Feeling Sick

Feeling sick ! I got back from my trip from dubai last thursday . Been feeling sick all the time . At least i think i am recovering . I feel sick staying at home the whole freaking time ! I wanna go out to places but sadly i have no one to follow me . What kind of friends i have :( 

All i have is myself . Well , still have to think about the brightside . Should try to do something alone instead of doing nothing

My own album is out ! Download here

This is my tribute to one of my favorite songwriter , singer , Peter ( Pete ) William Ham . This album consists of songs that he recorded on his Revox 2 Track Recorder , which appears on his albums , Golders Green and 7 Park Avenue . This is not intended to be a professionally done album . Playing music and making covers is my pastime . Do enjoy the covers .

Download here
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Download here

End of O Levels

It is the first of November now ! Time has passed in  Flash ! In a blink of an eye , 11 months has passed . School is already over . O levels is " over " . I have only one more paper left . That is only on the 11th of november . As a result , i can relax now . There are many things i have in mind now . Firstly , i have to start back training in martial arts . I have not been training for months ! I have also been eating so much of junk food and have put on so much of weight . Gotta burn that all down . I will just be enjoying myself for the next few months .

Outing with friends

Today , I went out with Satvin and Hidayat. It is my second time going out with him this year as he is busy with his polytechnic life and I am busy with school and exams . Also , it is the reunion of the bros . The last time we went out together was back in 2009 .

We went to vivo city and the first thing we did was to find a place to eat . We decided to go to swensens to eat . Each of us got a student meal . It was my first time eating a salad . It started to rain heavily .

After that , we went to buy tickets to watch the new Percy Jackson movie . We had 2 hours before the movie started . We went window shopping and to the arcade . I spent $15 on the arcade . Something remarkable happened at the arcade . It was my turn to try the hammer game . I swung with little force but with my whole body movement , and boom ! The score went up to 999 , which was the maximum it could go to . Everyone was shocked .

Next , we went to watch the movie . I was in the middle and my friend went in to sit first . Damn , there was a smoking hot girl beside him . If only I could change seat with him .

We then went to the open rooftop to enjoy the scenery and talk . After that , we went home .

It was a splendid day and a day I would never forget . Thanks to my friend satvin for the swensens treat .

Picture with my friend after a Year

I finally got a chance to take a picture with a friend of my after a damn year . I finally took up the courage to go up to her today and asked her if she wanted to take a picture . Well , my friends were the ones who planned it .

She was really shy when she came up beside me . Damn me , i didn't even say thanks to her . I hope stuff is not going to be awkward between us . Stuff used to be awkward between us last year because of some rumors . I just wanted to be friends with her but didn't have the courage to talk to her . She left the school and i didn't even get to talk to her once . It was only after that , that i realized that there was a misunderstanding between us .

She thought that i loved her and had feelings for her . That was not true at all . Anyway , i hope things go well between us and i hope i can get a chance to talk to her .

Raya in my house

It was a friday . The 23th . All my relatives and cousins came to my house for raya . But this year was special . I invited my friends as well ! My friends met my cousins and all of us had a fun time playing . Also , my cute baby cousin came along . I was happy that i got to carry her and pinch her . It was a really enjoyable time and i am looking forward to next year .

Having this sad and moody feeling as usual . After relatives or cousins come over , my house goes quite again . They only visit my house once a year . The last time they visited was last year . Only now , i get the true feeling of hari raya , eid mubarak . It only happens once a year . The family , fun , gathering . Really miss those days . Looking forward to next year's hari raya .

Donn Draeger . The original Steven Seagal

Now , if you have read my earlier posts , you know how i wanted to be like Seagal , going to Japan and training there . Well , it seems that there is this one guy whom Seagal himself admired ! Donn Draeger , short form for Donald Frederick Draeger . Here is a short bio about him

 

      Born on April 15, 1922, Donn grew up in Wisconsin and began his martial training
       in the art of Jujutsu at a very early age. He soon switched to the practice of Kodokan
     Judo and received the rank of nikyu by the age of ten. He continued his involvement
       with Judo throughout his life. 

