En gard!

Last night was punches, kicks, and blocks. I'm feeling better and better about these; not nearly so confused even with the combination moves anymore!

Since we once again had extra time, we worked on sword-fighting. No, there isn't actually any sword-fighting in TKD, but we did it anyway. Armed with swords made of dowel rods inside pool noodles, we dueled until one person gained 5 points. My first match actually went amazingly well and we traded points until he ultimately beat me 5-4. The second match... I didn't score a single point. It was one of those speedy little junior black belt boys with all the crazy energy. Oh well.

On Friday I should be getting my second stripe, since it'll be two months by then. If all goes well with testing, I won't ever even make it to three stripes on my white belt. I'll have a spiffy new one instead!

I'm trying not to think too much about testing. I mean, I'm practicing and preparing for the test but I'm trying not to let myself dwell on it so that my nerves won't be so bad.

Up and down, in and out

This'll be a short one. I am feeling under the weather. I did manage to make it to the noon class yesterday and the 2-hour systema seminar this morning.

Class did NOT go well for me yesterday, because I was already not feeling my best and both my concentration and retention were clearly affected. Kind of disheartening, but everyone has their off days so I'm trying not to dwell on it.

After class I went to one of my favorite little isolated stretches of beach where I knew I could be alone. I found the best patches of hardened sand and worked on my forms to the sound and breath of the ocean. The sand still shifted plenty so I wasn't too focused on technique so much as the spirit of the forms. It was meditative and I was able to kiap fiercely in my solitude.

The workshop today was pretty interesting and useful. I picked up some really good tips on breathing more effectively. We learned how different methods of breathing can be used/manipulated depending on the work you need your body to do. I also learned some full body relaxation methods that seemed to help me a lot more than trying to just tense then relax an isolated area. I find that maybe in that sense I'm TOO detail oriented, and I cause myself more tension rather than less. When I'm mindful of the big picture though (tensing then relaxing my WHOLE body in sequence), it comes easier and the results are instantly noticeable.

Link

I co-author another blog now, as well. My first post there actually addresses how THIS blog got its name. So if you're curious, please check it out:

Everyma'am-Crank up the Volume

WHITE belt rules

Testing is March 24; just over one month away(!). It's going to be a BIG test class, too.

Class last night was a big mix of everything. We covered punches, kicks, and blocks first as usual. Then we sparred for several rounds. Then to cool down we did forms.

Sparring those guys was a bit different than last week at the main dojang. Some of them were still helpful, but... there was one who was kind of a jerk. I'm well aware that I'm going to get hit while sparring, but it's supposed to be LIGHT contact. This guy hit me several times in the headgear much more than even half-strength. And it sure shouldn't have been an issue of control on his part, because he's a high ranking belt. So, I don't know what his problem was. Between being somewhat dazed from the worst of those hits and just honestly still out of shape, I was having a really hard time breathing. I almost asked for a break to go get my inhaler, but I pushed through it instead. After class, Mr Saxton explained more about the best breathing techniques. He also mentioned that breathing would be covered in depth this weekend at the systema workshop. Hopefully that will prove helpful.

Anyway, even though class last night was kinda rough, I'm looking forward to Friday (and Saturday). Maybe they'll go better.

Most Dangerous

I'm sitting here still coming down from one of the most awesome natural highs I've ever had. Why so chipper? Tonight was my first sparring session! It was SO MUCH fun!! I felt like a slow and flail-y dork, but that in no way diminished the fun factor. I even got a few compliments from total strangers at how well I did for it being my first night. One boy, a junior blue belt, just couldn't believe it was my first time and that I'd only even WATCHED sparring once before... that made me feel pretty good.

I wondered if being all bundled up in the gear would be uncomfortable but it really wasn't. Once we actually began the matches, I didn't give it a second thought. I had way too many other things to think about. The hardest thing for me tonight was knowing where, and how, to look. Relatively speaking I'm supposed to be looking in my opponent's eyes or maybe their upper chest. But even then, I'm not really supposed to focus on that. 'Looking, but not focusing.' That way I'm able to pick up his/her motions coming from most any direction. Okay, way easier said than done for me right now!

Even so, I managed to pull out some pretty decent blocks and even score a few points of my own. Some points I think I actually managed to come by honestly and some others were kinda left open to me as gimmes. Most of the people I sparred with were really helpful, which I appreciate.

Right before we got started, Mr Saxton mentioned that the two most dangerous types of sparring opponents are white belts (because they don't know their own strength and even when they think they're hitting lightly hit too hard) and black belts (because eventually they'll hit you back just as hard). I found this to be true because I KNOW I managed contact and even points a couple times quite harder than I meant to. I also missed contact a good handful of times when I wasn't adequately blocked and SHOULD have touched for the point. I gather this is the sort of control you have to learn with time and repetition. Still, I felt especially bad when I hit a junior green belt girl on the headgear harder than I should have. All I could do was apologize and be more careful, but I still felt like a big jerk.

