Karate actually went well last night. Who knew?

[pegkerr]

I really wasn't in the mood to go. But I did. Much to my consternation, sensei decided to concentrate on free-standing kicks for most of the class. I don't mind kicks, exactly, except I just get so frustrated over balance issues.

But last night, mysteriously, my balance was solid. Wow. That felt great! I felt like a real brown belt, instead of an imposter masquerading as one. Only hitch was toward the end, when we started doing side kicks with the right leg. The jolt from the lock-out started hurting the knee I bolluxed up doing spin kicks in class a week ago. So sensei told me just to continue practicing the side kick pivot chamber. I felt like I was getting away with something.

I love it when karate actually goes well. It would be nice if it happened more often.

Comments

[kijjohnson.livejournal.com]

The jolt from the lock-out started hurting the knee I bolluxed up doing spin kicks in class a week ago.

Do you know how cool this sentence is? How cool that you can do side kicks, that you can do OMG spin kicks, and that you're back at it after a week, even though it hurts? That's my kind of girl. :-)

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

We did some experimental leg strengthening stuff on Monday, involving one-leg deep knee bends holding 70 pound heavy bags (we got out a 40 pound bag, had her dad spot and help lift, and dropped the reps for the 65 pound little girl). It wasn't bad at the time, but now my quads hurt so bad I can barely walk, if I stand still very long. I'm supposed to test on Friday. Ugh.

[nmsunbear.livejournal.com]

I know exactly what you mean! Those nights in volleyball when I'm alert, my reflexes are fast, my hits are solid and on target - they are amazing. I feel so jazzed afterward.

I can never predict when they'll happen. But as I play more, they do come more often.

Spin kicks! That sounds so very cool. (And what the heck is a side kick pivot chamber?)

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Let's see if I can explain it. The pivot is a technical reference to the proper position of the supporting (standing) leg in preparation for the sidekick. [A similar term we use is "rotate" which refers to the proper position of the supporting (standing) leg in preparation for the roundkick.]

To prepare for a side kick you stand with your feet together, looking over to the side where you're going to kick. When sensei says "up and pivot!" you raise your leg up into the chamber (ready to kick position) while you simultaneously pivot 90 degrees on your supporting leg, so that the toes of your supporting leg now face the opposite direction from the way you'll be kicking. For the side kick, the chamber position of the kicking leg means that your leg is bent at the knee, with the knee pulled all the way toward your belt knot, and the shin, knee, and heel are all at one level, parallel to the floor. When sensei says "kick!" you wham the kicking leg out, hard, locking both knees, striking with your heel, your toes angled slightly down. And you try not to fall on your ass.

"Up and rotate," the command for the round kick, is a little different: the supporting leg only turns 45 degrees instead of 90 degrees, and the chamber of the kicking leg is in a different position. You chamber to give your kick power, like coiling a spring before snapping it out.

Hope that wasn't totally confusing!

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

And I really really suck at spin kicks, which is expected at this point. One of my senseis told me that it took him six months of regular practice before he could actually do a spin kick that felt right. They're quite challenging.

[nmsunbear.livejournal.com]

I think I have the idea. :)

It sounds exhilirating. I never got far with martial arts, but I enjoyed them.