March 1, 2007
It doesn’t have to be pretty
At karate tonight, I had an opportunity to face one of my very worst fears. For my 1st kyu test, I will need to do self defense while blindfolded. I’m a little claustrophobic to begin with, and the idea of having people just come up and grab you when you can’t see them is a little nerve-wracking to say the least. Our instructor looked around our dojo tonight, saw the large group of 12 we had and decided that tonight was a perfect night to give it a shot.
Most of the white belts became observers while the black belts and I took turns being attacked. The group of attackers consisted of my 3rd dan male black belt instructor, two other black belts (one male, one female), me, a male white belt who is big, strong and scary and a female white belt who is the little sister of my instructor (in other words-has been beat on for many years so she’s quite a formidable opponent herself).
My instructor went first. I thought he was going to do basic techniques, but he continued the counter-attack until most of us were on the ground and in pain. At one point, I was tangled up on the ground with my wrist twisted so severely that I had no choice but to start tapping the ground. It was either that or scream. (I’m trying to work on the whole girly screaming thing.)
The male black belt went next and he did a great job too. Plus he saved me the humiliation of having to go after my instructor. Thank you Mr. W!
Then it was my turn. I was a nervous wreck. These attacks were not gentle attacks. They were coming with a decent amount of force and the attackers weren’t just letting go. I was so nervous that I wouldn’t be able to get out of something. But what choice did I have? I tried to tell them that I needed to go make an important call, but no one bought it.
It felt like eternity before the first attack came. I could hear the attackers walking in a circle around me and it was unsettling hearing the gi’s swish and move, not knowing where the first attack would come from. I thought they would start off with a gentle wrist grab or something to break in the brown belt, but that was not the case. I think the first attack was a forearm choke. I got out of it and tried to compose myself again. The attacks that followed included a hair pulling from behind, chokes from the front and back, bear hugs, wrist grabs, lapel grabs, a joint-locked elbow that took me to my knees before I could get out, a double-wrist grab from behind with pulling, full nelsons, etc. etc.
I tried to think about nothing. I didn’t want to anticipate the next attack or over think the previous one. Sometimes I got frustrated when I couldn’t get out at first, but when something didn’t work I tried to change it up until I found something that did. I took a deep breath after each attack to try to clear it away and prepare for the next one.
It wasn’t pretty, but as my instructors always say, "It doesn’t have to be pretty; it just has to work." At one point, I cracked the white belt’s finger pretty good. There was just no other way to get out of it. I wasn’t the only one who went after the towering white belt. The other black belt girl pulled his hair really good at one point. He’s a formidable opponent now; he’s going to be wicked good when he gets up in the ranks.
When I was finished my instructor said I did a good job and that what I did would certainly pass the 1st kyu test. He said the only difference between doing a good job and doing a really good job is eliminating the brief hesitation I had at the on-set of some of the attacks. I have to stop thinking about it and just start doing it.
One of the white belt women who watched came up to me after class and told me she thought I did an amazing job. It felt really good to get some praise over something that I was so unsure about at the beginning of class.
I know it wasn’t perfect, but I also know that on the street I wouldn’t be limiting myself to the techniques I used tonight. I’d also be throwing elbows, punches, and strategic kicks (if you know what and where I mean).
I’m reading a book right now called, "Living the Martial Way" and it is a fabulous read for any martial artist. I just read last night about how you should seek out the biggest, toughest person at the dojo to train against because it will only make you better. In the book, the author also talks about how you should know what it feels like to be attacked with a decent amount of force so you can find out how you’ll react. He says it is an essential part of the martial arts training if you want me be considered a true warrior and a true martial artist.
My instructor definitely put those two suggestions to good use tonight; and the feeling that I had driving home from class and writing this now is nothing short of euphoric. I know I can improve, but what I did tonight was a really good start.
March 1, 2007
Only One Thing Worse. . .
There is only one thing worse than being Antonella Barba, the contestant whose racy photos are all over the internet . . .
Being her parents.
