Current mood:

amused

Amusing Night at the Dojo
Felt like relating this story to all of you. :-) Apologies for any rambling.


I just got back from a vacation to NYC last night, and I had missed a full week of classes due to it. I barely did any practicing....seisan like once or twice, and a few crunches/leg raises on Saturday night. So really, a whole lot of nothing. I was worried about what my week off would have done for me. (for most people it wouldn't be a huge deal, but since I train 5 days a week, and teach a 6th, it's a bit different for me).

I get to the dojo after work for the Tiny Kickers (3-6 year olds). When the head sensei split up the kids, I usually either get one/two kids, or I help out a particular sensei. Today was different...four young kids...probably three of the four were 4 years old. What trust in me...especially since I was gone for a whole week and could very well be rusty! The great thing is, three of the four kids got a stripe, and the fourth tested right afterwards for her full yellow belt. (all four were junior yellows)

The surprises continued into the next class, the white/yellow belt kids class (6-13 year olds). I do the normal pad holding during the kicks and punches, and then I go to put away my shield...and there's a tap from the sensei leading the class...he gives me the newest kid, he's probably only had like 5 classes. Sensei then walks away...without telling me what I am supposed to do. So, I do blocks, and worked on his back kick. The kid is bright, and was doing well. No stripes given out to any kids, but the sensei told me I did well.

My class was next. Remember, it's just been a month since I graded, and the normal time at green belt at my dojo is 6 months. We go through the regular warmup, and then start doing katas...lower belts fall off...one yellow belt goes to one area, the two orange belts are left along, and then after seisan, it's time for us 3 green belts to stand aside. Sensei (the same once from the previous class) walks over, looks me directly in the eye, and tells me that I'm leading the count, and to stand in the back of the other two green belts (we all tested at the same time, keep that in mind), and watch their katas, and pick out any mistakes. 20 minutes of that...

I then had cardio kickboxing to round out the night....spoke with the afomentioned sensei, and casually asked him why I was appointed de-facto leader, considering I was just on vacation, and we all tested at the same time. He just joked around and said that he wanted to put me on the spot...the shocker came when I asked him what I could work on in seisan, since nobody was watching me...all he said is that my seisan was good.

So yes, an amusing, yet productive first night back after vacation. Except for the warmup part of my class, and then of course in cardio kickboxing, I was teaching/helping/giving pointers all night...I don't mind doing this at all, but what shocked me was the level of trust the senseis have in me.

Sparring class is tomorrow (it's just light contact/touch sparring...it's really an aspect of sport karate)....looking forward to that...if only my sparring shoes had arrived, it would just be all the much better...guess it's another week with the annoying foot pads.


Thanks for reading my rambles!