Watching the sword fights

It's funny to watch Robbie in his sword class. He just loves to swing that weapon! And I'm glad Jacob is doing it, too. They've been best friends since kindergarten (maybe the first day of kindergarten!) so it's extra incentive to go to class to be with each other.

Here they are practicing their strikes and blocks.





They really love it when they get to practice strikes on the dummy.

I don't know if you can see the fierce look on Robbie's face.


Both boys had a bit of trouble with etiquette Thursday night. If Robbie learns anything at the dojang, I hope he learns how to submit to instruction with grace and good manners. Both Robbie and Jacob are smart boys, and they tend to be critical about being told what to do. This gets them in trouble. Eli's much the same.

In fact, in the car, Robbie told me that he didn't like school because "the teachers control you too much."

I thought about it and later said to him, "you can get along best in school if you just find out what the teacher wants you do to--and just do it. Then you won't use your energy fighting against the teacher, and you won't feel like you're being controlled. And you can go a lot further and get a lot better, too."

With Robbie, I'm never sure if those kinds of comments get through. I think he just gets turned on by the excitement of resisting someone. Still, if he would just align himself with the intentions of the teacher--align himself with "the force," to use Star Wars terms--he'd be able to go much further, in Kum Do and elsewhere.

We all would.

More on blogs

Once again I'd like to introduce you to a couple blogs I've been enjoying recently.

You might enjoy visiting another TKD blog, Rockin' out to Tae Kwon Do. The author, known on her blog as TKDRocker (you've seen her comments here) has a pretty substantial web presence, with at least one other blog and a website! She writes vivid, lively entries and has a good sense of humor. Plus, I understand that she's also a LOTR geek like I am so that's got to be good.

Totally off the subject of TKD, Jase's Journal is also a relatively new blog by a student at my college. Jase--a senior at the college, serious athlete, class president, guitar player and all around great guy--is doing an independent study with me this term, and one of his projects is a blog. His topic: fighting cancer. Jase is going through some pretty tough times this fall in a fight against testicular cancer (yep, the same kind Lance Armstrong has), but he faces it with grace and humor. This blog is anything but a downer! A recent post is called "1000 golf balls"

And for inspiration, you bloggers might want to check out a new book about blogs whose title alone will inspire you (or make you crazy), Who Let the Blogs Out by a guy named, believe it or not, Biz Stone. I skimmed through a lot of it, but some of the chapters about how to get readers and how to make your writing more exciting, were worth the read.

And yes, I am going to be at all-belts on Saturday.

Two classrooms

I noticed something today while leaving class (I teach at the college on MWF). I was walking behind one of my students and I thought to myself: "He's really tall!"

Funny I didn't notice this before. Now that I think about it, though, I would guess that most of my students are bigger than I am. There is a football player, a basketball player, etc., and plenty of women athletes, softball players and such. Big midwestern 20-somethings!

Of course size doesn't matter in this classroom like it does in my other classroom, the dojang. But the fact that I really was unaware was interesting.

I think that lots of times in the classroom, I experience "flow" (see my recent post about the on-line article, The Ability to Flow in Combat).

I experience it because of the things that article lists: it's easy for me to focus (#1 on his list) on the topics we discuss--I LOVE talking about language, rhetoric, writing. I assume my students will like it as well (# 4 maintain a positive outlook.)

Also, I've had lots of practice (#6 on his list). I've been a studying this stuff for a LONG time, I've been teaching for 20 years, and besides, being a teacher means you're always learning new stuff, which gives you more practice.

Having that experience of fear and self-consciousness in TKD gave me a chance to once again think about students who experience fear in a college classroom: those quiet students who pull their baseball caps way down on their faces, never speak during discussion, and look totally lost. It's good for me to remember that feeling as it's been a long time since I've felt that way in a classroom.

Maybe there's some way I can help those students focus, keep positive outlooks, and practice. I certainly believe that those of us who do feel comfortable--wherever we are--should always remember those of us who do not.

Teaching and Learning

So I come home from all-belts this evening and I say to Bruce, "I got to lead the class in stretching tonight."

"Oh really?" he says. "Were you the senior belt?"

"Nope. Not at all. I think it was Justin's idea."

Am I right, Justin?

Justin wrote me a note recently asking me if I'd like to lead stretching sometime when he was teaching class. He thought it might help me with my self-confidence, focus, and plus he thought it would make a nice story for my blog. But he wasn't teaching today . . .

So here's the story.

First, though . . .

What Happened Before Class Started
Master Hughes was there at the beginning of class. He said hi to me on his way through the dojang, so I stopped him and asked if he had a moment. I asked if it would be OK with him if I posted photos illustrating the 3-step sparring sequences on the photoblog. He thought that would be a good idea. I'd had that idea earlier today, and thought it might be a fun and useful project.

So any of you blog-readers from my school, if you want to help with this, I'll be around on Tues and Thurs during the Kum Do classes (6:45-7:30), and we can set up and take those photos.

Teaching
Master Hughes led the class today until we got to stretching.

"Jane. Would you like to lead stretching today?"

Caught me off guard, that's for sure.

"Uh, sure," I said, bowing.

Teaching's not a big deal for me. If I'd known I was going to lead stretching that evening, I might have worried a bit, being the first time in front of that class. But when I'm just asked to go up there, no biggie.

I did the usual stretches we always do, but I added a few ballet stretches (foot stretch, making sure to stretch the neck during splits stretch). I have to say that it did feel a bit odd teaching someone else's class, knowing that there are exercises Master Hughes expected me to do . . . but I am quite sure he knew I'd also add my own twist to those exercises.

Stances
After working on power roundhouse kicks for a while (and just about having the pad kicked out of my hand by Brian!), we worked on forms. Brian and I worked on Palgwe 4 with Stacy, who gave us both encouragement and tips for doing that form better.

When we (greens and blues) did our forms for Ms Pryor, she let us stand in our last stance while whe went around correcting them. We greens were in a backstance, a stance that has been giving me trouble (I've written about this before). Ms. Pryor corrected me in the usual ways: feet further apart, in an "L" shape with heels on the same parallel line, not in a wide 4th ballet position, and back straight, not leaning back.

Geez, I've been using the back stance since my first days in TKD. I KNOW what I'm supposed to do and I know what I usually do wrong. You'd think I would be able to do it.

Actually, my brain knows what to do. My body hasn't gotten the message yet.

Stacy
I am glad that Stacy is back. She's a black belt whose advice and thoughts I like to hear. She is a good tutor for me because she remembers doing things wrong, and how she learned to do them right.

While we stood at the side of the dojang and watched a game of TKD tag, I told her I was relieved that I was not the only one having trouble with my back stance.

"That's a hard stance," she said. "I had to work on that one."

I asked her how she finally got it down.

"I put tape on the floor so I could feel where my feet needed to be." She demonstrated doing a series of back stances. "It's easier for me when I can feel it."

