tentai – From the ready position, you just turn 180 degrees or face in the opposite direction, with your feet turning but still on the same two spots on the floor.

In decision-making, you also consider opposing views or perspectives. I’ve turned 180 degrees and thought that the video won’t really make a significant difference in my Aikido.

5. tenkan – This also involves a 180-degree turn. But there is a difference. You plant one foot in place and turn your body and swing your other foot behind you until you face the opposite direction.

Sometimes you just have to look at it from all directions or perspectives. In any decision there are always other perspectives, and all of them can  be valid.

In deciding whether to buy the video or not, I had to look at different perspectives: from the perspective of the learner, the skeptic, the know-it-all, the open-minded, the spend-thrift, the curmudgeon, the gullible, etc.

In the end, after considering these five Aikido steps in my decision analysis, I decided to buy the video.

Why? Simply because it is a well-made video and a pioneering video for my club, which is the Makati Aikido Club. And I wholeheartedly support any worthwhile and great product.

I know I didn’t have to use the five Aikido steps to make a decision. But then again, would you like to volunteer for my experiment? The five Aikido steps can help you decide.

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(For those interested in Aikido or the Five Aikido Steps video, visit the Makati Aikido Club website http://www.makatiaikidoclub.com/)

Mindful learning and Aikido

Fujimaki Hiroshi, 6th dan shihan of the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, together with Ton Alcantara, 1st dan shihan wannabe of the Makati Aikido Club.

   

By Anthony O. Alcantara 

Recognizing distinctions. That’s what mindful learning is all about. The same thing taught or done over and over again is meaningless unless you seek out the distinctions that make it fresh, meaningful and memorable. 

 It reminds me of Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity: doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results. And it reminds me of those days when I did those stretching exercises hoping to become six feet tall.  

Today I’m still 5 feet 6 inches. My days of insanity are over, though they still occur occasionally when I’m bored. I’m reminded again that mindful repetition is the way to go.  

Thus I gleaned three key takeaways during Fujimaki Hiroshi’s Aikido seminar recently at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. He’s a 6th dan shihan, or master instructor, from Japan.  

Ton Alcantara feels the heat in the dojo. Participants pay for the excellent Aikido teaching and the sauna service.

  

1. There are many ways to skin a cat, but there is only one essence of a technique.  

Fujimaki Sensei, lamented that the brown belts who took the exam failed to satisfactorily execute different ways to do a technique. He said it’s one technique, but there are many ways to do it depending on the hand positions, whether low, medium or high.  

It’s not that the brown belts had no idea what Fujimaki Sensei was talking about. They just failed to understand what Fujimaki Sensei wanted to see. Perhaps Fujimaki Sensei’s English is not that good. Or perhaps the brown belts were a little nervous.  

In any case, I was reminded again about finding the essence of the technique. It may be important to do different versions of a technique, especially during exams, but efficient and effective execution borne out of a mastery of its essence… that’s the sweet spot.  

If you break down the technique to its bare essentials and find a way to apply these in a real fighting situation, you’re in much better shape as a martial artist. Sticking to the essence is better than having a fanciful repertoire.  

Ton folds his hakama after a session of "I'll kick your ass if you kick mine" Aikido practice. It's all give and take.

  

Fujimaki Sensei also taught about keeping your center, which some say is about two inches below your navel. It’s your center of gravity, center of balance. You get your power from your center. Each movement should emanate from it.  

Easier said than done. Sometimes I forget to apply this myself, confident that I’ve done the techniques thousands of times. But mindful movements can help. And I realized that keeping your center is about asserting yourself, asserting your presence in front of your opponent. For me, it’s a new way to think about it.  

Your opponent is trying to do you harm. So you stand your ground and face the threat not with the intention to clash, but with the intention to neutralize the threat quickly and with the least possible pain. Just like breaking your opponent’s arm instead of breaking his neck. Or perhaps breaking a finger instead of an arm, or rewarding him with a cheek with an imprint of your palm and a reddish blush on to go with it, instead of an eye with a very dark eye shadow, whichever seems appropriate at the moment.  

Ton smiles before the camera together with the somewhat unwilling Fujimaki Sensei and his first Aikido sensei way back in college. I think his name is Kozuma.

  

3. Complacency and pride ought to have no place in Aikido.  

The senseis, or teachers, of the examinees received a gentle reprimand. Fujimaki Sensei said it was the fault of the teachers that most examinees failed to do different versions of a technique he asked for.  

