Smooth Operator

I am exhausted this morning. I can feel last night's workout in every cell of my body. Forearms, elbows, knees, quads, back.

Everything we did last night revolved around morote dori (two hands on one wrist), with the exception of our first technique: Hanmi handachi kaiten nage, uchi style, omote and ura.





This technique was part of my 3rd kyu test, as was the same technique in soto style, i.e. going outside instead of under uke's arm. I like these techniques, not because I'm good at them; at best I'm so-so, due to my bad knees, plus I need a few more years of practice to get them down to where I'd like them to be. Perhaps a few years beyond that to get them to where they should be.

I like that technique because of the concentration it takes, and the need to move from the kneeling position. While other martial arts have their kata forms, we have these. I know I'm never going to be fighting someone from a kneeling position. I can't remember the last time I went into a Tokyo tea house - oh, that's right. I've never been to a Tokyo tea house. It's being able to perform a technique from a position that makes moving so difficult for me. These are painful for me, but I like doing them anyway. It is a test of my fortitude, no matter how small a test.


Everything else was from morote dori. Irimi nage three ways, and shiho nage omote and ura. At the end of class, we practiced henka waza, or a variety of techniques from the morote dori attack. I began my henka waza practice with a beginner; one who does not yet know how to fall. It was a practice in patience for me, since I had to take everything so slowly. My partner was baffled as to what to do. I could see she was in that state we all find ourselves in at the early stages where we are all just so overwhelmed by so many techniques that we freeze and become unable to do any techniques at all. So I suggested she do the shiho nage we had just practiced. I could see the idea take hold, and the "deer in the headlights" look vanished from her face. She was good from then on. At some point, Sensei came over and relieved her of her duties as my partner. He and I started working on our henke waza. He was going some great things to me, and I to him. He even threw me in a break fall, and I went with it just as I should have. When it was my turn, not everything was great, but I felt good. I wish I'd had more time to practice, as there were techniques I did not have time to do.


After class, Sensei told me that I was really moving smoothly. This is nice to hear. I've got upper level students from 2nd kyu all the way to  4th dan throwing the occasional compliment my way. While I'm not consciously seeking compliments, it's nice that others see the improvements I'm making that usually escape me, because I'm focusing on so many details, both big and small.


Two more things: We had a visitor - a young, and very pregnant, woman from New York. What she's doing in this small city I don't know. Sensei said she was 1st or 2nd kyu and worked with the Tohei Sensei from New York (not the Tohei Sensei from Chicago) and practiced three to four hours a day. She said she wanted to start up with us a mere two weeks after she has her baby. Cool.

Secondly, our resident shodan has diabetes. Usually he controls things really well. Last night I worked with him twice, and both times I found him to be weak and disoriented. I was really worried. He had finished his first of two bottle of Gatoraide, so I thought he'd be okay. But that was not the case. The second time we worked together, we were supposed to be doing one technique, and he was doing something completely different, and did not seem to know the difference. I'll mention it to Sensei, but as an adult, he is responsible for himself. He's had diabetes his whole life, and should be able to sense when things are good or bad, but I am still worried.

Hiya meshi o Michi