Cool idea. I am going to try the tape thing.

Sorry. No Pictures Today
I was thinking that this blog was needing some pictures. I meant to take some, but it didn'thappen this evening. I promise I'll post some soon.

And don't forget
to send me your comments about . . . actually about anything. I'm particularly curious about workouts. (See the post below.)

Do you train?

I'm just curious. How many of you martial artists do physical training other than your martial arts classes?

As you know, besides doing TKD, I take ballet, but I also swim laps. For a while I was skipping the lap-swimming in favor of an extra ballet class per week, but I found that was a bad idea. I was losing some strength and cardio-vascular fitness. It turns out I needed that swimming workout to be in decent shape to do ballet and TKD! So am I just naturally wimpy?

I guess anyone who does physical activities can answer this: do you work out so you're in shape for your favorite workout? Write me a comment!

Go with the Flow

I don't know how many of you looked up the article that KickerChick cited in her post, The Ability to Flow in Combat. I just did today, and I feel like the author was speaking directly to me!

One quote:
Tony Blauer, a pioneer in performance enhancement research as it relates to combat, teaches the word ‘fear’ as an acronym – “False Expectations Appearing Real” or “Failure Expected, Action Required”. In essence, what this means is that we are usually not scared of anything when we are certain of the outcome, but when the outcome is unknown, we automatically project onto the situation the worst possible thing that can happen to us. This creates instant anxiety and disallows us from acting without reserve due to expectation of impending failure.

Oh yeah. "Disallows us from acting without reserve . . ." I believe that means that one stops breathing and feels like running.

The author even gave an example of facing an aggressor "an agressor that outweighs you by 100 pounds' making you feel like "a five-year old child" . . . I've BEEN there!

This is cool, though; he has some good advice to follow, including 1) learn how to focus your attention and 6) practice, practice, practice.

I was headed that direction; this article gives me more to go with. What it aims for is "flow," which means a period in time in which one becomes so completely involved in an activity that all other thoughts and emotions – what some consider the "self"are excluded from consciousness.

Yes! That reminds me of that other quote by Sensei Webster-Doyle about giving oneself to the movement. Hey, that's the experience I love best about movement--about ballet and swimming and hiking and TKD.

Some people think of "flow" as a nice side-effect of exercise/fitness. I actually see it as an end in itself. I don't want to JUST do forms, to spar. I want to achieve flow while I do those things.

At our school, we don't talk about or practice these inner aspects of TKD: achieving flow, practicing focus. As I said before, those are probably not as interesting to most people at our school who are more athletically gifted (and experienced) than I am. They don't need to think about it.

But that's OK. I'll find that spiritual direction for TKD elsewhere. It's something that interests me anyway. I'm finding it all the time.

Taking a break

I'm taking a mental health break from TKD until Monday. Well, at least a break from DOING it. I may still write about it . . .

I was at the dojang last night for Robbie's Kum Do class. He started to learn a Kum Do form. Very cool. If anyone knows where I could get instructions, pictures, or video of Kum Do forms, let me know!

Justin was there last night, and I took some photos and a movie of him breaking a board. I just sent them to him. Check out Justin's blog because I think he's going to post them!

Should I stay or should I go . . . .

Can't decide whether to attend all-belts class tonight.

On the one hand, maybe I need a big break from TKD to get my focus back. Maybe I need NOT to spar for a while.

On the other hand, I feel in need of some exercise after my relatively sedentary day at the college. And I do want to work on my form. And plus, it's just nice to be there with everyone.

"Are you going tonight?" asks Bruce.

I finally decide. "Yeah. But if they spar, I think I'll just slip out."

At the dojang, I decide to work on focus. That will be my project for the evening. I start with something I always used to do: Sun Salutation, a set of yoga moves. I do it right in the middle of everything, and manage to keep my concentration. I am breathing. (You have to with Sun Salutation!)

One advantage of having people from my school read this blog is that they know what's going on. I think they're looking out for me.

"Doin' OK?" asks Brian. "Yeah." I say. "I need to stop thinking and just do this stuff."

"If you're feeling scared, you just need to do those moves even stronger," he says. "Just do the moves."

"Yeah," I say. He's right. As usual.

Aimee, Brian, and I do our forms (no pauses; I'm focused) and then Brian and I practice our 3-step sparring.

"I'm going to punch straight at you," warns Brian. "OK. I'm ready," I say. I appreciate the warning. I let the movements fill my mind; I perform them strongly; the fear doesn't surface.

The class is a good workout. Master Hughes is back, and he leads us in basic movements, using the Korean terms. It's a mental and physical workout. It's easy for me to focus here: I watch the back of the person in front of me, spotting as I turn, kick, punch, block. No distractions, not even Master Hughes wandering by fazes me.

After we do our forms, we line up for combination kicking. Kind of practice sparring.

Here's my chance. I can split now.

I decide to stay.

Brian A. is my partner. He's been reading this blog so maybe he's watching out for me, too. At any rate, he is precise and controlled in his kicks, so they don't make me flinch. (Later I wonder if I've been sparring with strong, tall, yet uncontrolled teenage boys too much. I've gotten hit by at least one . . . )

"Get your sparring gear on." Another chance to run. I stand in place while the others dash off around me. I breathe. I get my gear.

While I put it on, I sit by Stacy, a black belt who's also small-boned, though taller than I am. "I'm having some fear of sparring these days," I admit to hear as we put on our gear. "Oh, I've never liked sparring," says Stacy. It's nice to have someone who understands!

But it's not too bad. I spar with a teenaged girl (Brittany--she's shy and overweight, but sweet) and a boy, Curt's son. I also spar with Curt, who's helped me before. He's slow and not flexible, but knows his kicks and has good ideas for me. "Use that double roundhouse," he reminds me. Oh yeah!

I survive it all. Was my focus better? I think so. Am I over the fear? I think it will be a constant challenge for me to keep my focus and not think too much.

On Focus

Last night while I was watching Robbie's Kum Do class, Master Hughes talked about taking Kum Do from Master Jun in Davenport.

"We spent weeks just doing this," he said, showing me the basic strike movement with the sword. "Master Jun was really into the meditation aspect of Kum Do. I don't really have time for that, being a Christian."

I don't doubt Master Hughes is a Christian, and perhaps he really thinks that meditation in martial arts is at odds with Christianity (I don't . . . ). But I would guess that's not the real reason he doesn't have time for meditation. I'd guess it's because he doesn't have problems with focus the way I do.

Master Hughes, like many people at our school, is a natural athlete. I would guess that when he does TKD, he loses himself in it. When he's doing a form, he's just doing the form, not getting distracted by others. When he spars, he just spars; he's not afraid of the person in front of him.

My focus has not been good these days, especially at sparring. I'm being distracted by my fear of a big person overpowering me.

