Karate Update: OMG, the Pain!
Nov. 18th, 2017 08:58 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bjarvisThis morning, I attended a double session at the dojo. As mentioned in my prior posting, there is a kick boxing session at 8am, then an adult class (all levels) at 8:50am. Since I'm still trying to stretch and improve my balance, as well as practice before my belt exams in two weeks, I thought I'd try both.
Ow.
The kick boxing was a lot of fun, and precisely what I needed: a lot of kick drills and sparring. My back kick is much improved (my aim previously was simply embarrassing), and my round kicks are looking good although I'm still struggling to aim at chest level. By the end of class, I was exhausted. Thankfully, it is late fall and I could stand outside on the sidewalk in the near-freezing wind to get my body temperature back down to normal range.
Then the regular class started. Per usual, the front half was all stretching and, this particular class, a huge amount of ab work: crunches, bicycles, leg lifts, etc.. I was a heaving mess again in minutes. While my flexibility is improved, I simply cannot bend my torso enough when seated with legs extended on the floor to bring my forehead down to my knees. Even half-way is pushing my limits. But dammit, I will try!
The balance of the class was drilling on items we'll need for graduation, then one-on-one slow motion non-contact sparring. The real fun began when we were assigned to spar as teams, two-on-two. Having to pay attention to two adversaries, anticipating attacks & blocking from each side simultaneously while planning potential counter-strikes was a serious challenge. Similarly, rescuing my teammate when under simultaneous attack without accidentally backing him into a corner or blocking him was harder than I imagined. Of course, if we were to do this again, I would be plotting some strategy of taking out one first, then the other, and better tactics like staying back-to-back with my partner to ensure we cover each other. But perhaps I'm taking that too seriously. :-)
By the end of two hours, I was utterly depleted. I needed to sit for 10 minutes before heading home. And the pain in my hips, thighs & lower back (esp left hip) required me to make small steps only. I nearly called the guys for a lift home but I'd never hear the end of it after that. I got up the front steps of the house one step at a time, sat for a few minutes, downed medication and napped for an hour to get myself back together.
My hips still hurt fiercely, but I'm sure it's just an angry body objecting to how I was using it, not an injury or tear. There may be more Aleve in my future later today.
Ow.
The kick boxing was a lot of fun, and precisely what I needed: a lot of kick drills and sparring. My back kick is much improved (my aim previously was simply embarrassing), and my round kicks are looking good although I'm still struggling to aim at chest level. By the end of class, I was exhausted. Thankfully, it is late fall and I could stand outside on the sidewalk in the near-freezing wind to get my body temperature back down to normal range.
Then the regular class started. Per usual, the front half was all stretching and, this particular class, a huge amount of ab work: crunches, bicycles, leg lifts, etc.. I was a heaving mess again in minutes. While my flexibility is improved, I simply cannot bend my torso enough when seated with legs extended on the floor to bring my forehead down to my knees. Even half-way is pushing my limits. But dammit, I will try!
The balance of the class was drilling on items we'll need for graduation, then one-on-one slow motion non-contact sparring. The real fun began when we were assigned to spar as teams, two-on-two. Having to pay attention to two adversaries, anticipating attacks & blocking from each side simultaneously while planning potential counter-strikes was a serious challenge. Similarly, rescuing my teammate when under simultaneous attack without accidentally backing him into a corner or blocking him was harder than I imagined. Of course, if we were to do this again, I would be plotting some strategy of taking out one first, then the other, and better tactics like staying back-to-back with my partner to ensure we cover each other. But perhaps I'm taking that too seriously. :-)
By the end of two hours, I was utterly depleted. I needed to sit for 10 minutes before heading home. And the pain in my hips, thighs & lower back (esp left hip) required me to make small steps only. I nearly called the guys for a lift home but I'd never hear the end of it after that. I got up the front steps of the house one step at a time, sat for a few minutes, downed medication and napped for an hour to get myself back together.
My hips still hurt fiercely, but I'm sure it's just an angry body objecting to how I was using it, not an injury or tear. There may be more Aleve in my future later today.
no subject
Date: 2017-11-20 06:33 pm (UTC)