From the land of Dirks Nowitzki and Bauermann – David Hein reports on a few happenings in Germany’s top division of basketball as the league gets set to close the regular season and start the playoffs. Read on to find out about Brose Baskets Bamberg laying down the law against Alba Berlin, the Artland Dragons-Bayern […]
Here’s something to get you started on Saturday (yeah, BiE knows it’s, like, noon CET, but hey): A pair of clips taken from the halftime show at last week’s double-overtime masterpiece between Bayern München and Brose Baskets Bamberg over in Germany’s Bundesliga. Check out a band identified only as “Die Crazy Dunkers” executing acrobatics that […]
From the land of Dirks Nowitzki and Bauermann – David Hein reports on a few happenings in Germany’s top division of basketball. Read on to find out about Bayern Munich surviving a double-overtime slugfest with Brose Baskets Bamberg; Ratiopharm Ulm taking a bunch of trophies; and Vitalis Chikoko’s continued success in the Bundesliga. Bayern wins […]
Speaking of German basketball, BallinEurope pushes forth a plug for Euro-Step.net’s piece of today entitled “The Rise of the Germans.” Writer Julios (hey, that’s what it says) takes a look at Bundesliga CEO Jan Pommer’s once seeming pipe dream of making the BBL the top league on The Continent by 2020. Julios gives a generally […]
From the land of Dirk – Nowitzki and Bauermann, that is – David Hein reports on a few happenings in Germany’s top division of basketball. Read on to find out all about Alba Berlin and Yassin Idbihi pick-and-rolling Bayern Munich to death and overtaking ratiopharm Ulm for second place; s.Oliver Baskets Würzburg moving past Bayern […]
From the land of Dirk – Nowitzki and Bauermann, that is – David Hein reports on a few happenings in Germany’s top division of basketball. Read on to find out all about Fraport Skyliners reminding Brose Baskets of that losing feeling; EWE Baskets Oldenburg’s dismissal of former championship-winning coach Predrag Krunic; and Bayern Munich blasting […]
After another couple weeks of speculation, hype and quotage, it’s time for BallinEurope to revisit the odds: specifically speaking, the odds on NBA players coming to play ball on The Continent in 2011-12. Once again, should note that these lines are offered at no bookmaker service and are completely arbitrary (which is to say mostly […]
The NBA fan’s nightmare came to pass yesterday with the expiration of the league’s collective bargaining agreement with the players, the concomitant announcement of a player lockout, and fresh new fear that professional basketball in 2011-12 might not even happen in the ‘States. BallinEurope’s gut reaction, at least on a visceral Eurocentric level? Cool! Bring […]
When fans think of European basketball superpowers, typically names like Spain, Greece, Russia and even Lithuania or Italy tend to enter early into any discussion. At least one national program wants to change this conception – and thus far appears to be a paragon of success which others might do well to follow. To wit, […]
I am pleased to present a guest post from my good friend, RoseAnne Mussar. She hails from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and trains in Modern Arnis at the 6Tigers Academy in Barrhaven under Renshi Janet Heffernan. She also trains in the American Cane System, often traveling to New York for training.
“Aren’t you a little old for that?” was my sister’s reaction when I mentioned that I was starting karate lessons. And she had a good point. At 47, it was a little late for a Pudgy Middle-Aged Matron© to be starting in….well, let’s back it up a bit, shall we?
I may be middle-aged now, but I’ve always been pudgy (OK, fat). I was never athletic. Ever. When I was a kid, martial arts was that kung-fu stuff at the Saturday matinee, and gym class was an endlessly humiliating series of being picked last for the team. Oh, the memories.
But life goes on and you meet a great guy and fall in love and get married and have two amazingly awesome kids who decide to try karate. So I watched my children do karate for five or six years, thinking “gee that looks like fun.”