I think I need to make time for meditation in martial arts to help me with focus. KickerChick suggested this in her post, and I would agree. I'm also going to take some time off and skip class Saturday--thanks for that suggestion, KickerChick! And thanks to all of you for the suggestions and encouragement you have given me both on this blog and in person!

There are times when I do "give myself to the movement," like Sensei Webster-Doyle's quote below says. I definitely do that when I break a board, and often when I do forms, though during tests, my focus is often broken by the chaos of doing forms in a group.

Just yesterday, I gave myself to the movement in ballet class, during the petit allegro. It helped that I LOVE petit allegro (no petite jokes, Bill) and the music was good! All that helped me focus.

I need more focus so I can give myself to the movement in sparring and lose my fear!

Words of a Master

When one gives oneself totally to the movement, energy is full, undivided. In that totality, there is no doubt, no nagging restlessness created by the fragmentary self. In that moment, "I" do not exist and so fear is absent.
--Terrence Webster-Doyle

I hope it's just a phase . . .

. . . that I'm once again afraid of being hit, and more specifically, afraid of being hit by someone way bigger than I am during sparring.

When I started TKD, this was a major hurdle for me, getting used to facing bigger people, OK, let's just say it--facing men--in a fighting situation and not just turning around and walking away. You might remember earlier blog entries about this--about how I'd really prefer to walk away than to spar (January's entry called "Small Class" for example--scroll down on this link to find it)

I thought I'd gotten over that. I can specifically remember a time when I got paired up with lots of the bigger men in the class--Brian, Brian, Jim, Justin--and was conscious that I wasn't afraid to fight them.

So what's happened that the fear has now returned? Maybe I've gotten hit a few times; maybe we aren't practicing sparring as much.

It's logical in a way to have some fear of fighting someone who's taller and larger (and stronger) than yourself. On the other hand it's not logical--this is TKD: light to no contact, and I trust these guys.

Still, even though I'm thinking with my brain "This is Brian. I trust him," or whatever, my gut instinct is saying "get outta here!" So it's hard to spar; I can tell the adreneline is flowing where I need to be calm. Tonight as we practiced 3-step sparring, Brian said to me "Breathe! You're not breathing." I wasn't.

Hey you women martial artists--KickerChick and Myst and anyone else--do you ever experience this instinctual fear? What helps you overcome it?

And you martial arts guys out there, it might be a good mental exercise to imagine sparring with someone 6 inches taller and 75 pounds heavier . . . that's what we small women go through when we face you in sparring!

Blogs, bloggers, and blogging, part 1

In the past week, I've heard of several new blogs that I've bookmarked. Seems like lots of people out there are finding the satisfaction in writing and being read!

Today I'd like to tell you about Justin's blog.

Yes, that's THE Justin I've written about on my site--the Justin at my TKD school. He's a young black belt whose ability and maturity have always impressed me. Plus my boys think he's cool, especially the way he can stand on his hands and break a board! I hope Justin will post a picture of that soon. I have volunteered my digital camera for the task.

You might enjoy reading Justin's blog as it will give you a view of life at our TKD school--from a different perspective--his view of Saturday's class was certainly different from mine!

Blogging is a very satisfying art--at least I find it to be. When I started, I thought of this blog as a kind of place to take notes for a future book, a memoir about learning martial arts.

But now, I'm not so sure about the book. I think that the blog is much more satisfying, more immediate, and more multi-genre (I love taking pictures and including links) than a book, and probably much less hassle than writing and revising a book manuscript!

Maybe there are others of you out there thinking of starting a blog. When I was starting, I got inspiration from a few articles I found about blogs. I love Writing the Living Web especially. OK, part of why I love it is that metaphor: the living web--cool! Makes me feel like I'm part of an ecosystem, not some writing/computer nerd!

Anyway, it has some inspiring advice and simple tips for writing. If you're writing or thinking of writing a blog, you might enjoy it.

Discouraged

It's one of those "I"m not sure I'm cut out for this" days.

When I get out of TKD all belts class today, I'm exhausted, sweaty, and discouraged. I'm thinking: Why am I spending a hot day kicking imaginary and real opponents, doing push ups, and getting kicked until the sweat is running down my back?

Today I'm having a hard time answering that question.

We had 3-step sparring practice today. It was extremely frustrating. Three-steps are simple combinations of blocks and strikes that you practice with an opponent. They're kind of like sparring forms that you memorize.

I learned some of the 3-steps, at least #1-5, from Mr. Houtz last spring. I was getting pretty good at them under his patient teaching. But I haven't done them since then--we never practice them in all-belts. Until today, when we were informed that it will later become part of our tests.

I found I didn't remember them at all.

Some looked familiar after Justin (our teacher today) demonstrated them, but there were a couple I just couldn't do, even with coaching from Justin. I felt like a total klutz.

Then regular sparring. I did OK, scoring-wise, but once again got totally winded--by the last match-up, I could barely get my kicks up. Justin, forgetting that not everyone's a 17 year old boy with that kind of strength and energy, ended the class with push-ups and sit-ups. Usually I breeze through those, but after that class, I was toast.

I don't know. I thought I was in pretty good shape. Maybe not. But I don't have time (or energy or desire) to get in another workout per week . . .

And plus, my wrist got hurt at some point. I have ice on it now.

I guess everyone has days like this.

You know, before I started TKD, my Saturday exercise was lap-swimming at the Y. In nice cool water. With no one kicking me. And no sweat. In an hour and a half, I'd have exercised, showered, dried my hair and been ready to go. . . today that sounds inviting.

Kum Do Site

If you liked that picture of the boys with the swords and are intrigued by Kum Do, here's a really cool website that has awesome pictures and text, the U.S. Kum Do website! Enjoy!

Boys with Swords

Only one of the pictures I took last night turned out. It's a good one, though! You can hardly recognize Robbie and Jacob under all their gear!

Bonnie came with us this time; I think she enjoyed seeing the place and watching Jacob work out. I worked on forms with Mindy at the back of the dojang while sword-fighting was going on--there were others working on forms as well--it's a Thursday evening thing.

At the end of the Kum Do class, I demonstrated some ballet--the petit allegro from class, and then I had Robbie partner me for that simple adagio. He did very well! Wish I had a picture of that!

Your comments are welcome!

I have received some "comment spam" posted on my blog, so I slightly changed the way comments are posted. You'll be asked to identify a word before you post your comment--that's so spammers can't post junk on my blog.

I realize that those of you who know me tend to send emails instead of posting comments--so it won't affect you! But anyone should feel free to post a comment, anonymously if you like, or leave your name. I appreciate hearing what you think.

More RenFaire photos

Here I am doing the martial art of archery. I did OK with it, despite the fact my wrist is bent in this picture.



Here's the two of us.

Boys with sticks

Today is the first day of Tiger Kum Do class for Robbie and his best friend Jacob. It's a special Korean sword fighting class that Master Hughes has created with some of the latest sword fighting practice equipment--swords made of flexible foam--and it's just for boys.

