November 3, 2007

BBM brings you “Pimp My Crutches”

So I can’t walk. That doesn’t mean I can’t go to observe a Black Belt Workout, and that’s just what I did (Thanks to Mr. BBM who pretty much kicked me out of bed and the house today to make me go, and Hanshi who invited me to come and watch). Unlike when I’m gi’ed up, I arrived a little late. The workout was already in full swing.

I crutched it up the stairs and when one of the Kyoshi’s at our school saw me, she started clapping. She followed that with a shout of "Now THAT’s SPIRIT!" and the entire dojo started clapping and cheering. I wasn’t expecting a standing ovation (o.k. not really a standing ovation since they were already on their feet anyway, but an ovation none-the-less), but that’s just what I got.

I smiled and thanked them and then spent a good part of the workout talking to Kyoshi about good martial arts books, and our soon-to-begin book discussion group. Our first two books which are going to be discussed simultaneously are "Living the Martial Way" by Forrest Morgan (which I’ve already read but will gladly dig into again) and "On Killing" by Dan Grossman. Although I’m sure the idea of a dojo book discussion group has probably been in the works for quite some time, I like to think that it’s Kyoshi’s way of keeping me involved and included even when I’m sidelined, and that makes me feel incredibly good.

Despite only being at my new dojo for a couple months, I can honestly say that I feel a part of the family; and I am honored to be included in such a stellar group of people. But enough about that before I get all teary and sentimental. . .

After the workout, I met Mr. BBM at the local fabric store. I started with ordinary wooden crutches, with uncomfortable rubber grips and armpit rests. After a day, Mr. BBM strapped some Warrior shin guards on the top and that was o.k. My Mom took it a step further by replacing the shin guards with egg crate foam secured with duct tape. But egg crate and duct tape do not a pretty crutch make.

I’m sure most of you have heard of MTV’s "Pimp My Ride" which is a makeover show where professionals take beat up cars and turn them into extraordinary vehicles. Today was my very own version of that show except my "ride" these days are my crutches. Keep in mind that I’ve called in a favor to a friend who owns a Japanese painting kit, who also knows how to write "Nintai" in Japanese. That will be forthcoming to my already pretty awesome crutches.

I give you the before picture. . .

And the after Asian-inspired crutches. . .

Since a girl needs more than one look. . .

In case you’re wondering, Mr. BBM and I made these without the use of a single piece of thread or a needle. The pretty floral covers go over top of the asian fleece covers and it all fits over top of the foam and duct tape concoction. There are also matching hand-grips in case you were too wowed by the top to notice the bottom. Just in case you can’t tell from the photos. . . my new and improved crutches are FAB-U-BBM-LOUS.

If I’m going to have to use them for a while, they might as well be pretty and cool, right?