I promised myself that I keep this blog up, even though I write elsewhere (OpenDiary.com) as my main source of creating expression, i.e. that's where I dump.
Class has been hit and miss for me lately, not much motivation right now. Not unlike the way I'm approaching my classroom for the last two weeks. Something happened over spring break to take the wind out of my sails.
I've been promised a delivery of a class set of Wrinkle in Time. It's written at a sixth grade level, so it's going to be a challenge for my fourth graders, but I'm certain that most can do it with little assistance. It's just that I know what the other teachers assign through eighth grade, and I just can't see these kids getting into high school without reading that book. We've also read Indian in the Cupboard, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, and Phantom Tollbooth. Most of these books are a bit long in the tooth, but I can't justify passing up these classics.
I've been to two classes in the last two weeks. I feel like a slug, but I can't get myself going right now. I think this coming week will be better. I started doing some resistance training last weekend, and I'm feeling pretty good right now. I know that at my age it's important to supplement my dojo work with cross training of some type. I think the extra training will help.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Playing at Third Kyu
I expect more from myself, now that I am sankyu. On Saturday we were doing a katate dori into a standing kaiten-nage. Once again, I did not take the first circular move of my hands down far enough; I wasn't getting uke down. That's why it was so difficult getting uke's arm over the top and his body into the forward roll. Once sensei reminded me, I improved immediately and things quickly improved.
Later, our chief sensei grabbed me to do ukemi on a henka-waza technique that started in an uchi-style sankyo, that moved into a kokyu-nage throw. He was going to use me to demonstrate to the rest of the class, which is always an honor. I even did three break falls on my ukemi, which for me was great.
I realized recently that I will be able to do all these moves again, but it's going to take me longer to get there. Take those break falls, for example: I often land full body on the mat, which is hard on my body. Saturday's break falls were different, mostly. On my first and last, I felt myself go over, I extended my arm, and felt my hand slap the mat before my legs hit. That was pretty good, I thought. I was also able to get up off the mat without too many after-effects. Carlos, a first kyu, who is good enough to be a shodan, said he was impressed by the break fall I took in front of the class. I felt pretty good about that, considering my old-man body.
Later, our chief sensei grabbed me to do ukemi on a henka-waza technique that started in an uchi-style sankyo, that moved into a kokyu-nage throw. He was going to use me to demonstrate to the rest of the class, which is always an honor. I even did three break falls on my ukemi, which for me was great.
I realized recently that I will be able to do all these moves again, but it's going to take me longer to get there. Take those break falls, for example: I often land full body on the mat, which is hard on my body. Saturday's break falls were different, mostly. On my first and last, I felt myself go over, I extended my arm, and felt my hand slap the mat before my legs hit. That was pretty good, I thought. I was also able to get up off the mat without too many after-effects. Carlos, a first kyu, who is good enough to be a shodan, said he was impressed by the break fall I took in front of the class. I felt pretty good about that, considering my old-man body.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)