Last week Tuesday, class started out with a little bit of kata to warm up, then went to all sparring. We had one-on-one sparring all the way through the class, until everyone had been matched up at least twice. It was a lot of fun. Strangely, I can't seem to help laughing when we spar. The last part of class, we had two-on-one sparring, where we each took a turn being the one attacked by two opponents. That was one SERIOUS workout - definitely washagi. Great training though.
That week was also the last week of session - time to pony up another $60.00 for seven weeks. I do love the YMCA. (You can do seven weeks for $30.00 if you only go Tuesday OR Thursday, $60.00 for both, Saturday is free, thank you, Sensei.)
Last Thursday I had another commitment and was out of class.
This Tuesday was a lot like last Tuesday, starting with Kata, then 50 reps of roundhouse kicks on each leg, then front kicks across the room, then back-step side kicks across the room. After kicking drills, there was sparring for the rest of class. More about that in a minute...
During kata drills, Sensei made me go up front and lead the class on Empi kata. I swear everything I knew flew out my ear and has yet to return! The point being that we will all teach someday, hopefully, I understood what Sensei was doing, but it still rattled me, being unexpected. Sensei also had both the other white belts in class lead a kata, but I was the first one on tap.
Needless to say, I lived through it. (And I need to practice Empi kata more!)
Sparring was interesting. We took red and blue rubber flags and hung them from our belts, then matched up. The first one to pull the other's flag three times won. Then we switched opponents. That was interesting - especially as the other two guys my age, even though yellow belts, seem to be my toughest opponents. Ed is the hardest of all to spar - but I got his belt three times! Ha!
Ed also is famous for groin kicking - which is allowed and why we wear cups, heretofore referred to as "armor." After flag sparring, we returned to regular sparring, and Ed got my armor. well, guess what? I proceeded to give him a taste of his own medicine, twice! LOL
Of course, we are only going for light contact - so no one got hurt here. I like all the people in class, including Ed, but he is a little competitive, which makes it fun.
One day he came into class as Scott and I were talking. Scott is the other guy my age in class, and tough to spar as well. Ed came up saying, "Ahh, Twinkie, and Twinkette!" I couldn't resist - I asked him if that made him the "official bakery cream puff." We all got a good laugh out of that one.
These are good people, and I really like all of them. This class may be work, but it is joyful work.
Sayonara,
Dan
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