So in the dojang are 5 ten-year-old boys, or maybe 4 ten-year-olds and one older boy. They are given plastic practice swords, and they practice swinging them the Kum Do way, way back over thieir head, then STRIKE! Way back over their heads, then STRIKE!

Robbie has a happy look on his face.

Then practice hitting a dummy made of tires. Whack! Whack! Boys are swinging. Boys are smiling. They run and whack the heck out of that dummy. Then they put on chest pads and helments and mitts and foam swords and they whack the heck out of each other.

What is it with boys and sticks?

I remember a young mom (of a daughter) telling me she hoped her next child would not be a boy. "They're so violent when they get mad!" she said. She then goes on to tell me an example, a time when she saw a boy in his front yard with a stick. "He was just whacking the tree and whacking the tree! He must have been so angry!" I assured her that boys whack when they are not angry, too. In fact, give a boy a stick, and he'll whack.

Robbie and Jacob are both smiling and sweaty after the class.

"That was cool!" says Jacob. "I have to practice those swings at home!"

"I want to get some of those pads!" says Robbie. "It would be fun to fight with Eli."

So is this post somehow tied with the one on self-defense from yesterday?

I'll get some pictures on Thursday!

My problem with self-defence classes

There are going to be a couple of self-defense classes offered at our dojang. Brian asks me if I'm going.

"No--self-defense classes really creep me out," I say. How articulate.

So I spend the evening thinking about what bothers me about self-defense classes. I'm still not exactly sure, but I think one problem I have with it has to do with how you envision your attacker. In a self-defense class you learn how to quickly hurt and run away from an attacker--like knock him over or break his arm, kneecap, or leg.

Well, sure. I'd love to be able to do that to a nameless, faceless bad guy who attacks me in a parking ramp. But I really don't think that's who is going to hurt me if someone does hurt me. So who hurts and rapes women anyway?

Once the kids are in bed, I ask Bruce if he knows anything about exactly WHO is hurting and raping women when they get hurt or raped. Is it bad guys in parking garages or dark alleys? (Bruce teaches political science at the college and knows where all the statistics are.)

"Funny you should ask that," he says. He'd just heard a public service announcement during the Cubs game about how women aren't being hurt and raped in parking ramps, but in domestic abuse situations, by men they know. Ik. Just what I'd feared.

(Does this match up with your experience in police work, Brian?)

I guess my thought is that it's one thing to break the kneecap of some nasty bad guy who grabs you in a dark alley. It's another to do it to your husband or boyfriend. So maybe if we have a self-defense class, we need to teach emotional detatchment. If someone seems threatening to you, even if it's someone you love, you're allowed to hit them. I don't know. That seems like it will lead to a lot of hitting.

Not that it's very likely that I or most of the other women who take TKD at Hughes are going to be raped. According to the statistics Bruce had (in the Almanac), it's poor, single, young women (younger than 34, income less than 15,000) who are hurt and raped. Of course some domestic abuse isn't reported . . .

So does it make sense to spend hours teaching middle-class, middle-aged women how to defend themselves against a rapist/attacker? Well, I suppose it can't hurt. But another thing that bugs me about self-defense class is the mentality: we're helpless to change a culture of violence against women, so let's fight back.

Now, I realize that we can't completely change our culture, but a TKD school seems to be one place where we should begin trying ("I shall be a champion of freedom and justice and build a more peaceful world," part of the tenets of TKD)

Here's my bottom line on self-defense classes: I will take them ONLY when the school starts also offering (and encouraging) non-violent conflict resolution classes, and especially encourages men and boys to take them! They could focus on how do you deal with your angry feelings when things don't go your way? That would be a good class for us all to take, but especially men, who have more physical power to hurt.

Like the women in our school, the men in our school probably don't need it, but I think it can't hurt. And the mindset--that violence and physical fighting don't need to be the solution to conflict--certainly needs to be spread around.

Martial Arts from the Past

Saturday Robbie and I went to the Renaissance Faire that's held every Labor Day in a nearby town park. It's a pretty big one, with a joust, archery pavillion, several camps, shows, and battles. We'd made plans to go before Eli's accident, and since he was recovering nicely by that time (and didn't want to go anyway), we decided to stick with our plans.

I'm glad we had plans with Bonnie and Jacob. Bonnie was with me during the scariest part of the accident on Thursday, so we had a special bond through that experience. Plus, I knew she loves Renaissance Faires like I do!

Anyway, we had a great time, and a lot of what we did was watch people fighting! So here are a whole bunch of pictures of medieval European "martial arts" (and some from Japan, as you'll see).

This first picture is of all four of us. Of COURSE we went in costume!


Here is Robbie, early on, having a sword fight with his friend Eric, whom we saw there. Can you tell he's ready for Kum Do class?


There were several demonstrations of medieval fighting. Here is a swordfighting demonstration.


And this is Robbie's favorite part this year, something called a "siege." The leader, pictured here, explained that their fighting was "not choreographed."

"In other words, people in the movies, who choreograph their fights, send their friends to the hospital when they do something wrong. We send our friends to the hospital when we do something right."


Here's one group lined up, ready to charge on the other group. It was basically a free-for-all, with people hacking at each other, and occasionally using "treachery" (like when one guy ran at his opponent and did a two-footed side kick to the shield to knock the opponent down!

Robbie loved it. "Yeah! More blood" Whose child is that, anyway?

After we watched their show a second time, we stopped to chat with them. They make their "swords" out of PVC pipe, which they cover in foam padding and duct tape.
"What are some of the injuries your group has gotten?" I asked.
"Oh, well, there was a broken knee, and some cracked ribs, and at one Faire there were three broken noses," said one of the fighters, who'd earlier suffered a split lip.

There was also a trebuchet like ones that would have been used in sieges. I could have watched this thing for hours!


We made sure to watch a group from a dojo in a nearby town. They're called Jade Tiger Dojo, and they teach "Samurai arts."

I saw them both times I went to the RenFaire in the past, and I think watching them do Aikido forms planted the seed of interest in martial arts. It's quite different from TKD, with circular, avoidance moves, and I am sure I would not want to have to fall down all the time like they do, but it is really cool.

Here they are doing work with "sticks"

And here's the sensei doing what's known as a "test cut." He uses a VERY sharp sword to cut a bamboo roll very quickly and carefully at precise angles.


Jason S. from the dojang was there with his family, and was watching the samurai people when I was.

I really had hoped to talk with the sensei after the show. I wanted to tell him about how his show inspired me. I also wanted to ask him about how his height affected the way he did martial arts--he said he was 6'7"! I'm sure that must be both an advantage and a disadvantage

Robbie and I also enjoyed doing some archery--here's Robbie.

I'll be getting a photo of myself sometime from Bonnie.

