I didn't make any New Year resolutions this year, because I didn't have any really. I have decided (rather late in the year) to make one. I have decided to will really try to quell the little voice in my head that appears at every Aiki session when we try something big, you know, the one that says 'why are you here? you're waaayyy out of your depth! you can't do this, who are you kidding?
I decided this after an Aiki course this weekend. There was an afternoon course this weekend about competition in Aikido with a grading afterwards so me and two others from the club decide to go down. It was quite good really, we got to meet up with a few other people that we knew from other clubs and got to have a go at some Aiki-jujitsu. I managed to learn a really cool choke hold that a 16-17 stone guy couldn't get out of! Hee Hee! I can't wait to try the 'floor wrestling', I have a few takedowns now in my arsenal, so hopefully I won't get squashed this time!
Afterwards came the grading and we decided to watch since there were some high Dan grades grading. It was quite a privilege and really cool to watch as you can imagine.
I decided to make my resolution about no more self-doubt after watching two blue belts (who were going to grade up to brown)go through their Kata at the beginning and I have to say, they were good, very good. I suddenly realised that the little voice popped up again, you know...the one that makes you feel very inadequate about your own abilities. It was then that I realised that if I was to succeed any further in Aikido...then I would have to start leaving my self-doubt at the door of the dojo. So, no more letting the little voice in my subconscious mind becoming part of my conscious mind...It really is a self-esteem killer.
Sunday, 2 March 2008
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Chapter 30: Help!...I want my white belt back!
I'm not kidding...I really do want my white belt back! I realised that green belt would be extremely tough, I just didn't twig that the training steps up AFTER Christmas.
The last session started off well. We lined up me, a Dan grade, blue belt and a yellow belt ( all guys apart from me) and we got told run up and down the mat until told to stop. Okay, thinks I, pace myself as I'm with three guys here, should be fine. Then we were told to go faster! Faster? I can't go any faster! But okay, body don't fail me now! Then finally, after what seemed like 100 laps of the mat...we were told to do five more laps (each one faster than the last) and THEN we could stop.
We then stretched off, which wasn't too bad as the preparations for a dance show I was doing were going well, so I wasn't too stiff. Next were 10 sit ups. This wasn't too bad for some reason...but maybe it was because I was ignoring my skeletal muscle system begining to scream at me.
So warm-up finished and we paired off to work on grasps. Okay, scratch that, it was more like, hey, you've done these before, figure them out. But I've slept since then! I wanted to cry. But alright I'll do as I'm told.
Just when I was nicely tired, you know, not too tired but had a reasonable workout...we were told to pair off and do some what I call 'floor wrestling'. This involves kneeling either face to face or back to back and trying to pin the other person on the floor. (no hair pulling, kicking, punching or biting allowed).
Now, when there are only two women in a class of four men...testosterone takes over BIG style (no offence, but floor wrestling does get a bit competitive). As the other female student can't kneel for too long due to a knee injury...that left me to the mercy of three guys. I say mercy as I'm not too good at floor wrestling, and usually end up getting squashed! But in a strange way...I really enjoy it (apart from the friction burns from the Gi of course). Its good clean fun...but I can imagine the conversation at work on Monday morning. So, what did you get up to at the weekend? Me? I was wrestling with guys....Queue strange looks and the usual following question, Why do you enjoy Aikido again? Hmmm....maybe because I can't get this much fun elsewhere and keep fit without too much embrassment?
The last session started off well. We lined up me, a Dan grade, blue belt and a yellow belt ( all guys apart from me) and we got told run up and down the mat until told to stop. Okay, thinks I, pace myself as I'm with three guys here, should be fine. Then we were told to go faster! Faster? I can't go any faster! But okay, body don't fail me now! Then finally, after what seemed like 100 laps of the mat...we were told to do five more laps (each one faster than the last) and THEN we could stop.
We then stretched off, which wasn't too bad as the preparations for a dance show I was doing were going well, so I wasn't too stiff. Next were 10 sit ups. This wasn't too bad for some reason...but maybe it was because I was ignoring my skeletal muscle system begining to scream at me.