While all the examinees passed, Fujimaki Sensei exhorted the senseis to shape up. Even the simple rituals of bowing and entering the mat during exams must be revisited.  

I guess sometimes even experienced practitioners take many things for granted. Many are tempted to think that the way they do their techniques is the best.  

It’s probably human nature. But Fujimaki Sensei reminded us that complacency and pride are an undesirable combination in Aikido.
  

So these three distinctions relating to the essence of a technique, asserting your presence, and the danger of complacency and pride have made the seminar valuable for me. And I’m sure many others learned something, too.  

 

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How to choose your martial art

This is as close as I got to being an action star.

By Anthony O. Alcantara

When I was a kid, I dreamed of becoming Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan. They were my idols.

That was a long time ago, and I still haven’t even tried Jeet Kune Do or Kung Fu or any other martial art that Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan studied or practiced.

Instead I became a practitioner of Aikido, which is the discipline practiced by another martial arts hero, Steven Seagal. It’s what I predominantly practice these days. I did practice other martial arts such as Judo, Karate, Danzan Ryu Jujitsu, Kendo, and Pekiti Tirsia Kali, but not as long as I did Aikido.

“So why study martial arts?” you may ask. It’s simply because I like to learn new things. And it’s not because I want to kick ass or have girls admire me for being so manly, although that would be a welcome side effect. Anyway, different people are motivated by different things.

Right now I just want to share some tips for those who’d like to try martial arts. Some people may think they’re too old for this. But that’s nonsense. I know a woman in her forties who decided to learn Aikido some years ago. She is now a black belt and she continues to learn other martial arts as well.

Tip 1: Research.

This is the first thing you would probably do. There are many martial arts disciplines out there. Don’t limit your research to the ones you know.

Aside from finding out more about Taekwondo, Karate and Judo, also check out the lesser-known Capoeira, Pencak Silat and Sambo, to name a few. They all come in a variety of flavors. You may find something that would appeal to you.

When you research, learn the history, philosophy, basic movements, and physical requirements of the art. The internet is a good source of information. Just use Google or wikipedia.com.

Tip 2: Consider the venue.

Just like with choosing a gym, it’s better to choose a dojo, or a martial arts school, that’s near your home or place where you work.

If you choose Aikido, for example, but the dojo is far from your home, the chances of you continuing your training is low. I had colleagues who quit practicing because they found going to the dojo such a hassle.

Of course motivation is a big factor. If you are really motivated to pursue martial arts training, you will find a way. But still, finding a school near your home is much better.

Tip 3: Interview practitioners.

Knowing what practitioners of a martial art have to say about their discipline allows you to make your own judgments. You will know what motivates them.

Ask them what they like about their martial art, what difficulties they encountered when they started out, what makes them come back for more. Ask them about the inadequacies of their martial art, too. You’ll learn a lot from what they have to say.

Tip 4: See yourself sticking with it.

Imagine yourself practicing your chosen martial art. Do you see yourself doing it for months? Do you see yourself sticking with it for years? Do you think you will enjoy learning the intricacies of the techniques? What will motivate you to keep on developing yourself in this art?

Sometimes, it will depend on your temperament or personality. Imagining yourself going through the rigors of training can help.

Tip 5: Try it.

Of course, the best way to know if a martial art fits you is to try it. Observe a class first. Then ask if you can join a class or two. You’ll get a feel of what goes on during practice that way. You’ll also learn the group dynamics that occur.

Some teachers are patient and accommodating, but others are not. It’s the same with the students. Others are rough and impatient with newbies. In that case, you can choose another dojo or class.

Rewards

Learning martial arts can be serious fun. It can instill discipline, promote good health, increase flexibility and strength, improve physical coordination, and teach you conflict resolution skills, practical self-defense moves, and leadership skills. It can even help build self-confidence.

These are just a few of the wonderful possibilities. Keep in mind, though, that there is no perfect martial art. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses. Eventually some of you would want to learn other martial arts as well, just like I did.

You can actually apply the lessons you’ve learned in one martial art in another discipline. There is always a link. Some principles don’t change.

If you do decide to take up martial arts, I envy you. There’s nothing like coming for practice and learning something new. With the simple tips I listed, you may find a new world of possibilities.

Good luck.

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