Close encounter with the wrestling kind

So randomly, during the last summer camp a few weeks ago, a masked man came to the barn to speak with the owner (apparently they know each other somehow, small island and all...) and suddenly I realized that he was one of the guys from the random wrestling poster that's been hung up at at the barn.  So I went over and asked in my bad, broken Japanese if we could take a picture with him in his sweet wrestling mask, and of course he said ok.  The guy spoke English, I told him how I take kickboxing and how much I like wrestling (mostly the big, huge, muscley guys in tiny underpants).  The owner ended up buying us tickets to go see this guy wrestle and I've been excited about it for weeks.

So, my friends and I go off to this thing, not really knowing what to expect.  I mean the guy we met at the barn said there were wrestlers from all over Okinawa and Japan and even a wrestler from Australia in the group.  He said that he never takes his mask off.  Never?! He even rode a horse with the mask on under his helmet.  I wish I had been there to see that.

I'm thinking we're going to some type of underground fight club kind of thing.  I'm anticipating like crazy martial arts mixed in giving it a real Japanese flare.  ... Well, it was a unique cultural experience that's for sure. 

We found the place easily enough.  It was a large indoor pavilion and the first thing we have to do after giving our tickets is take off our shoes.  Ewwwy.  I really particularly dislike this aspect of Asian cultures.  Do NOT like.  If I'm going somewhere where I know I have to take my shoes off I always bring some socks, but I was not expecting to take my shoes off to walk around a big icky stadium place.  I have a huge fear of getting that horrible toenail fungus, plantar warts or anything else really horrible on my feet and I don't want my feet walking around after everyone elses funky feet.  Bleh.  Anyways, shoeless we go.

The whole show was in Japanese, so we could only really guess what was being said and what was going on.  I do know that the crowd was into it.  Really into it.  They were going nuts.  There was Habu Man, Mango Man, Goya Man, Mongoose Man, Pineapple Man, Eisa Dancer Man, Shisa Dog Man, even Have A Good Time Orion Beer Man.  There was one chick wrestler and I think she was some kind of bird.  They are all uniquely Okinawan themed wrestling characters.  Too funny.  And they were all in costumes and of course masks.  Some of the masks were beyond creepy.  I found it extremely disturbing when they were wearing their masks, but normal clothes especially.  Like after they were done with their show, they would change and then walk around, but still with the creepy mask on.  I couldn't help but think of the dude we met at the barn and how if I saw some of those masks out on the street I would be totally terrified. 

I had a really had time getting any pictures to turnout, but here are a couple. 

So, we saw match after match and 3 hours worth of Okinawa Pro Wrestling.  There was a short Eisa performance at the beginning, a half time show with 3 girls singing and dancing and tons of extremely unflattering tight spandex costumes.  It was strange, funny, unique and something I'll never forget.  It was one of the many, many times I've wished I had made my lazy ass learn Japanese. 

Here is an article from last year on Okinawa Hai:
http://okinawahai.com/2011/08/oki-pro-wrestling-no-sumo-here.html

This years event was held at a larger venue at the Okinawa Prefectural Hall of Marital Arts in Naha.  

Roll out the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer!

What have I been up to this summer?  A lot.

Yesterday and today a typhoon has been coming through so I finally have some time to catch you up.

I celebrated my 28th birthday on June 30.  Spent the day learning to paddle board and relaxing on a beautiful beach.  Went to my favorite organic and vegan restaurant for dinner and they even came out with a special birthday plate for me! 

The next weekend we went on a belated birthday outing and went out on a boat for the day to snorkel the Karama Islands.  I went out on this boat last year when my friend was in town and had a great day, so I was excited to go again.  Except this time there were at least triple the amount of people and I got horribly sunburned even with 70 on.  Oops.  And this was the day we sadly discovered that our underwater camera bit the dust, so I only have a couple of pictures thanks to the fabulous iPhone. So incredibly beautiful out there! 

I've been taking a really fun and intense kickboxing and self defense class.  I'm addicted.  It's feels great to surround myself with strong and empowered women 2ce a week.  I'm learning how to pack a serious punch and how to ram my elbow into an attackers face.  It is an amazing stress outlet and I always come away from the class super sweaty and feeling powerful!  And as an added bonus the academy is right on the beach and I have stunning views on my walk to and from class.  I'm still doing yoga and running.  I love my new hot pink running shoes! And yes, of course I have pink boxing gloves.

I got to spend a lot of time with my friend Madie and her baby Addison.  I love that adorable baby to pieces!

Work is going great.  Busy, but great.  We had one summer camp group already and are getting ready for the second camp to start this week once the typhoon passes.

Check out the picture slide show I made from our camp week:


Lessons are going strong.  Keeps be busy!  I've haven't had a ton of time to fit in my own riding, but when I do Makoto and I have great rides.  It's summer, so the beach rides have been abundant! 

And seeing all those amazing horses on the Olympics is a huge motivation!  I LOVE the Olympics.

And here is a quick hello from Jade and her friend Zoey (who's visiting again while her parents are on vacation).  They are so adorable I can't stand it sometimes! 

I hope your summer is sun and fun filled!