I can not even imagine what they are going through right now. As a parent of two daughters, I would be shocked and horrified if my daughter’s photos started appearing all over the internet. According to rumors in the form of news articles, the collection of photos were part of a calendar she gave to her long-time boyfriend (whom she dumped as soon as she got a ticket to Hollywood). What did she think was going to happen with those photos? As soon as she got her golden ticket to Hollywood, they became more valuable than she would ever know.
Boyfriend is a transient term; they can be here today, gone tomorrow. Truth be told, I wouldn’t advocate creating a calendar with racy photos in it for anyone, including a husband. Any and all relationships can come to bad endings and no one wants photo baggage following them around. The problem is that once those photos have been taken, they can end up anywhere. In Antonella’s case, it’s cyberspace fame and glory, but certainly not what she had hoped.
I think that she will probably be sent packing tonight after a dismal try at a Celine Dion classic, and I certainly hope that’s the case. As a parent who likes to watch American Idol with my children, I can tell you that, in my opinion, Antonella is certainly no "American Idol." It is possible, however, to learn something from her unfortunate circumstances. Hopefully young girls will consider what they’d like to become famous for, and leave the nude/suggestive photos well alone.
February 26, 2007
All systems are a go
I pre-tested tonight. The week before kyu testing, we all run through all our material (kata’s, weapons, waza’s, etc.) to make sure we know what we’re doing. Our instructor has to give us the o.k. to show up at testing. It saves time at testing, and allows the instructors to see what your material looks like when you’re not a nervous wreck.
Testing this weekend is supposed to be huge. We have a large number of white belts testing for their next stripe, some yellow belts going for green, some greens testing for stripes and two brown belts looking for their next stripes (myself included).
Pre-testing went well. Kata feels different in a heavyweight gi. Punches and kicks snap, and with the bo there’s a huge difference too.
If all goes well this weekend, I will be a 2nd kyu, which means only one more test before black belt testing. If I make it to black belt testing, I’m finally be living up to my namesake here.
And while we’re on the subject of karate, I had one of my proudest moments as a Mommy yesterday. Lil C heard me talking about karate and going to class, and out of the blue she said
Dojo.
It was clear as day and she’s been saying "dojo" (which means school for training) almost as much as she says, "Kitty, me-aw." It’s pretty exciting. In utero karate training really has its benefits.
February 25, 2007
It’s HERE!
My new gi’s came this week. Yes, I said gi’s, as in plural. I was only going to get one, but my friend over at Karate Depot asked me to give a certain gi a shot to see what I think of it (the sweet deal didn’t hurt either).
They are everything I hoped they would be and more. I know all the karate folk are wondering what I got. The decision was a difficult one. I spent a lot of time researching, asking other karate-ka and trying on the gi’s of those at my dojo. I knew I wanted to get one I would love, one that would fit nicely, and one that although heavyweight, wasn’t uncomfortable.
I went with the Shureido, and Karate Depot also hooked me up with the KD Elite.
I know, I know, Shureido’s are a lot of money, but when I tried my instructors on there was a HUGE difference between the Shureido and other gi’s. The material, although heavyweight, was very soft and comfortable. I didn’t want to buy multiple gi’s to find one I liked. I knew I’d love the Shureido and I was right.
I do LOVE IT. What I wasn’t counting on, was how much I was going to like the KD Elite. For a martial artist who likes the look and feel of a Shureido, but not the price, the KD Elite is an awesome gi and a more than suitable substitution. There are only four major differences I have found between the two of them:
1. The KD Elite pants are a little roomier in the seat and wider throughout the leg than the Shureido. That could be because the gi I got is tournament cut. (I’m not sure if this is one of the qualifiers for being considered tournament cut or not.) I was worried that the pants would be capri length, but they are long. In fact, I have to roll them up once or twice.
2. The Shureido has a blueish color to it while the KD Elite does not. Shureido’s website says this blue color will fade over time. I don’t mind it because it’s subtle, but the KD Elite feels just like the Shureido without the blue issue.
3. The stitching around the neck/collar of the KD Elite is a little less stiff than the Shureido. When I first put the Shureido on, it felt a little uncomfortable around the collar, but the KD Elite has no such side effect.
