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!
It’s Admired Martial Artists Month!
For new posts, please scroll down! Thanks for stopping by!
March is an exciting month here on Black Belt Mama. Not only will there be an exciting guest post from admired martial artists each week, but now there are also giveaway prizes from Martial Arts Supplies, Turtle Press, from Kyoshi Hayes, and from Bags of Character (and there may be others too)! For your chance to win, leave a comment on any of the posts featuring one of the Admired Martial Artists. The more comments you leave, the more opportunities for you to win! If you post the Admired Martial Artists button and link back here, you'll automatically get three additional entries! (Shoot me an email with the details.) Just click on one of the featured posts below (look for the banner) and leave a comment for your chance to win! For more details on the prizes, visit the Admired Martial Artists main page.
Admired Martial Artist Posts
The Importance of Control (Less Boring than it Sounds) by Sandan Matthew Apsokardu
Self Defense Advice from a Pioneer by Kyoshi Nancy Caliguri
Why a Kid Needs to Learn to Fail Successfully by Kyoshi Ann-Marie Heilman
There Are No Stances in Kobudo by Hanshi C. Bruce Heilman
Deepening the Way by Kyoshi Bill Hayes
What is Sometimes Hidden, You Oversee by Kyoshi Rick Zondlo
The Flu Ate My Muscles
I went to the gym on Friday for the first time in over two weeks. When a flu goes through a family, Mommy doesn't get to go to the gym. Since Lil C is still sporting a bit of a runny nose, I really didn't want to put her in the KidZone and risk another bout of typhoid illness. So, I enlisted my Mom to come watch the girls and I hit the gym in the afternoon.
Normally, upon entering the gym, I feel energized, but not on Friday. I felt tired, still worn down from the flu that turned into a cold that turned into what I think are allergy-related migraines last week (and my allergy testing appointment is still a month away). But I knew I had to get back to it. I'm going back to karate on Thursday.
I anticipated maybe a little set-back. Two weeks isn't that long though, so I didn't think it would be that bad. I was very wrong.
By the time I was finished with wall squats and toe taps on the step with weights, I was sweating like crazy. I moved onto the leg press and had to doublecheck the weight. Just two weeks ago, I was easily doing three sets of 135 without any knee pain. But today, 135 was entirely too much. I had to back off to 120 lbs for the leg press. Even that was exhausting.
I worked my way through all of my leg exercises and each time I moved from one machine to the next it was harder to walk. I felt like each step was being broken down into at least three Pinnochio like pieces. Heel-jerk-toe-jerk-swing the other leg in front. It hasn't felt that awful since I first started working out. When I finally finished torturing my legs and butt, I staggered over to the mats to do my abs workout. It was a special treat for my legs to be horizontal on a mat.
Two weeks ago, I could go through 3-4 sets of four exercises, easily. Today, I could barely make it through two of my sets on the slant board. The mat exercises were killer too. I knew I was moving at the pace of a snail during the last few of each exercise.
When I don't work out on a regular basis, my knee starts cracking and being cranky. Missing two weeks is no longer an option. I have got to find ways to get to the gym even when I'm tired, even when the girls are sick.
I made it to the gym on Sunday night and I also went yesterday. I was able to up the weights a bit and get through the abs part of the program a bit more easily this time. Yesterday, while warming up on the treadmill, I thought I'd give jogging a try.
In the 17 months of hiatus from running, my body has seemingly forgotten how to run. Each time I have tried to do it, I've been met with terrible pain and a gait that is just plain silly. Since the gym wasn't that crowded, I pumped up the speed and went for it.
For the first time in over 17 months, I was able to run. It was a wonderful feeling and I know I was grinning ear to ear the entire time. How many people have you seen on treadmills smiling? None? Well yesterday, I was one of them. That smiling while running business probably won't last.
Getting back to the flu though, I would like to invite the flu to possibly avoid eating my muscles in the future and instead shoot for some of that extra thigh I can't stand or possibly the inch of loose stomach skin from carrying two decent sized babies around for over 18 months of my life.