Yay America

Happy 4th of July!  Living in Japan has taught me a few things over the last 2 years like:  how to eat extremely well with chop sticks, how to drive on the other side of the road, and most of all, how to love America like crazy.  I will never take America for granted again and I have to say I have so much pride and love for our country. 

Last night (on the 3rd for some reason) we went to a 4th of July celebration and saw a fireworks show.  Love fireworks.  Every time. 

Today I had a great morning at the barn and now I'm relaxing sipping my delish homemade margarita on this beautiful summer 4th of July day.  I love me some margs.  I thought I'd share with you this marg recipe because it's easy and too good not to share! I have to give credit to my lil Hope for introducing me to this. 

In the blender: I cut up about six or eight limes, two lemons, squeeze, add two to three full tablespoons of homemade simple syrup or agave nectar, 1/2 cup tequila (or more depending on how adventurous you're feeling!) and 1/2 cup cointreau or orange liqueur. Lots of ice!

Cheers and Happy 4th of July to you!!   Happy Birthday AMERICA!! 

Homebody

I've gone on a lot of vacations over the last few years, but nothing is like going home.  There is something so special and amazing to be around and with people who share your history and share your memories.  People who know your soul and can read you like a book.  I am so blessed with amazing parents, big sister and life long friends. 

My college girlfriend (and life-mate!) and I celebrated our much too long separation by running our first half marathons my first weekend back in the states.  It was a wonderful accomplishment and we are already planning on doing another one together. 

Another weekend mom and I drove up to New Jersey to spend the weekend with my Grandma.  I got to see a lot of my aunts, uncles and cousins.  It was so nice to just hang out, watch old movies and eat lots of yummy food. 

My amazing mommy friend just had her 2nd baby and this little newborn girl is just too cute for words.  I love her to pieces!  It was so incredible to see her other little one so grown up.  Last year when I went home to visit he was a newborn and how he's walking and talking and looking like such a big boy.  So awesome.  And girlfriends are just the best.  Loved getting to hang out with my ladies. 

The last weekend I was home I crammed a ton in.  My sister came home from a year working in the Republic of Georgia and our family got to be all together again!  Mom and Dad had a nice get-together for our neighbors and friends.

 

Last year I didn't make it into the city and was super excited to get a DC day this time.  Mary, Kate and I went to one of my favorite places on the planet, the Willard.  We got fancy drinks at the Round Robin bar and I promised myself for the millionth time that I would stay in that hotel sometime soon.  We walked over to the White House for a quick hello to Obama and I just loved walking down those DC streets again.  Next we took a quick cab ride over to a German Beer Garden where we met Kate's dirndls and lederhosen clad friends for some beers.  So fun!  

I was pretty bad about taking pictures this trip.  I did so many amazing things, spent time with wonderful friends, did a lot of shopping (I bought something astonishing like 14 dresses alone), a lot of eating wonderful American food, and a lot of running through the trees around the lake.  I did a lot of rocking on my parents screened in deck.  I did a lot of thinking.  Did a lot of things that make me overjoyed and happy.  There really is no place like home.  

Bribing myself

To inspire and reward myself for taking on 13.1 miles I treated myself to my first ever shopping trip to Lululemon at Tysons Corner.  

I got 2 new running/yoga outfits and I lovelovelove them!  I wanted to wear one for the half, but I was told not to wear anything new on race day.  So, these are an after race treat for me. 

My first outfit was a super cute light pink tank top with adorable little ruffles and reflective details-
Run: Silver Bullet Sleveless Tech
And pink, sparkly Turbo Run Shorts

The 2nd outfit I got was the Run Inspire Crop II and Power Y Tank.  I couldn't find a picture on their site, but the pants look similar to these ones and the top is purple with black polka dots.

It always motivates me to work out when I have great gear to wear! 

Half what?!

I'm home in Northern VA!!  It is so amazing to be back with my family and friends.  I'll be here for 3 weeks.

Tomorrow morning at around this time I'll be starting my first half marathon!  I feel so nervous I am hoping I don't barf on the starting line.  I do not feel prepared for this run at all! But, I've been wanting to run one, this race looks great, and I get to do it with my best friend, Kate, after not seeing her for years.  What a way to reunite.  One of the people she was running with couldn't do it, so I'm going to get her spot.  So, I found out I'm going to run this thing ummmm 2 days ago.

I'll be participating in the North Face Endurance Challenge!
In this race you can do the 5k, 10k, half marathon, marathon, 50k and 50 mile! Oh my god, 50 miles!

This run will be far from boring.  The site says: The North Face Endurance Challenge returns to Algonkian Regional Park, Great Falls Park and the Potomac Heritage Trail again in 2012. The course keeps runners on their toes with ever-changing terrain. Overall, the course consists of 50% singletrack, 30% dirt or gravel doubletrack, 10% gravel carriage road and 10% paved road.
 

I will certainly be pushing my limits tomorrow.  Last summer when my friends and I climbed Mt Fuji my girlfriend she said she'd rather run a marathon than climb that mountain again, so I'm hoping that's true, because Mt Fuji was one of the hardest physical and mental things I've ever done.  And this time I'll only torture myself for like 2 1/2 hours.  My only goal is to make it to the finish line, not die, and preferably not loose control of my legs and/or pass out.  And hopefully I will be able to move tomorrow at least a little.  Massage is already booked! 

Wish me luck, I'll need it.