Robbie loved it so much, he bought a cute bow and arrow set there. The bow's made of PVC pipe, and the arrows are sponge-tipped, which was good, as he spent the rest of the Faire shooting me with it!


We were at the Faire for about 6 hours! There was plenty to do, and good food. Robbie and I love to go talk to the people at the encampments. Robbie tried on chain mail, as he did in years past. The chain main guy said "Didn't I make a sample piece for you last year?"



I don't know why I love the Renaissance Faire so much. Bonnie and I were talking about it, because she's crazy about it too. I think it's indulging my inner child--getting to dress up and pretend, and live in ancient times. You can tell that the other people there enjoy that, too!


And here's something cool. We got home, and Eli was outside with Bruce. He wasn't running around, but he was up and dressed and feeling better. At that moment, just returning from a great day out, and seeing Eli mostly recovered from such trauma, I thought life is good.

Accident

I had planned to spend Thursday afternoon writing up a post about Wednesday night's class, about showing Master Hughes the photoblog I set up, about doing my form without much difficulty, about our grueling sparring practice.

But I spent Thursday afternoon at the emergency room with Eli.

Before I go on, I need to say that Eli is home now, recovering and will be fine. I say that because what happened was truly scary.

Thursday afternoon, when we were near the school to pick up Robbie, Eli was hit by a car.

It all happened quickly, as these things must. I was standing outside our car, chatting with Suzie (another mom) when suddenly she screamed "Oh my god, no!" I heard car brakes, and turned to see Eli lying on the road.

In one moment, I was screaming and running toward him and flinging myself on my knees at his side. I wrapped my arms around him as he lay on the street. He started to shake and then to cry. There was blood on his head and arms.

In a moment of crisis like that, your perceptions change. I could feel all of my focus, all of my energy, going towards my son. Around me, the rest of the world blurred. I knew that people around me were yelling, someone was calling 911, Suzie had run up and was standing there with her hand on her shoulder. But all I could do was to kneel there over Eli, my arms wrapped around him, my cheek pressed against his.

"Suzie, could you stay here until they get here?" I asked.

She stayed. I could feel her hand on my shoulder, a reassurance.

Emergency vehicles arrived and the officers began asking me questions, which I answered, never taking my eyes off of Eli. They knelt down around us, and moved Eli, who was still crying, onto a board and strapped him down.

Sometime after he was strapped onto the board, I remember getting up. I went to find Robbie, who was at that time, standing wide-eyed and teary with fear next to Suzie and her son. I hugged him and told him the paramedics would take care of Eli and that we'd go to the hospital. Mrs. R., the children's 2nd grade teacher, sat on the grass next to Robbie dialing number after number on her cell phone, trying to find Bruce over at the college.

There was also a woman sitting on the curb and weeping; I knew she'd been the driver of the car. I went to her, asked her name, hugged her, and told her Eli would go to the hospital and would be all right. Then Bonnie appeared and held me silently while I briefly broke down in tears. But not for long--I had to be with Eli. I remember saying "I need to get my act together." Bonnie took Robbie home with her and Jacob, her son and Robbie's best friend.

In the ER, people buzzed around Eli, trying to examine him and move him off the board. Eli was crying, but also able to answer some questions. Every move the paramedics made frightened and hurt him. I stood by, stroking his arm or holding his hand.

Every time someone walked past the curtained area in ER, I thought it would be Bruce, but he hadn't gotten the word yet. Finally, a police officer appeared. She gave me information about the driver (suspended license, no insurance), and asked if I had any questions. I looked at her and thought I wish it were Brian here instead. She repeated, "Do you have any other questions?"
I asked if Brian were on duty that day.

"He is," she said. "Is he a friend of yours?"
"Yes. Can you . . . just tell him what happened?
"Of course. Would you like him to stop and see you?"
" . . . Yes, please."

Eli and I were taken into the CT scanner room, Eli on a gurney, me alongside, hand on his arm. Blessedly, he fell asleep while having the scan done. I stood around. Things started to catch up with me. I tried not to think.

At some point on our way back to ER, Brian materialized next to me. I can't say how much it meant to have someone with me then. He put his arm around me and I could feel the Kevlar vest beneath his shirt. I think he talked with me, but I don't remember. He stayed with Eli and me, a strong, familiar presence, until Bruce and Robbie arrived, followed by Suzie and Mr. N., the children's principal.

Bruce went right to Eli's side. Robbie stayed at the foot of the gurney, shaken.

After that, things seemed to be under control; things started to make sense. Maybe I felt that way because Bruce had arrived; I didn't have to make decisions alone. The ER doctor determined there might be some bruising to Eli's brain and though that injury rarely was harmful, he arranged for Eli to go to University Hospital where a neurosurgeon could look after him (turns out there was no bruising).

After another ambulence ride down there and being looked at by swarms of doctors (it's a teaching hospital, after all), we spent a night being observed and reassured that Eli would be fine. He's home now, his appitite is back, and he's sleeping in his own bed.

Looking back now, I realize that during those moments of crisis there were so many friends whostepped in when I needed them. Suzie, Bonnie, Mrs. R, Mr. N, and Brian--they surrounded me and held me up at that time when my entire being was focused on being with Eli and when I couldn't manage anything else.

I love that quote "Leap, and the net will appear." But it seems like today I learned "When you're pushed off and falling, the net will appear." And that net was made of friends.

A Scene

Monday we all--Robbie, Eli, and I--go over to the kids' class at the dojang. They're not enthusiastic, but they are OK with it. We get there late, and Eli skitters through the dojang to have me tie his belt.

There doesn't seem to be a teacher around and some of the children are leading warm ups. It's tedious. We can barely hear the instructions, and during basic moves, we stand endlessly in our stances as the young black belts wander around looking for mistakes.

On this day, the anniversary of my 20th year as a teacher, I am once again reminded that not everyone who is competent in a field can teach. I wish the school would give some instruction in "how to lead a class" to the blackbelts, even the children.

Master Hughes finally arrives and makes it clear how different it is to be lead by an excellent teacher--to some of us, anyway . . .

During all of this, the boys are having trouble concentrating. Eli has gone back to his goofing around stage, just like he did when he began TKD last fall. He jumps around, makes faces, and chatters away. Robbie is not too much better.

I decide to stay out of it once Master Hughes is there.

We begin combination kicking, and Eli is teamed up with a boy he knows, a yellow belt. Eli jumps around making faces, and Master Hughes comes over.

"You're the senior student here, and you're acting like the yellow belt," says Master H. "Maybe you two should switch belts."

Of course, this is a friendly reminder to Eli to stop goofing off, but he doesn't get it.

"I don't care," he answers back. I cringe.

"Well, if you don't care, maybe you should just take that belt off," says Master H.

"I don't care," says Eli again.

Master Hughes takes off Eli's belt and puts it on the stage. I turn back to my combination kicking--Master H. pairs me up with the younger children so I can help them out.