Back off the muscles, flu bug. I need all of the muscle I can get! This girl is heading back to the dojo tomorrow!
Thank you to Ikigai for putting up a fantastic guest post yesterday. Next week, another great martial artist will be featured here. Be sure to check back!
I also wanted to let everyone here who knew Lisa know that Karl has set up a virtual memorial service for Lisa on Saturday at 4 p.m. EST. If you're interested, head over to Karl's place and get the details.
From Complete Crap to Above and Beyond
Last week was one of those weeks that you don't ever want to repeat. My students were all out of sorts last week, sick and late with their speeches. On Wednesday, I said my final goodbye to Lisa and that was hard, really hard. I spent the rest of the week feeling miserable about it. On Thursday, Big I walked in the door from school, told me some kid had hit her in the face, and then quit karate that night. Friday night, Lisa passed away. I spent much of Saturday breaking into tears and feeling miserable. Sunday I woke up with eyes that were obviously having serious allergy problems. The crying from Saturday didn't help much either. Big I also woke up and promptly puked. . . again.
I decided to clean and organize. Cleaning and organizing always makes me feel better when it's done.
While I was in the middle of cleaning and organizing Big I's room, the doorbell rang. On the way down the hall and stairs, I was psyching myself up for what I thought was going to be an encounter with the hitter from Thursday. Instead, I opened the door to find Big I's teacher standing on my porch.
I was shocked to see her, but invited her in.
Last week, she was out sick on Thursday and Friday, when everything was going down between Big I and 'J.' She had gone into school to take care of their classroom hamster and decided to check her email. When she saw my email about the incident at school, she was livid, so livid that she ripped 'J's' desk away from the other kids and put her back in a corner by herself.
Big I's teacher adores her and she is the type of teacher every parent hopes for when it comes to their child. She is super knowledgeable about many different content areas, and she runs a tight ship in the classroom. She's also developed a great relationship with Big I, one where I know she goes off to school to spend time with someone who truly cares about her.
She sat in our family room for a good 30 minutes. She wanted to get Big I's side of the story without other little ears hearing her. Apparently this kid has been a real problem all year long and this is not the first time she's been physically aggressive toward another student.
Big I's teacher said that for the foreseeable future, 'J' now has her own isolated location in the classroom. She also has a personal escort from Big I's teacher down to the bus line each day, where she'll be separated from the other kids and prevented from getting on the bus until last.
She also said she's going to talk to some of the other kids in class about sticking up for others when something bad happens to a classmate. She'd like to employ some positive peer pressure to get 'J' to straighten up. It shouldn't be a problem since the other kids in Big I's class fight over playing with her on a regular basis.
She decided, also, that if Big I has a non-serious problem, she wants her to wait until she gets home and tell me, so I can email Miss W. That way Big I doesn't appear to be tattling. Miss W. assured me that she will not allow a student to create a bullying atmosphere in her classroom and in the school. She said she's going to take care of it and will keep me informed of how it's going.
Frankly, I was shocked. Miss W. had no idea where we lived, but she knew our address and set out to find it. Seeking us out and assuring us that she's on the job went completely above and beyond the call of duty.
I'm going to take this as a sign that things will start looking up this week.
For those who have commented or emailed and asked about ways to help Lisa's family, there is now a donate button on her site where people can contribute. I know her family has serious medical bills from a 5-year cancer battle in addition to other future needs like the schooling of her daughters. If you're interested, you can go here to donate.
Also, stay tuned because Admired Martial Artists Month kicks off soon!
Heaven Just Got a New Angel
It's a sad day in the blogging world.
Lisa is gone.
I got the chance to say goodbye to her on Wednesday afternoon, and even though I knew this was coming, it doesn't make it any less upsetting. If there is one positive thing, it's that Lisa is no longer suffering.
If you're the praying kind, please say a prayer for her husband and two little girls. Something tells me they're really going to need them.
Something also tells me, they all have a very special angel looking over them from here on out.
Rest in peace, Lisa. The blogging world won't be the same without you.
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