tag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-18:358045 bjarvis bjarvis 2017-08-25T03:08:42Z tag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-18:358045:1618869 2017-08-25T03:08:31Z 2017-08-25T03:08:42Z public 0 OMG, I hurt. Like, I'm going to swallow an entire bottle of Alleve with a vodka chaser kind of hurt. But it was fun!<br /><br />I had my second karate class tonight. As before, it began with a lot of stretching to warm up. And then it really got into leg stretching, the kind I haven't been able to do in 45 years or so. My upper body is very flexible, but the kind of lifts & extensions required of my lower half far exceeds my current abilities. But damn it, I'm going to try!<br /><br />We also did some non-contact sparring, a lot of punches, a front kick, a side kick and an arching back kick. Extensively. This part wasn't painful except to my ego: my balance isn't great and I need more careful deliberate practice to get the precise form internalized.<br /><br />There were some nice compliments about how I was keeping up, and some surprise it was only my second class. I'm sure they're being kind, but in some ways I am doing better than others. My weightlifting has trained me to ensure I have a very solid footing and maintain a low center of gravity. My upper body strength can generate a damn wicked punch. Lifting and cardio have given me good endurance. <br /><br />All that said, my ass was solidly kicked (metaphorically) tonight. I was sweating profusely, overheating and nearly gasping for oxygen by the end. Of course, that's what a good workout is suppose to do, so victory is mine!<br /><br />My self-assigned homework is to keep stretching so I can lift my knees higher, aim my side & rear kicks higher and bend my upper body lower. I will also need to rehearse each of the kicks we covered to improve my form.<br /><br />OCD superpowers, activate!<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=bjarvis&ditemid=1618869" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments