Wed and Thur Classes

Wed-TKD humbles me. I suck at it really bad. I cried but just kept going through the tears. The things I do correctly, however, I do really well, but the other stuff is reprehensible. I can't tell you how much I hear "Aish" in one night. But it means I sucked at it and I have to do it again. DZR was cool because we helped Jay get ready for his test. I ran through my stuff too. It went well. Then we did some BJJ. This BJJ guy has been coming this week just to roll before he goes off to the Army next week. He taught the Senseis some neat stuff and we rolled around and played with it. I think he was more of a Gracie guy while Sensei Bell does Machada (which is a relative of the Gracies...cousin maybe?) BJJ but it's all very similar. The dude was an MMA dude, but he was really nice. I hope he does well in the military.

Thur-TKD went a little better. I need to work on that stuff really bad, but I need to focus on DZR for a while since I test next week. We just did some kicking techniques and forms. DZR was pretty cool. Jay had his test and all went great as far as me being an uke (part of the time) until I got slammed really hard on one technique and I felt my whole insides and ribs reverberate. I got some of the wind knocked out of me and I cried. Dang it. I hate to cry. I had to bow out, get a drink and suck it up a little. I little while later, I was back to being uke again. Jay was really worried that he had hurt me, but it was cool and we're cool now. We finished off with some BJJ-specifically an omoplata and some technique that Sensei Rick uses in Progressive Jujitsu. At the end, Jay was presented with his new belt and apparently, it's jujitsu tradition that you have to put you belt on without it touching the floor (and you are in seiza or kneeling position) or everyone gets to throw you. Jay didn't make it and we got to throw him. Luckily my Aikido Sensei had shown me how to put a belt on the ceremonial Japanese way so I think with a little practice this weekend, I'll be able to roll my belt on and it'll never touch the floor. It's good to have inside information. I finally was formally introduced to Sensei Rick. He's kinda the owner/head dude. He's really cool though. He told me to stick around because I'm learning from one of the best instructors he's ever known, maybe one of the best in the world. I'm cool with that. I told him I was hooked and there was no worries about that. What is so amazing about the whole thing to me is, I know of two other of Sensei Schmidt's old students that have started DZR (from Aikido) and they don't come much. Anthony always only came here and there, and the David guy I don't know at all. I don't know, maybe I just don't have as much of a life as they do, but both of them started before I did, but I'm about test and they aren't. And it's only because I show up. I guess faithfulness is rewarded. I'm slightly nervous but pretty excited. I think I'm ready. I just need to go over my vocabulary. There's a lot more Japanese terminology to know. I made flashcards though and a little game where I draw a technique out of a ziplock baggie to help me to learn the names. I'm losing my voice and I hope I don't get sick before my test. That would suck.