Later, we line up for TKD tag, everyone's favorite. But I notice that Eli is crying. Robbie talks to him, and so does Master Hughes, but Eli shouts something unintelligible, flings out his arm at Master Hughes, and runs out.

For some kids, it would be easy just to say "OK. Cut it out. You need to straighten up and stop screwing around. Now get back to work." But making orders does not work with Eli. Never has. I am not sure why. Also: teasing, kidding around, and using physical contact to get him to cooperate do not work, either, and these are some of Master Hughes's teaching techniques (they work with most children!).

I wish there were something I could do to make this sort of situation work for Eli. I wish I could make him into a child who could take criticism, take instruction, snap out of it when ordered to.

I wait for a while, then go to find Eli, who is sniffling in a corner.

"You look mad," I say.

"I hate Master Hughes!" shouts Eli.

"He likes you, and he wants you to behave," I tell him.

Eli launches off into unintelligible shouting/crying. His arms fling about uncontrollably. It's an old-fashioned temper tantrum.

"I think you need to be here by yourself and calm down," I tell him during a quiet moment. "But I don't want to leave until you talk to Master Hughes. You can't leave like this. You need to apologize and talk to him."

More tantrum, but I can't do anything about that, I've learned from experience. I leave.

At the end of class, I apologize to Master Hughes, who is entirely gracious about the whole scene. Then I notice Eli behind me. The tantrum has stopped.

"I'm sorry," says Eli.

Master Hughes squats down to Eli's level.

"I know, buddy. It's just part of growing up. I don't hate you, I want to teach you. But you have to be willing."

Eli sniffles.

"I don't like Tae Kwon Do," he says.

When we return, I realize I am exhausted. It puts a Mom through a wringer to watch a child go through that. I tell Bruce the story while the children play on the computer after supper.

"I don't know what I should do. I would like him to keep going because it's such a great activity. You can see yourself improving very quickly, and it's great exercise. I just wish he knew how to take instruction."

Bruce reminds me that Eli's had trouble like this before.

"Remember swimming lessons this summer?"

I do. I'd finally gotten Eli enrolled in some swimming lessons, and he "hated" the first day. He clung to the wall, climbed up on it, and then crept out on the deck. Whenever the teacher asked him to do something, he'd shake his head, "No. No. No."

He cried and cried about going back the next day, but I insisted. "I just want you to do two things. Stay in the water and when the teacher asks you to try something, say 'I'll try.'"

Something about those "two things" worked for Eli. He stayed in the lessons, and learned how to float and swim underwater. "Tell me two things to do today," Eli would tell me before swim lessons.

Maybe that's what he needs at TKD. Two things. Say "yes, sir" to the teacher and do what he asks you to do.

But not tomorrow. I think I need to recover from Monday first.

Everyone's Mom?

I must have some child-attracting scent when I got to TKD.

"Hi Jane!" says Michelle when I go into the changing room. She likes to chatter about things her family is doing.

Raidon has told me a number of times that he'll help me with my form. I remember quite distinctly a time when he and Michelle practically kidnapped me after class to teach me a form.

Patrick likes to stop me and ask about my boys or tell me how far he's gotten.

Miriam comes up to me, even during class, and meows. My response? "Hi little kitty!" and I pet her a few times.

Even Miriam's older brother, Arik, a recent black belt, wanted to chat. He turned to me during breaking with some advice for breaking with my hands. "You have to strengthen your hands," he said. "I play piano. Is that enough?" I ask. "No. You need to exercise with those rubber balls," he advised.

A New Breaking Kick

For my next test, I'll need to do a jump front snap kick to break a board.

This came as a bit of a surprise to me. I don't like the idea of breaking a board with the ball of my foot.

However, you may remember that I do like front snap kicks!



Today, we do our breaking kicks, after a grueling class of going across the floor doing our warm up kicks, side kicks, and, finally, grapevines (I end my grapevines with a small brise from ballet!) We also do something that the athletic people around me called "windsprints," which were not fun--just running back and forth. This is why I am NOT an athlete.

At the end, we go up to do our breaks. Ms. Pryor even calls me up to help hold a board! I must be looking big and strong today.

When it's my turn to break, I go up to Jim and Christian, who are holding for the adults.

"I'm doing a jump front snap kick," I inform them. "So am I going to cripple myself?"

"No," says Jim.

"I don't know. Maybe," says Christian, with an evil grin.

"Shut up," I tell him.

I break the board after missing completely once. I am not crippled.

Flying

I love doing flying side kicks. We practiced them at the end of class today, with a huge, long runway.

I knew from the first time I saw one being done that I would love to do it--if I could figure it out. It took me a while to do that. At first, my main problem was not knowing when to jump. I have to jump early, so I can fly into that pad (or board). Once I figured that out, I could really fly up and out, throwing myself at the pad and punching that side kick. Now I'm working on form--making it really beautiful.

Of course, the only time Master Hughes was watching me ("Go Jane!" he yelled from across the floor) I stuttered in the middle and my form was off. Oh well. My classmates saw me doing it!

A Favorite Teacher

The boys and I saw Mr. Houtz at the pool last week. He was also there with his children. I told him that the children were hoping he would teach again in the fall.

Eli went over and chatted with him for a while and told him that he would take Tae Kwon Do again once Mr. Houtz started teaching again.

I'm somewhat torn about this. I'm glad they have a favorite teacher, but both of them tend to misbehave more in Mr. Houtz's class, taking advantage of their favorite teacher's kindness and patience by goofing off more than they would in the other class. I told them that, and said that I wanted to see how they behave in the regular class, taught by Master Hughes (and sometimes Ms. Pryor) first.

Hey, and I'm glad they're thinking about TKD again.

More pictures!

Just got these cool photos from Brian A. His Nikon digital camera sure beats my little one.

Here's me chambering for my front snap kick . . .


And kicking! Before I saw this picture, I had no idea I was kicking THAT high. I guess my ballet training has helped me.


Here's the same thing from the front.


And a nice one of the high greens and Heidi, who's now a low green.

Moving up in Rank

After the belt ceremony, I admire Pam's new brown belt. She says she has mixed feelings about it.

"It kinda scares me to be a brown belt," she says.

I can see that.

"You know, I said to someone that my white belt test was the hardest," I say. "But I think that's wrong. They seem to get scarier as I get higher in rank."

Dana agrees. "More is expected of us," she says.

"Now we don't just have to do forms, we have to do them well, and be an example to the lower belts," I say.

But what are ya gonna do?

Belt Ceremony

To me, the belt ceremonies have always been times of celebration and fellowship. This one felt especially celebratory--maybe because of the many black belts (about 6 or 7, I think, all children) or maybe because I'm beginning to feel like I'm really a part of this place.

We all begin with the usual bows, this time lined up according to rank.



We're called up in reverse order of rank. Here are the green belts up at the front.



