Minding Culture

This course will introduce the students to the major controversies debated in the study of mental illness and culture. Two major debates in clinical psychology are highlighted: nature vs. nurture and the individual vs. society. The course is part of a series of seminars designed to explore the epistemological, theoretical, and methodological implications of our modern concept of mental illness. Psychological ideas shape in fundamental ways how we understand human "nature", motivation, development, and pathology. What do we mean when we say mental illness is "biological"? "psychological"?

Beginning Shotokan Karate

Shotokan Karate is an unarmed form of self-defense developed in Japan. It stresses the use of balance, timing and coordinaation to avoid an attack and striking as an effective means of counterattack to be used only if necessary. Students will learn basic methods of blocking, punching, kicking, and combinations; basic sparring; and basic kata, prearranged sequences of techniques simulating defense against multiple opponents. 5-College students will be graded pass/fail.

Aikido

Aikido is essentially a modern manifestation of traditional Japanese martial arts (Budo), derived from a synthesis of body, sword, and staff arts. Its primary emphasis is defensive, utilizing techniques of neutralization through leverage, timing, balance, and joint control. There is no emphasis on strikes or kicks since one is trained to blend and evade rather than confront. Beginners will practice ukemi (falling), body movement, conditioning, and several basic techniques. 5-College students will be graded pass/fail.

Beginning Kyudo

Kyudo, the Way of the Bow, has been practiced in Japan for centuries. The form of the practice is considered a type of Ritsuzen or standing Zen. It is often practiced in monasteries as an active meditation in contrast to Zazen or seated meditation. The class will concentrate on learning the seven co-ordinations or step-by-step shooting form. The target, which is only six feet away, serves the archer as a mirror, reflecting the status of his mind and spirit. 5-College students will be graded pass/fail.

Intermediate Kyudo

This course will widen the student's understaning of the basic form of Kyudo. Students will also work on shooting at a more distant target than that normally used in the beginner class. Students will expand the study of the formal seven co-ordinations into the more extended forms of Hitote and demonstrations of synchronized shooting by groups of individuals. Prerequisite: OPRA 115. 5-College students will be graded pass/fail.

Iaido

This course will present the forms of Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido, a traditional style of drawing and sheathing the Japanese katana. Each form includes at least the four parts: 1.Nukitsuke, drawing; 2.Kiritsuke. killing cut; 3. Chiburi, cleansing the blade; and 4. Noto, returning the sword to the scabbard. Each kata represents the response by a swordsman to a particular scenario of opponents and their actions . These kata are solo in nature and will not involve paired exercises though we will also study the use of the bokken or wooden sword in two person situations.

Rape Aggression Defense

The Rape Agression Defense system is a program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques. The system is a comprehensive course for women that begins with risk awareness, prevention, reduction, and avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training. It is dedicated to teaching women defensive concepts and techniques against various types of assault, by utilizing easy, effective and proven self-defense/martial arts tactics. The RAD system of realistic defense provides women with the knowledge to make an educated decision about resistance.

Beginning Whitewater Kayaking

No experience required except swimming ability. Learn the fundamentals of kayaking and basic whitewater skills including:equipment, strokes, rescue maneuvering, eddy turns, ferrying, bracing, river reading, surfing, and kayak rolling. Class will meet Fridays on the River from 12:30pm - 6:00pm weather permitting, and on Wednesday in the pool from 1:00pm - 2:20pm. 5-College students will be graded pass/fail.

Beginning Whitewater Kayaking

No experience required except swimming ability. Learn the fundamentals of kayaking and basic whitewater skills including:equipment, strokes, rescue maneuvering, eddy turns, ferrying, bracing, river reading, surfing, and kayak rolling. Class will meet Fridays on the River from 12:30pm - 6:00pm weather permitting, and on Wednesday in the pool from 2:30pm - 3:50pm. 5-College students will be graded pass/fail.
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