pegkerr | Sparring last night (Reply)

I went to sparring class for the first time in awhile, and I enjoyed myself, despite the fact that I got clobbered pretty good. This is actually a very hopeful sign, since I usually avoid sparring when I'm struggling with my mood. Even getting walloped pretty hard didn't faze me. We started out by drilling pop-up side kicks and then defensive side kicks (when your opponent runs in with a body shield). Then we did partner drills, again doing defensive side kicks, and that's when I got the bruises that I think will probably blossom spectacularly the next few days. I fought Fiona several times. Man, she really loves sparring, and she's really good at it, too. Sensei pointed her out as a good example to the class: when sparring, we bounce lightly on the balls of the feet, to stay loose. You have to be careful that you don't expend too much energy, but you must stay light on your feet so you can quickly get into the "red zone" to land your punch or kick and then get right out again. She has a knack for timing her bounces so she can respond quickly, making her move just as her opponent is pulling a punch or kick. She also knows how to drift just right in and then slightly over the edge of the opponent's red zone.

We finished up the class with squats, pushups and yoga stretches. I would have enjoyed the stretches, but I had to drop out at the end because I was suddenly being plagued by a foot cramp that stubbornly wouldn't go away. It continued plaguing me as I tried to drive home, making me yelp in pain. I actually had to stop the car partway home and get out and try to walk it off.