So warm-up finished and we paired off to work on grasps. Okay, scratch that, it was more like, hey, you've done these before, figure them out. But I've slept since then! I wanted to cry. But alright I'll do as I'm told.
Just when I was nicely tired, you know, not too tired but had a reasonable workout...we were told to pair off and do some what I call 'floor wrestling'. This involves kneeling either face to face or back to back and trying to pin the other person on the floor. (no hair pulling, kicking, punching or biting allowed).
Now, when there are only two women in a class of four men...testosterone takes over BIG style (no offence, but floor wrestling does get a bit competitive). As the other female student can't kneel for too long due to a knee injury...that left me to the mercy of three guys. I say mercy as I'm not too good at floor wrestling, and usually end up getting squashed! But in a strange way...I really enjoy it (apart from the friction burns from the Gi of course). Its good clean fun...but I can imagine the conversation at work on Monday morning. So, what did you get up to at the weekend? Me? I was wrestling with guys....Queue strange looks and the usual following question, Why do you enjoy Aikido again? Hmmm....maybe because I can't get this much fun elsewhere and keep fit without too much embrassment?
Sunday, 20 January 2008
Chapter 29: Two bruised feet, 1 Cut foot and 1 bruised wrist....I'm back!
I've just completed my first aiki session back after Christmas, which means I've had a month off training. To new beginners, I suppose this sort of break will be a relief and in a way, you would be right, it was quite blissful, its the first time I've had no bruises for six months. But strangely enough, I've really missed my bruises! Yep, this is crazy, I know...but I've felt really empty and unfulfilled, like part of me is missing because I haven't been at aiki.
The first session back is always the hardest I think, you get quite lazy when you're given a short break. I've had enough on with exams and such like, so my brain certainly hasn't been unoccupied...but I suppose my 'spirit' so to speak has.
In a way, I'm glad of the break, as I've started on medication to stop my Raynaud's being so bad (its gets a bit silly when you are stood on the mat, your feet and hands are blue, and the backs of your heels are purple). The only trouble is is that they drop my blood pressure (its the way they work-I won't bore you) and they seem to work...just one problem, breakfalling with lower blood pressure! I was kinda dreading my first breakfall, but it wasn't too bad, I just felt slightly dizzy. But don't worry, I told my instructors so they know why I can't immediately jump up after a big breakfall.
For the first night back, we did weapons. Guess who managed to cut their foot, yes you've guessed it...Me! Then during a game of tails (where you tuck a large cloth in the back of your belt and try and grab someone else's as they're trying to grab yours-its harder than it looks, but good for developing hip movement) my foot got stamped on! Ow! I have a very large purply pink bruise to now add to my collection of injuries.
However, nearly 72 hours later I still ache! But it feels sooo good, I finally feel like I'm back home after a long holiday....
The first session back is always the hardest I think, you get quite lazy when you're given a short break. I've had enough on with exams and such like, so my brain certainly hasn't been unoccupied...but I suppose my 'spirit' so to speak has.
In a way, I'm glad of the break, as I've started on medication to stop my Raynaud's being so bad (its gets a bit silly when you are stood on the mat, your feet and hands are blue, and the backs of your heels are purple). The only trouble is is that they drop my blood pressure (its the way they work-I won't bore you) and they seem to work...just one problem, breakfalling with lower blood pressure! I was kinda dreading my first breakfall, but it wasn't too bad, I just felt slightly dizzy. But don't worry, I told my instructors so they know why I can't immediately jump up after a big breakfall.
For the first night back, we did weapons. Guess who managed to cut their foot, yes you've guessed it...Me! Then during a game of tails (where you tuck a large cloth in the back of your belt and try and grab someone else's as they're trying to grab yours-its harder than it looks, but good for developing hip movement) my foot got stamped on! Ow! I have a very large purply pink bruise to now add to my collection of injuries.
However, nearly 72 hours later I still ache! But it feels sooo good, I finally feel like I'm back home after a long holiday....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)