Further England
4/1/05 21:19![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eredienMore Pictures - Red House and the weekend's antics through the British Museum
A few pictures of some nifty Grecian and Egyptian artefacts in that link, as well as a few fun pictures from about Pinner.
Today I got up at 7 am but failed to adequately wake Esgalaith in time for us to see the Changing of the Guard, so we decided to go see some more of the British Museum--that's our default for "when our plans mess up or we have nothing else we can see adequately in three hours."
Today's British Museum wanderings included bits of China (an exhibit of exquisite jade pieces and a display case featuring different pieces from the Junnishi (Chinese Zodiac) were some interesting highlights of that. A bit of the North/South American side of the museum, though not too much, and an hour or two in the "Cutting Edge" exhibit, which featured Japanese swords (katana and others) from various epochs, regions, makers, and techniques. Quite fascinating, and beautiful.
I stepped off of the elevator and went "naginata!" I got a picture of the naginata (thanks to Esgalaith's suggestion, "use the panorama mode!") but haven't posted it up because I have to wait 'till I get home to use the special panorama software. It was a gorgeous weapon, with an inlaid mosaic handle of some kind of iridescent shell or mother-of-pearl, but I'm not sure it was meant to be used.
The sendan maki (1000 wraps) that held the naginata's blade to the ha (weapon shaft) had a lot of ornamental ironwork on it between the wraps themselves, which was applied to the ha such that the metal inlay stuck out about a quarter-inch from the ha.
Maybe all real bladed naginata are like that (I don't know, that was the first I'd seen).
But it seems to me that when you'd go to do several different blocks--namely, the first that came to mind was in the first kata, where you step back and put the blade practically right up next to your face to block the men (head) shot coming in sideways to your temple and you have to grip the ha right up close to the blade to get the right angle--that that kind of sticky-outy decoration would be a liability rather than an asset, making it harder to grip the ha, change your hand position quickly, and otherwise run your hands along the ha in the manner that you need to in order to make the weapon work fluidly.
What a completely specialist digression; hello to the two people who are still reading this. Anyway. I guess I really miss martial arts.
Meant to go to Africa but only got as far as the bookstore.
We're going to try to see the Changing of the Guard some other day, and switch it off with the trip to the Tower of London, and switch those off with either Westminster Abbey or St. Paul's in the afternoon, respectively. Have yet to eat Indian food or fish and chips, but have been consuming a fair number of digestive biscuits.
Tomorrow up at 6:30 am to go to Bath for a day; good thing I get to sleep in the car.
Annoyingly, my right hip has something wrong with it; I can't figure out what. I just woke up and it was like this. It hurts a lot more than it should when I walk, though. I've been trying to do gentle stretching exercises on it, which has helped some, but I really hope it just stops soon, especially since I don't think it's muscle soreness. I think it's something with the joint itself. What feels really good is crouching down in a squat, which boggles my mind because that has never felt anything resembling "good" before. Getting up is a real $*#@! though.
Goes to figure that when I feel good and want to walk around everywhere my body finally rebels big-time. My fault though for not taking care of it properly, especially in the last six months. I've begun to take asprin for it before bed, which worries me a little given my pain tolerance.
A few pictures of some nifty Grecian and Egyptian artefacts in that link, as well as a few fun pictures from about Pinner.
Today I got up at 7 am but failed to adequately wake Esgalaith in time for us to see the Changing of the Guard, so we decided to go see some more of the British Museum--that's our default for "when our plans mess up or we have nothing else we can see adequately in three hours."
Today's British Museum wanderings included bits of China (an exhibit of exquisite jade pieces and a display case featuring different pieces from the Junnishi (Chinese Zodiac) were some interesting highlights of that. A bit of the North/South American side of the museum, though not too much, and an hour or two in the "Cutting Edge" exhibit, which featured Japanese swords (katana and others) from various epochs, regions, makers, and techniques. Quite fascinating, and beautiful.
I stepped off of the elevator and went "naginata!" I got a picture of the naginata (thanks to Esgalaith's suggestion, "use the panorama mode!") but haven't posted it up because I have to wait 'till I get home to use the special panorama software. It was a gorgeous weapon, with an inlaid mosaic handle of some kind of iridescent shell or mother-of-pearl, but I'm not sure it was meant to be used.
The sendan maki (1000 wraps) that held the naginata's blade to the ha (weapon shaft) had a lot of ornamental ironwork on it between the wraps themselves, which was applied to the ha such that the metal inlay stuck out about a quarter-inch from the ha.
Maybe all real bladed naginata are like that (I don't know, that was the first I'd seen).
But it seems to me that when you'd go to do several different blocks--namely, the first that came to mind was in the first kata, where you step back and put the blade practically right up next to your face to block the men (head) shot coming in sideways to your temple and you have to grip the ha right up close to the blade to get the right angle--that that kind of sticky-outy decoration would be a liability rather than an asset, making it harder to grip the ha, change your hand position quickly, and otherwise run your hands along the ha in the manner that you need to in order to make the weapon work fluidly.
What a completely specialist digression; hello to the two people who are still reading this. Anyway. I guess I really miss martial arts.
Meant to go to Africa but only got as far as the bookstore.
We're going to try to see the Changing of the Guard some other day, and switch it off with the trip to the Tower of London, and switch those off with either Westminster Abbey or St. Paul's in the afternoon, respectively. Have yet to eat Indian food or fish and chips, but have been consuming a fair number of digestive biscuits.
Tomorrow up at 6:30 am to go to Bath for a day; good thing I get to sleep in the car.
Annoyingly, my right hip has something wrong with it; I can't figure out what. I just woke up and it was like this. It hurts a lot more than it should when I walk, though. I've been trying to do gentle stretching exercises on it, which has helped some, but I really hope it just stops soon, especially since I don't think it's muscle soreness. I think it's something with the joint itself. What feels really good is crouching down in a squat, which boggles my mind because that has never felt anything resembling "good" before. Getting up is a real $*#@! though.
Goes to figure that when I feel good and want to walk around everywhere my body finally rebels big-time. My fault though for not taking care of it properly, especially in the last six months. I've begun to take asprin for it before bed, which worries me a little given my pain tolerance.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
4/1/05 22:44 (UTC)I didn't get a chance for a good poke around the east Asian displays last time I was at the British Museum, so I didn't realise they had some period naginata. Interesting -- and yes, I was one of those two still reading. I miss martial arts, too.
I did love your "Meant to go to Africa but only got as far as the bookstore" comment -- interpreted only slightly differently from the intended meaning, it sounds rather blasé about travelling. ;) Even if your visit here has engendered such a attitude, I think Bath should cure you of it. It's a great place, with a lot to experience. Hope the hip doesn't give you too much trouble while you're walking round it!
(no subject)
5/1/05 00:01 (UTC)Hmmmm....I have a clue what you look like now. Unless you were the tall one with the hood. *wry grin*
(no subject)
5/1/05 02:01 (UTC)I think I might have to metaquote that! Made me laugh out loud, even though I know what you meant in context.
For your hip, something I do, which helps my lower back but might also really help your hip is lie on my side, bend my knee, lift my leg up to the side, straighten it, and then put it down straight. Kind of like circling your arms to realign your shoulder, but with your hip.
(no subject)
10/1/05 15:19 (UTC)Related to art. And you making some.
Interested yet?