March 5, 2009

Trial by Fire-Back in the Dojo Baby

I decided to take my first night back slowly. I figured I'd skip the early class, roll in a little early for the second class, stretch, and then ease my way back into the dojo with a one hour work-out. I came out of the locker room gi'd up and ready to go. As I climbed the stairs, a karate Mom and friend of mine started cheering for me. The Shodan teaching the kids class downstairs began singing, "We are the Champions." It was a overkill, just a bit, but it sure felt nice.

I made my way upstairs and stretched in the waiting area while I watched the first class wrap up.

People were taking turns doing individual bo kata. I willed myself to be invisible in the waiting area. After a 17 month break, it's not all in there right now, at least not in an area easily tapped. I knew Hanshi wouldn't make me, but still. Invisible I was, just in case.

The beginner class wrapped up and Hanshi came over, shook my hand, and gave me a hug. The advanced class was starting. Instead of the traditional kneeling rei in, Hanshi announced that we would be standing as he nodded in my direction. The class was loaded with black belts and two other brown belts. I was the only girl. A nice and easy start back, or not.

Hanshi told everyone to get a pair of kama. Kama? Kama.

I've worked with the kama maybe twice, once in class a long time ago and once at a training camp. They are super cool to work with, but I was kind of hoping for some non-black belt stuff on my first night back. Hanshi was sure to give me a pair of wooden kama and we got started.

The stances felt fine. I don't know that I had them all as they should be because I was too busy trying not to stab myself, but cat stance felt decent. Nai hanshi stance was mostly ok, and even kosa dachi felt ok. The worst position knee-wise was actually the rei at the beginning of each kata. I thought I had stretched my leg out enough, but I definitely need to keep working on my flexibility in that leg.

At one point in the kama kata, there's a jump. Hanshi looked right at me and said, "no jumping." I told him not to worry, but when we got to that part I thought I'd try a little hop to see what happened. It went fine, so the next jump I went a bit higher (I'm talking about two inches total here people so don't get too excited).

When we were finished with kama, we moved onto tekkos (think old school brass knuckles). I made it through the kata, and even made it through a couple kicks. I may not have had all the moves down but the basic aspects of the kata felt good.

When class was over, we did the final rei out (standing again-Thank you Hanshi!) and Hanshi made a special point of welcoming me back. All the guys clapped and smiled. It was a very nice welcome back.

The best thing about tonight? I didn't think about my knee the whole time like I did the last time I tried to make my comeback. I was concentrating on the new moves I was learning and feeling so fantastic to be back that I wouldn't allow the uncertainty of my knee situation to come onto the dojo floor with me. Plus when you're trying not to impale yourself with kama, you tend to think more about your arms and hands than your bum knee.

It may have been a long wait to get back, but it seems to have done me well mentally. I think I'm much more prepared this time, than I was the last time I tried to come back.

As I write this tonight, my knee is feeling good. We'll see how it feels tomorrow, but I think this comeback is going to stick. It feels SO incredibly good to be back.

Finally. . .

Admired Martial Artists month just got even more exciting! There are now several cool giveaways. All you need to do to be entered to win is leave a comment on one of the Admired Martial Artist posts. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win. Check out the main AMA page for details on the prizes, and check back often. More prizes may be added in the days to come!

We also have a cool non-martial arts giveaway coming up on The BBM Review in just a few days. Think spa people. Oh yeah!