4. The price. The Shureido sells for $179.00 and up, while the KD Elite is currently on sale for $99.00.
Without the KD Elite label on the gi, one could easily be tricked into thinking that the gi is in fact a Shureido.
Having a heavyweight gi is going to take some getting used to though. Both gi’s are bigger than my lightweight gi and I feel a little like I’m swimming. My one instructor told me to go bigger though, because I can "take up some room" and have a presence.
I’m also not used to draw string pants, although these are soft enough that they actually move. With some of the other brands I tried, I could barely pull them tight enough around me because they were so stiff. I didn’t want that.
And the jackets are much longer than my lightweight gi. I used to have to make sure I had neutral undergarments with that gi. With my new one? Break out the leopard print (o.k. if I had leopard print, which I don’t).
I figured I would spent the money and get something I really wanted and be happy. I knew if I went with some of the cardboard like gi’s, I’d be disappointed and end up spending more money trying to fix my mistake, so I bit the bullet. Plus, it was my birthday so, Happy Birthday to me, from me! I wasn’t counting on having and liking two new gi’s, but I now have a Shureido and a Shuriedo-ish gi and I couldn’t be happier.
Thank you so much for all your suggestions and warnings about other gi’s. More than anything, you helped me to weed out the ones I didn’t want and come to my final decision. Now it seems the only gi-related problem I’m going to have is with my instructor, who told me there’s a stiff penalty for a karate student who has a better gi than her instructor.
Once I get used to my new big, bad self I’ll post some pictures. Maybe after testing next week. . .
February 23, 2007
Soapbox time
I’ve had it up to my eyebrows with people being offended by mothers nursing their babies in public. I’ve also had it with the old "cover up with a blanket" junk, because any nursing mom knows that from the time the baby is about three weeks old, that is no longer an option. Trying to cover up with a blanket only results in a cranky baby who rips the blanket down, and frustration and exposure for all involved.
I’m not advocating that women just whip out their breasts wherever and however they choose. There’s something to be said for being discreet, which describes 99.9% of nursing mothers.
It’s not an attention getting thing. It’s a nourishment thing, as in the baby is hungry, so I will feed my baby the way Mother Nature intended. Although I am no longer nursing, I have nursed my babies in public locations many times: restaurants, malls, doctors offices, on the beach, etc. I highly doubt anyone ever realized what I was doing, and if they did they were looking a bit too closely.
I found out this week that my state, the state of Pennsylvania, is one of only 13 states that has no legislation supporting a Mother’s right to nurse in public. That has to change.
It’s not that Mom’s want to sit topless somewhere in the middle of the grocery store, or that I think they should be doing that because I don’t. But there should be something protecting a woman and her baby’s right to feed and be fed.
I would invite anyone who thinks that Mom’s should go to the bathroom to nurse, or cover up with a blanket to eat their meals in a public restroom with a blanket over their heads. I think we all need to show a little more understanding and empathy towards other human beings in general. And there’s no better place to start than with Mom’s and babies.
If you live in the state of Pennsylvania, there are many people you can contact. If you don’t live in the state of PA, find out who you can contact if your state is one of the 13. In the state of PA, the contacts are as follows. Click on the name to go to the site where you can send your email.
For more information on this topic and for specifics on what nursing Mom’s are dealing with this week, go see IzzyMom. You won’t even believe what she posted about this issue.
And just in case there are any dissenters out there, this is not your soapbox. Comments will be deleted if they are in any way rude or inappropriate. It’s my blog after all. And as a warning, IzzyMom was able to track down the employer of a rude commenter and promptly reported the threatening emails to the employer today. We bloggers are pretty computer savvy, especially when we’re ticked off!
Edited to add: Apparently there is already legislation in process in the state of PA. To make sure it gets passed this session, please contact your House Representatives. PA House Representative Babette Josephs has introduced this legislation. I’m already getting some excellent responses from the House Representatives in support of this bill, and will be sure to post the names of those in support.
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