Each match lasts 3 minutes and I think I did maybe 5-6 matches. It's definitely a good work-out because you never let up the whole time, even rotating between partners. I was sweaty and red faced, and I think it's possibly some of the most fun I've ever had exercising! Looking at the whole class, every single one of us looked exhausted but happy. Not a bad way to start a weekend, indeed.

My noon class today also went really well. It was just the two of us adult white belts again, which meant plenty of personalized instruction. I can feel that my forms and most of my self defenses are improving slowly but steadily. The only major issue I'm having is my final white belt self defense, which is a defense for when you're being held at knife-point. Mentally I know all the steps, but when it comes to physically carrying them out correctly... no. I'll fix one issue, and then suddenly I'll be doing something new wrong, that I had just done correctly the last time. I certainly hope I can sort it out before testing in March.

Visual Aid

I was all set with my swanky new gear last night hoping we might have time for sparring again, but it was not to be. So sad. But now I'm all ready for Friday sparring!

Progress

Class at the main studio today! It was a good class, I thought. It was only me and another white belt which was kind of a nice change of pace.

We blazed through forms and self defense, then we learned some systema ideas about relaxation and body whole-ness. Interesting stuff, but somehow far easier to understand than to actually USE. Bits of it reminded me of yoga, and I think the awareness of my body I gained from yoga and learning to treat it as a whole unit rather than the sum of its individual parts helps me now with the systema concepts. Even though we've talked about some of these concepts in a handful of my regular classes, I'm excited that there is going to be a systema seminar here in town later this month. Hopefully that will be very useful as far as getting some practice and learning to relax and respond that way.

Mrs Saxton mentioned that I should be testing in March! I'm simultaneously giddy and nervous. I'm glad to know that she's confident of my abilities, but I've got to work on my OWN confidence in myself. Some of it's coming with time, though. I felt really good today about my performance and how much better I'm remembering things.

My gear hasn't arrived yet, so still no sparring for me tonight. :-( But I should get it Monday, so if there happens to be time for it during Monday night's class: it's on!

Pajama Party

So... Tonight was a punches/kicks/blocks night and I got my wish that we would focus intently on these for quite a while. Yay! I didn't feel nearly as lost during these as I did last time, so that's a plus. My guarding stance needs work though. I have a problem keeping my front hand up high enough to protect my face. I'm sure all it'll take is someone to make contact with my nose once, and I'll learn my lesson.

Speaking of contact, the second half of class tonight was devoted to sparring. Since I have no gear (there's only extra gear to borrow at the main dojang), I didn't get to spar. Instead I was in charge of time-keeping with the stopwatch. During these three minute increments, I enjoyed watching the guys. It was obvious that they were having a lot of fun. I also noticed that because all five of us have different uniforms, we resembled some demented sort of pajama party tickle fight.

Now that I've seen how CMA's sparring sessions go, I'm more ready than ever to give it a try. Of course that meant ordering myself some gear first, which is what I did as soon as I got home. I got light blue so my gear would be easily distinguished from everybody else's. What I didn't think about was the fact that between my gear and my white dobok, I'll now look ESPECIALLY like a big fluffy cloud. Erg. At least the TKD seems to be helping me get past my weight loss plateau, so I can get less fluffy.

Because of work, my next class won't be until Friday. I'm okay with that though, because it means a noon class at the main studio. I think this is probably how my class schedule will stay for the foreseeable future. I might have to find a way to kill time between the Friday noon class and the evening sparring session though, to save on driving. I'm thinking library and dinner.

Spectating

Today I went to watch belt testing. Though I'm not to the point of testing yet, I wanted to have a better idea of what the process will be like. I'm glad I decided to go. I'll still be nervous/terrified when the time comes, but at least I know what to expect now.

I got to chat a bit with my instructors after the tests. It sounds like it'll be a pretty big test class the next time around, which is when I'll be up for my first test. I'm already a bit nervous about it, but Mrs Saxton sounded confident that I'll do well. She also mentioned the Friday sparring sessions and made a point of saying I could start coming whenever I felt ready. I don't have to spar for my yellow belt, but thereafter it becomes another testing criteria. I'm really glad she mentioned it, actually, because I've thought about going before but I wasn't sure if I could/should with what little I know thus far. I guess I'm gonna go give it a try next week!

There was adorable little 4 year old boy who tested today, who earned his high (or advanced) white belt. It was fun to watch him go through the same form that I've been working on relentlessly. He was especially cute and excited when he finally managed to break his board. And then of course, his mommy had to help him tie his new belt on. So precious!