Around my 47th birthday, I signed up for a Women’s Self Defense course. As nervous as all get-out, I stepped onto the mats. I had the time of my life kicking pads, punching dummies, and applying devastating techniques to some poor guy in a red man suit. I had a blast, but more importantly, I realized that I could do this. Where do I sign up?
Karate was the obvious choice, but to be truthful, it was a bit of a rough start. A lot of the karate stuff was hard on my knees (I got my official osteoarthritis diagnosis a couple of years ago). I also tried Defendo for a while. I managed to get my Level 2 certification but seriously, what was I thinking?
However, the kids had started doing this funny little thing with sticks which kinda looked interesting.
So I picked up some sticks. Clouds parted. Scintillating beams of sunlight shone down. A heavenly choir of golden voices sang “this is what you want to do!” Where do I sign up?
Six years later, I’m still swinging the sticks and loving every minute of it. I love the physical and mental challenge of martial arts, especially with weapons. I love being stronger, healthier, and more confident. I love that I love being physically active- something I used to hate. I love that my husband Gary signed up too! Plus, I’ve picked up a couple of other arts: American Cane System, and sport whip cracking (yes it’s a thing). I may still be a Pudgy Middle-Aged Matron©, but I’m a PMAM who kicks ass!
It’s trite but true: the first step is often the hardest. And occasionally not in quite the right direction. But that’s perfectly OK. It’s never too late to take that step. So pick up those sticks and start swinging – see how amazing you can be!
Martial Arts topics are preferred. Please contact me at MasterBrian@bamboospiritmartialarts.com to express your interest and for further details. I’d like to hear from you!
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! So glad Ms. Mussar found her niche! I myself began Karate at age 44. So I totally understand. It’s an awesome time of life to begin ’cause the kiddos are getting independent 🙂
Hey Joelle, thanks for commenting. Yes, she’s doing quite well and I’m looking forward to seeing her at her dojo in the near future!
Hi Joelle – sorry for not replying sooner. Thank you for your kind words. I always enjoy reading your comments on Jackie’s blog!
Dear RoseAnne, if you are reading this, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your article! Sounds like you are having the time of your life. I really hope that others will read your post, and realise that as you say, it really is Never Too Late!
Congratulations, As my current Arnis Kali partner is a 61 years old lady, I totally agree with you. You all are inspiring.
Just when you think you've bought all that you can imagine from Amazon, they up the ante with Christmas trees.
A Shiawasseee County Sheriff's Deputy went above and beyond his daily duties by giving some Christmas joy to residents in need.
If you are having trouble getting into the holiday spirit, this might help you out. This family decided to break out the AC/DC to amp up their Christmas light display.
Christmas is right around the corner and tonight Flint will get lit up. The official lighting of the 35-foot Christmas tree in downtown is tonight at 6 pm.
Each year around the holidays, we make it a point to stop all of the mocking and joking around for at least one day and use the reach that this radio show has to do some good. For the 15th consecutive year, we'll be conducting the Free Beer and Hot Wings Holiday Break-in.
Are you feeling lonely today? Are you wishing you were alone instead of with your dysfunctional family? Do you like girls in Santa suits? I am out of questions - but I do have a video compilation for you of celebrities in Santa Claus suits. Maybe not the HOTTEST of hot - but porn actresses were not …
I am certainly geeky, but I am no gamer. If you have a gamer on your Christmas list - this guide may help you find the perfect present. If I am on your list, I would like tequila. Yeah, I'll have that!
This guy is most definitely not in the holiday spirit. While a group of carolers were singing in front of a big Christmas tree in a town, this guy decided he had had enough. He starts yelling at the singers and then snaps. He smashes their guitar and begins stomping on all of their presents!
The kids are growing up so fast nowadays. This is the normal response this day in age when you don't know an answer. Instead of saying I don't know or picking a side, this girl goes straight to the "F You!"
The Satanic Temple plans to erect a hellish Christmas display this year near the steps of the Michigan Capitol. The state has granted the group permission to spread holiday cheer in the form of serpents and a baphomet from December 21 through the 23rd.