Since we're going from low to high green, we get stripes of tape on our belts instead of new belts.



Here are the new blackbelts! They were so proud of themselves. It's a big accomplishment.



And the new high greens!



I love this picture of me and Master Hughes. It looks like a prom picture! I'm more of a dance girl than a fight girl.



There was blackbelt cake for celebration afterwards . . .



But I continued my celebration with dancing! I met friends from the college at an outdoor concert in the New Bohemia section of town (3rd St. and 9th Ave. SE) by an awesome latin/cumbia/dance band called Yerba Buena. They boast that their music will "make you dance." (Listen to the clip of "Bilingual Girl"--doesn't it make your feet start moving?)

It worked. We got up to dance when the music started at 7:30 and didn't stop until the concert was over at 9:15!

No pictures from that-- sorry!

Robbie returns

My photographer for the belt ceremony was Robbie. I think he was lured by the chance to use my digital camera.

When I entered the dojang, Robbie was there, his eyes wide.

"I think I'm going to start taking classes again," he told me.

He felt it too, the excitement, warmth, and fellowship of this place. I wonder if his enthusiasm will continue.

What the Test is Like

Arrival
It's not too hot this morning (Saturday), but everyone still gripes a bit about having to wear our stiff jackets. We're used to wearing t-shirts in the summer, but test days mean we have to wear the whole uniform, including the jacket.

I put a little dragon tattoo on my ankle for luck. (After the test some of the women with tattoos try to convice me that I need a real tattoo. I point out my aversion to pain.)

Master Hughes gives a brief talk before the test begins.

"How many of you are ready for school to start?" he asks. I raise my hand wildly. He jokes that I must NOT be ready for school to start (since I teach) but I assure him otherwise!

He also reminds us not to worry about the test, but to think about what we're doing (as we should in school) and enjoy doing our work well. Inspiring words.

Forms
After some basic movements, we do our forms. This is always a difficult part of the test. We're lined up by height, not by belt level (I'm in the second row from the front, if you must know, right behind the children), so you're in there with people doing all sorts of different forms. Plus, there's a great crowd. I mess up once on Won Hyo, and step on Heidi, who's next to me, at least once while I do my Palgwe forms.

Sparring
Next is sparring. I spar first with Heidi, a really tough opponent. Then with a yellow belt, Jamie, and then with Pam, one of my favorite sparring opponents. Pam is good. She has good stamina, and doesn't just strike out; she's thinking about her moves. I think I do OK at sparring.

Did I mention that I really LIKE to spar?

Breaking
I'm ready to break with my jump reverse kick. I had practiced with the heavy bag at our last class, and I know I have it down. Nancy, a black belt, holds for me, along with someone's Dad. I focus, breathe, and break that board in one try. There's some applause. It's fun to watch the others break and cheer them on.

And After
I feel good about this test. I linger a few minutes with my bag before I go home. I wish I could stay and watch the black belt test, but I'm needed at home. I envy those who can just stay.

But I also have a new thought: that even though I can't be here as much as I'd like, even though I don't practice forms every day . . . I belong here at the dojang. I really am a student of the martial arts, not just someone dabbling in it to see what it's about. I feel comfortable here, and I feel like maybe I'll stay a while and see if I can get as far as a black belt. Even though it's not the only thing going on in my life by any means, it's an important thing, and it's becoming part of who I am.

Promotional Test Pictures!

Just a few pictures from the test on Saturday. There are a few that were taken with my little digital camera (Brian B's wife did the honors--Brian--send me an email and remind me of her name. I know I was officially introduced, but I forgot!). Some were taken by Brian A. --he sent out an email with about 2 dozen awesome photos, including that first one of Ms. Pryor doing a flying side kick.

Enjoy. I'll post my reflections later.

Right moves in forms and self-defense

It's Wednesday and I'm at All-Belts. I'm practicing my form in front of the mirrors to get my stances right. Master Hughes appears behind me (I can see him in the mirror), so I work extra hard . . . He stops me.

"You need to really twist your upper body for the reverse inside-outside block," he tells me, demonstrating. "Your shoulders need to be in a line with your arm."

I look up at the mirror as he adjusts my stance.

It's really helpful to do the form in front of a mirror. I guess I don't really know how I look doing the moves.

After I finish, Master Hughes and I chat about the college where I teach--I ask if he'd be interested in doing a demonstration there.

"Maybe you could get some students interested in joining here," I say.

He says that they used to run some classes over at the college, especially self-defense.

I think that might be a good thing for the college students to know.

I then get a quick lesson in a self-defense move. Master Hughes shows me how to break away when someone's got me in a choke hold from the front--swing one arm up and over, knocking the assailant off balance and trapping his arms under mine.

"Then you can just do this. " Master Hughes shows how I could elbow the assailant (him right now) in the jaw.

Self-defense moves still seem counter-intuitive to me. Even when we're practicing and it's Master Hughes doing the "assailant" role, my intuition is disbelief, panic, and wanting to run rather than going confidently through the moves.

One book I read--maybe Tae Kwon Do for Women--mentioned that the best thing self-defense classes can teach women is that it's OK to fight back. I think I need to learn that.

Anyway, it would be fun to do a demo--on TKD or self-defense--at the college. I hope if we do, that I can be part of it.

Not the most conscientious

"Conscientious student." This was one of the recurrant themes on my report cards when I was growing up. (Ellen, Bill and I found old report cards and read them when I was in Cleveland.) I was a smart kid, but I think what the teachers really appreciated was that I worked hard and well.

I am not the most conscientious student in TKD, though, and I think I'm OK with that.

Aimee and Heidi say they practice ALL the forms every day. They know those Palgwe when they are asked to do them. I have to stop and think and watch someone else out of the corner of my eye. I have thought about practicing my forms every day . . . but I haven't done it. I've decided this is OK. Patrick learns his next form even before passing his test. I don't do this. I don't even look at the next one until I've finished my test.

As a former "conscientious student," I find this a bit hard to do, to not work my absolute hardest and best on something I love. (And I do love TKD.) In TKD, I've decided that I'm going to be "good enough" and for now that's good enough. Perhaps my mind will change. Until then, I'm just going to love doing it and not worry about being the best in the class.

I always say

when I'm leaving home for class:

"See ya. I'm going to go punch and kick people."

Bruce always responds:

"Better them than me, babe."

Workout schedule

Getting ready for the promotional exam, but no ballet classes for two weeks. I'll miss it, and I'll miss the great strengthening/stretching exercise I get from it.

Here's my no-ballet exercise schedule:

Sun (yesterday): walk
Mon: swim laps
Tues: take boys to the pool . . . ;-)
Wed: all-belts TKD class
Thurs: TKD forms class or walk
Fri: dance at Glengarry Bhoys outdoor concert :-)
Sat: promotional exam! Break a board! Do a form! Spar!

[And a big Hello! to any grads of my alma mater who've discovered my blog! Leave me a comment! Tell me what you're doing!]