Donn Draeger was recognized as a world authority on Asian martial culture and
human combative behavior. As a research historian, author and lecturer; he was
considered the leading exponent of the Japanese martial disciplines. He held a large
number of expert ranks and teaching licenses, and investigated Japanese martial
culture more deeply than any non-Japanese in history.

  

After retirement from the service, Donn made his home in Tokyo, Japan. From this
base he pursued his interests in martial training and research. Approximately four
months out of each year was spent conducting expeditions to various countries to
study and document their diverse combative traditions. Southeast Asia was an area
of special interest to him.

Donn followed a simple and natural lifestyle. He neither smoked nor drank and he
had no heat or air conditioning in his small Japanese style apartment. He got up
with the sun and usually jogged around his hometown of Narita. The rest of the day
was spent training, teaching and conducting research.

 Sadly while in Sumatra in the 1980s , Draeger and his research team were poisoned .   Draeger was the only one that didnt recover fully and unfortunately , died from it . 

Here is a picture of him . How i wish i had a body like him .

Last day of fasting for 2013

Today is the 7th of July , the last day of ramadan . Honestly , i feel quite sad at the fact that ramadan is leaving us . We only get this once a year . I am really happy that i managed to fast for all 30 days ! This is the only time where i actually fasted for the whole month . Alhamdulilah :)

Also today in school , we had national day celebrations . The two sec 5 classes came together and sung two national day songs . A few singers from the two classes were leading , while the rest of us were at the back doing some movements :) I was feeling quite shy . But still , i put up a good play .
The good thing is that we , the sec 5 , made history . The principal was so impressed by us that he made it compulsory for all the sec 5 classes starting from next year to perform for national day :)

Finally got a training partner !!

Today , during aikido class , I met a black belt . The funny thing is that I only saw him last year once . I remember him using me as an uke to demonstrate a gun disarm technique . Anyway I partnered with him twice and started talking and talking . Even after class ended , he showed me a few techniques .

We walked home together and sat at park and started talking about martial arts . To my surprise , he trains in wing chun as well !! My eyes lit up as soon as he told me that . He has a brother who trains in wing chun . He showed me a few wing chun techniques and we even did some chi sao !!

I was happy as a peacock !! Time flew fast and he had to leave . The good thing is that he only lives a few blocks away from me . We exchanged numbers
and planned to meet up every weekend to train together at the park !!

This is like a dream come true for me . I think I finally got a training partner who also has a big interest in martial arts .

The Last Samurai

The man pictured here is Sokaku Takeda , the headmaster of  Daito Ryu AikiBujutsu . At a young age , he trained in various weapon arts and other arts such as Yarijutsu and Battojutsu from Tanomo Saigo . In 1880 , Tanomo Saigo passed on all his knowledge including the secret teachings to Sokaku Takeda . From that day forward , Sokaku would be the headmaster .

The thing that fascinates me about Sokaku is how much of a true warrior he was . He gained his nickname " Little Demon Of Aizu " by travelling all around Japan and challenging people and defeating them . He was true fighter and a warrior . There is even one story where he was in a gang fight with 30 construction workers . He killed a few and them and injured many . He only came out with a few injuries .

It's quite sad that many people do not know of this man . The only person that could come close to him is his student , Morihei Ueshiba , the founder of Aikido .

Dream coming true

My dream came true when i contacted one of seagal's student, sensei elliot freeman.I talked to him about aikido and other stuff.

Practicing Martial Arts While Fasting

Today is the 12 day of Ramadan . I missed aikido class last week as i was too tired . I wasn't going to miss this one . We did various exercises and throws . My neck got really sore when my teacher threw me using an iriminage . I got to help the beginners alot . Honestly , i felt thirsty but i feel better now . There is still about 4 hours left till break fast . I am going to spend the time studying . It is great that you can carry on your daily activities despite fasting , without feeling tired .

Changes

Today was a really really disappointing day for me . I just got back my results for my mid year exams . For the first time , i failed my geography paper ! I have been getting A1 for my geography since 2009 and have never failed it . Also , i did terribly for my social studies paper . My Additional Mathematics was a failure as usual . I have been failing my Additional Mathematics since 2011 . Never passed it once !

Honestly , i didnt expect great results when i did the paper as i wasnt fully prepared for my exam . I spent most of my holidays hanging out with my friends and having fun . I am very sad as i have disappointed myself , my teachers and parents .

I guess its time to really , really wake up ! I have only 5 Weeks left till my prelims ! My national exams are only a week or so after my prelims .

Its time to make some changes now to myself .

Speaking of changes :)

Motivational Workshop

Today was the third day of the motivational workshop . Also , it was the last day . I didnt go for the first day as i thought it was be another useless workshop . Honestly , this workshop was really a wake up call for me . I cant believe that i didnt know what my beliefs were until i went for the workshop . The trainer was a guy named Samuel , a fun and cheerful guy . It was really fun to hear him talk about his life .


At the end of the lesson on the 2nd day , i went to speak to him personally . To my surprise , his character is very similar to mine ! Infact , almost the same . He told me that he was , and still is a shy person . I remember earlier this year , when i didnt even talk to anybody and kept my mouth shut . He had similar experiences .


Also , he told me this funny story where he and a friend went to see a girl . He wanted to give the girl a letter . When they met the girl , he was so shocked that he threw the letter on the floor and ran away ! A really funny story . Today , i was happy that i got to play guitar to the whole class . He brought his guitar and played some songs . After that , knowing that i am shy person , he called me up to play the guitar ! I finally overcomed my shyness . Thanks to him .

He told me that i am his inspiration ! There is one thing that he said that will be with me for my life. He said that to overcome your fear , you actually have to do that particular thing . If not , you will never succeed !  I wish that we can cross paths sometime in the future .

Time to WAKE UP

Mid Year Exams had just ended . Honestly , i didnt even prepare well for the exams . I spent the whole holidays hanging out with my friend . This is the first time in 4 years of my secondary school that i have not prepared for my exam . Its time to REALLY WAKE UP !! . I am just curious about the results . I dont think i will do really well .

Panic mode !!

The June holidays are going to come to an end . 30 days have passed in a swift ! Honestly , I have not studied much during the holidays . Instead , I spent most of the time hanging out with my friend , meeting him every night . I regret this and I really wish to change and wake up ! This is my final year in this secondary school . National exams are only a few months away . I have to really persevere and work hard !

Aikido Grading

Grading just ended about 4 hours ago . Despite being ill , i still went for my grading . I got tired very fast . Good thing that my partner told me what to do as i made some mistakes halfway . I got thrown around a lot !

After this grading , i realized something . I really need to start working out and exercising . I thought that aikido didnt require working out . I was wrong !

I think that i should be able to pass my grading and be promoted to 5th Kyu .

Here are some pictures , taken by my mom and sister .

Aggressive Attitude

I have been having a aggressive attitude in aikido the past year . Hitting my friends and going against them hard . I have realised today that resistance and going hard in aikido do not meet . I should train to get the basics right . By resisting , both the uke and nage do not gain anything . I should change my attitude towards aikido from now onwards . 

Feeling Fresh :)

What a rainy day :) I have been waking up early on weekends around 6  to do my prayers , and off i go to study . I feel so good to be up in the morning with the sound of birds singing . It is also a great time to study and your brain is like a brand new sponge in the morning .

January have passed in a blink of an eye ! The year had just started , and boom ! It is already February . I have gotten 5 A's so far for most of my common tests. Great feeling when you get what you want .