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BigV · 01-09-2007, 06:07 PM

Ow.

I have survived my first aikido class at Tenzan Aikido. I know I survived because if I had died and gone to hell, I wouldn't hurt this bad. I fell more times last night that I have in the previous fifteen years combined. I have pains in places I didn't know I had parts. Pass the ibuprophen, please.

SonofV's class was the first hour, and my class was the second hour. We took turns watching each other's class. Actually, SonofV spent much of his non-mat hour chatting up another youngster also waiting on her parent. He was stoked (about the class time). He was singled out a couple of times for doing the drill right by Bookman Sensei, and he beamed about it on the way to the car. In fact, to emphasize his mad skilz, he asked if I wanted to see his front rolls--no, wait, watch! And in the time it took me to wrestle the car keys out of my bag, he had done about eight of them on the parking strip grass next to the car. "See?!" Wow. Very cool.

He asked when he could get a gi. I told him if he sticks with it for the month, he can have a gi. Big carrot. We signed up for one month. I signed up for unlimited practice for the month, and SonofV for a once a week pace. I may have bitten off more than I can chew. I can't imagine going three days a week, certainly not more, not now. But the difference isn't a lot of money, I don't begrudge that. I will try to use it as leverage to heave myself off my deathbed and go practice again.

I really did enjoy it, even more than I enjoy complaining about my sore muscles. The first 15-20 minutes were spent in quiet directed yoga / breathing exercises. Very very important, and useful. I liked that part. The class I was in was an All Levels class. Some (un)rank(ed) beginners like me, some with real gis and white belts, and about five with the black split skirt the name of which temporarily eludes me. I was paired with each of the advanced students, in turn, about 5-10 minutes each, and worked on some very elementary skills, many of which brought me into intimate contact with the canvas. I tell you, it's a long way down...followed immediately by a rapid deceleration. Oof.

But to watch the others, especially the... well, all of them looked graceful, powerful, beautiful. Aikido has the potential for some very smooth movements. Someday mine will be smooth too. I will not be a square wheel forever.

01-09-2007, 06:07 PM	#3
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Ow. I have survived my first aikido class at Tenzan Aikido. I know I survived because if I had died and gone to hell, I wouldn't hurt this bad. I fell more times last night that I have in the previous fifteen years combined. I have pains in places I didn't know I had parts. Pass the ibuprophen, please. SonofV's class was the first hour, and my class was the second hour. We took turns watching each other's class. Actually, SonofV spent much of his non-mat hour chatting up another youngster also waiting on her parent. He was stoked (about the class time). He was singled out a couple of times for doing the drill right by Bookman Sensei, and he beamed about it on the way to the car. In fact, to emphasize his mad skilz, he asked if I wanted to see his front rolls--no, wait, watch! And in the time it took me to wrestle the car keys out of my bag, he had done about eight of them on the parking strip grass next to the car. "See?!" Wow. Very cool. He asked when he could get a gi. I told him if he sticks with it for the month, he can have a gi. Big carrot. We signed up for one month. I signed up for unlimited practice for the month, and SonofV for a once a week pace. I may have bitten off more than I can chew. I can't imagine going three days a week, certainly not more, not now. But the difference isn't a lot of money, I don't begrudge that. I will try to use it as leverage to heave myself off my deathbed and go practice again. I really did enjoy it, even more than I enjoy complaining about my sore muscles. The first 15-20 minutes were spent in quiet directed yoga / breathing exercises. Very very important, and useful. I liked that part. The class I was in was an All Levels class. Some (un)rank(ed) beginners like me, some with real gis and white belts, and about five with the black split skirt the name of which temporarily eludes me. I was paired with each of the advanced students, in turn, about 5-10 minutes each, and worked on some very elementary skills, many of which brought me into intimate contact with the canvas. I tell you, it's a long way down...followed immediately by a rapid deceleration. Oof. But to watch the others, especially the... well, all of them looked graceful, powerful, beautiful. Aikido has the potential for some very smooth movements. Someday mine will be smooth too. I will not be a square wheel forever. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.