Protected: Marathon and Karate-do: My Training Psychology

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Eager for Improvement!

Since the new Dōkōkai has been established, my training spirits is lifted again. Previously I was stuck in sedentary life for more than a month while preparing for final exams followed by 3 weeks holidays away from Melaka (away from training with Adrian Senpai). My fitness level has dropped noticeably, sadly my weight rises noticeably on the contrary. Luckily I received a lecture from Senpai regarding my discipline. It seriously wakes me up. Guilt and worries have become the restart elements of my training.

The dōkōkai is very near to my house, a bicycle ride takes less than 3 minutes to reach there. Training is conducted on weekdays 7 to 9pm, usually I’m there before 7 to do some warm-ups and stretching. I enjoy the way to be taught and corrected by Senpai individually as it makes me more aware of mistakes under his full attention. I expect feedback from him each time after I perform a kata. Sometimes it’s a positive one, sometimes neutral and sometimes negative. Like a small kid, a “very good!” from him is like being rewarded a candy after you’ve done something good; but sometimes corrections will upset me, especially when I’m still repeating the same mistake and I thought I’ve corrected it.

For that I really appreciate Senpai’s dedication in guiding me (and also others) to improve time to time, though sometimes he’s kinda impatient. In Zankai training 2 claps are done before training starts to indicate you come to the dojo/dōkōkai to “give and take”, meaning to teach and learn. I used to take over Senpai’s classes when he was away for 1 month sabbatical training in Okinawa, I understand being a teacher/instructor is never an easy job. Other than great responsibility, selflessness is a must. Technically, a teacher/instructor has to give more than to take during the training. This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea after all, as lots of time and effort are committed.

Now I’ve got new assignment from Senpai. If everything goes smoothly it will be started next January. For the sake of Zankai’s development and image, as well as for my personal growth, I must train harder than before, but Senpai told me for women they have to train FIVE times harder in order to keep up the standard with men. Umm… a bit daunting…

I want to become stronger than I was yesterday, than I was half a day ago, than I was a minute ago! – Rock Lee in Naruto Shippuuden 28.

Bone Remodeling

In the previous post, I mentioned about bone remodeling. Now let’s go deeper into how bone tissue is resorbed and formed in this process.

How bone remodels?

Bone remodeling is a lifelong process to replace and reshape bone, that involves coupled activity of osteoclasts and osteoblasts to resorb and form bone at the simultaneous site. Basically a healthy bone remodeling consists of 5 phases: Activation, Resorption, Reversal, Formation and Quiescence.

For a clearer illustration, I’ve referred to some resources and drawn some figures to represent the process.

In Activation phase, mononuclear pre-osteoclasts are attached to the bone surface and fuse to form large (up to 100µm) and multinucleated (up to 50) osteoclasts. The membrane attached to the bone differentiates as ruffled membrane for further action.

During Resorption phase, the osteoclasts acidify the attached interface and slowly dissolve the bone matrix, result in deep cavities (cutting cones). The calcium is then released to blood for various body functions. Osteoclasts diminish when the resorption is complete.

During Reversal phase the resorbed surface is prepared for the subsequent Formation phase. A sugar-rich cement line is produced to help bonding old bone and new bone.

The Formation phase begins when the osteoprogenitor cells (precursors of osteoblasts) appear along the cavities. The cells undergo mitosis and proliferate (increase in large quantity). Eventually they differentiate into osteoblasts. Osteoblasts then deposit unmineralized bone matrix called osteoid at the cavities.

When osteoblasts are encapsulated by the matrix it synthetize, they become osteocytes and regulate the process of bone remodeling. Osteocytes are known as the most abundant cells found in the bone.

Calcification begins few days after osteoid is deposited: the process where osteoid becomes mineralized with calcium and phosphorus, thus forming the new bone.

The bone surface is restored and covered by the protective lining cells, and remains quiescent till the next cycle.