Entry tags:
Good Honest Sweat
Back to the usual routine yesterday, which meant getting back on the bike and back to the dojo. Man, it felt great after spending last week more or less cooped up in the house, going nowhere. I haven't taken a karate class in two weeks. Last week it was because I was home nursing Delia. The week before, I missed because of a number of conflicts: Fiona's orchestra concert, church council meeting, and because I was taking pictures of the belt tests at another dojo.
Last night's class was sparring. Mr. Sidner, our head sensei, was teaching, which was a treat. Haven't seen him leading a sparring class much lately; he's been busy with his additional duties at another dojo. We mixed up partnered practice bouts with drills, mostly working on the ax kick, and then ended the class with point matches. I fought at various times with a couple of other teachers who gave me encouragement and tips. I'm now one of the upper belts, and I'm getting to the point where I could offer a couple of pieces of advice to some of the lower belts I fought against.
I'm definitely able to kick above the waist now. Hurrah! Mr. Pallesen was encouraging me not to wear myself out by popping up too many side kicks, but waiting until my opponent gave me an opening--and then not hesitating but going for it. I did manage a couple good blitzes when I was fighting Ms. Staley. I didn't feel I was desperately overmatched against any opponent I fought last night (I don't know, maybe the black belts were feeling kind). And I didn't feel that any of the brown belts were showing lack of control (as some of them have done in the past), so I didn't freak out about getting clobbered by anyone.
Came out of class wringing wet and happy. Which is a great way to end sparring class. My ax kick still wouldn't threaten a kitten--haven't landed a decent one yet--but my side kick is getting to the point that I can stop a grown man in his tracks. And I actually remember to use the hook kick once in a while. I managed to land a couple spin kicks, too.
Last night's class was sparring. Mr. Sidner, our head sensei, was teaching, which was a treat. Haven't seen him leading a sparring class much lately; he's been busy with his additional duties at another dojo. We mixed up partnered practice bouts with drills, mostly working on the ax kick, and then ended the class with point matches. I fought at various times with a couple of other teachers who gave me encouragement and tips. I'm now one of the upper belts, and I'm getting to the point where I could offer a couple of pieces of advice to some of the lower belts I fought against.
I'm definitely able to kick above the waist now. Hurrah! Mr. Pallesen was encouraging me not to wear myself out by popping up too many side kicks, but waiting until my opponent gave me an opening--and then not hesitating but going for it. I did manage a couple good blitzes when I was fighting Ms. Staley. I didn't feel I was desperately overmatched against any opponent I fought last night (I don't know, maybe the black belts were feeling kind). And I didn't feel that any of the brown belts were showing lack of control (as some of them have done in the past), so I didn't freak out about getting clobbered by anyone.
Came out of class wringing wet and happy. Which is a great way to end sparring class. My ax kick still wouldn't threaten a kitten--haven't landed a decent one yet--but my side kick is getting to the point that I can stop a grown man in his tracks. And I actually remember to use the hook kick once in a while. I managed to land a couple spin kicks, too.