back in the saddle again

I'm finally back! Bronchitis/nasty cold/whatever the crap else I had has officially been kicked in the butt.

I did both hours of class last night. Sensei-Hubby started out the first class with what he affectionately calls a "burnout." Jumping jacks, push-ups, more jumping jacks, crunches, more jumping jacks...and I can't remember if that's it or if there are more crunches (I tend to kind of black out in there somewhere). After that I told him I would never cook for him again (and just Wednesday night I made his favorite - enchiladas).

After the warm-up, we worked on a sparring technique - the left-right punch. Get your left hand up in the opponent's face and punch with the right hand before they can see it coming. It's a fairly simple concept, and reasonably easy to get down in drills. But getting the brain to remember to do it in an actual match is another thing entirely.

After the sparring drills we played Ring of Fire - I only got to spar once, but it was alright. I got to watch our newer adult students, and they are fast! "Mighty Mouse" (as Hanshi calls her) is downright vicious! Definite potential in all our lower belts. Toward the end of class, Hanshi jumped in the game and sparred a few of the under belts - even though he shouldn't have with his knee messed up like it is. It was a fun class.

Second class was another sparring class! Only this time, legs only. We had to tuck our hands in our belts behind us and use only kicks (blocking with elbows and shoulders). I have a rug burn on my left elbow from rubbing against someone's gi when blocking a kick. And I was afraid I may have done serious damage to my right ankle. I went to kick and so did my opponent, and I caught his knee in the bend of my foot. It's ok though, just a little bruised.

All in all, very good night last night. I'm so glad to be back!