Stance troubles.

"You were leaning back in your back stance for the C-block."

I'm working on my form during All-belts, and a black belt, Jason, wanders by with that observation.

"Am I?" I had no idea. I was just feeling like I knew this form, but if my back stance isn't right, the form isn't right. (The guy in the picture above has his backstance right--he's doing it with a a double middle knife hands guarding block.)

I move into my C-block, trying hard not to lean back over my back leg.

Is this better?" I ask. "And can you watch me to see if I do it again?"

Jason watches me as I carefully execute my form, really concentrating on my back stance. He points out that I'm doing it fine to the left, but I'm leaning back when I do it to the right.

"Look at this foot," he says, pointing to the foot in front. "Your heel's supposed to be lined up with the back heel."

Later, Ms. Pryor corrects me on the same thing. Geez. You' d think I'd be doing this right by this time. I think I learned how to do a back stance on, what, my first day in Tae Kwon Do class?

She shows me and Aimee that we need to practice at the mirror, watching to see if our feet ar positioned properly. We get encouragement, too.

"Your forms look good, girls," Ms. Pryor says to me and Amy. OK. If she says it looks good, I must be doing OK.

Cool Website!

There are probably tons of cool TKD websites out there, but I found this one useful when looking for details about the meaning of my form, etc.

Have you visited Tae Kwon Do Tutor.com?

Test practice?

I've noticed that sometimes right before a test, we have a class that's run just about like a test. Tonight's that night.

There's a big crowd, despite the heat. There are some black belts I rarely see, and somekids I don't know, too. Patrick is there, and I chat with him for a while. He asks about Robbie and Eli.

"I don't know if they'll be back. Eli might be," I tell Patrick.

Patrick reminds me that he's up for his black belt test in February. "Cool," I say.

We warm up with the usual punches and a few kicks, but then go to Chun Jee before stretching. It's one form I always remember besides the one I'm working on! We do our ITF forms for Master Hughes, and our Palgwe forms, too. He's watching closely, and gives me, among others some pointers.

After everyone's done, Alec and his dad Bill do their forms again--they won't be there on the test day. They are the same level, and it's cool to watch them do the forms together. Alec is tiny and wiry; his forms are precise and quick. Bill is strong and muscular--he looks powerful doing his.

We end with combination kicking. Master Hughes has us practice making contact. I don't like doing this when we're not sparring--I don't know why. But I eventually see why he has us do this: to practice knowing how close you need to be. I'm often too far away when I kick; Ms. Pryor has pointed this out to me before.

"Kick him! Make contact!" says Master Hughes as I practice with Brian. OK, OK. I try out my kick-to-the-head with him--and I might have scored!

"Not bad!" he tells me. Yeah, especially with a 6-foot opponent!

So now I've learned this: I need to move in closer to make contact. Remember this!!! (I tell Pam that I wish I could remember all the things I learn in drills when I actually spar!)

After class, some of us discuss the Thursday forms class (might go to that before the test), a possible baseball game outing, and various other topics. Master Hughes has given me the URLs of a couple websites he's worked on--he's beginning to get one started for our dojang! Very exciting. I may do some writing for it.

Good or bad thing?

Is it a good or bad thing to have my teacher know about this blog?

Master Hughes told me he discovered my blog. I think word's been getting around that it's there. I'm glad to have the readership! Still, I wonder if I'm getting things right. I bet he had a different perspective on things than I do, that's for sure.

Hey, any of you from our dojang: if you feel like adding in your point of view on any of my topics, feel free! Just click on the word "COMMENT" and add your comment!

Looks like TKD to me!

You should read this article my brother sent me from the BBC. It's all about how physics is involved in board breaking. There are some really cool stop-action shots of breaking, too, including one of a physics grad student (who's not a martial artist) breaking a board. Shoot, I wish I'd had that much fun in grad school!

The physics connection's not news to me; Master Hughes is always talking about "action-reaction," and Ms. Pryor reminds us that to break, we don't need to be strong, we just need good technique.

Here's the article, Kung Fu? Meet Physics. (click to be sent to the website)

Pictures!

Here are the pictures of the Cleveland TKD demo. It was in Bill's backyard. Mom, Dad, Ellen, Ken, Bill, and my nieces were there, as well as Bruce and the guys.

Cleveland Demo

Beautiful weather today for our family gathering. Mom and Dad arrive about 2, and after they get settled in, I begin my TKD demo, with Robbie as my helper. He just wants to break, but we begin with some explanations and warm ups.

Robbie wants to break with a hammer fist, but it won't work. He does a nice step side kick, though!

Then I do my jump reverse kick, a bit tricky on the grass. Of course, I carefully train my holders beforehand (thanks for the reminder, Kickerchick!) Bruce and Ken do an admirable job. I wish I had a photo, but I forgot.

I was just going to post some other photos, but apparently I can't on my brother's iBook. Apparently they don't have those options for Apple computers! What a shame. I'll post those pictures soon.

Inspiration

Master Hughes often gives a little talk at the end of class. I believe it's meant to be inspiring. Sometimes it is.

Imagine me giving one of those talks . . . here's one I would give

So tell me. What's the most important move we do in Tae Kwon Do?

No, not Kwanzu, though that's a cool move.

Nope, the first and last moves of our form are very important, but not the most important.

Here's a hint. It's the first move we do in TKD.

No, not horse-stance-middle-punch. Before that. I'll give you a hint. You do it before you even enter the room.

Yes! Bowing.

Let's all practice bowing. Think about it as you do it. What does this movement mean to you?

Cheryot! Kun Yeh!

When you bow, you bend over at the waist. You make yourself smaller. You make yourself vulnerable. That's one reason why bowing is important. It reminds us to show humility. That means we don't think too much of ourselves in TKD. We bow to Master Hughes and black belts, but we also bow to white belts and those of our rank. This reminds us that we should respect those around us, and always be ready to help them and put their needs before our own, no matter what the rank.

When you bow, you also have to stop what you're doing. I love watching you young kids run through the dojang at top speed, but then stop to bow at the door! You're reminding yourself of who you are right there at the doorway: you are a martial artist, practicing a new art. You have to stop in the middle of your busy activity to bow, just the way we all stop in the middle of our week to practice with one another. Someone once wrote that we bow to show respect for the moment. In TKD, we have to be "in the moment. We can't do our form right or do a break if we're worried about what's coming next or fretting about what we just did wrong. Bowing reminds us to slow down and be "in the moment"

I think the most important thing we learn from this move, though, was something Ms. Pryor said here a few months ago. She asked us why we bow, and some of us gave different answers: to show respect to you, our teacher. To show respect to the flag. But Ms. Pryor had a different answer in mind.

"It's to show respect for this place and what goes on here."

Every time we bow, we humble ourselves to the moments of learning and teaching that go on here in the dojang. When we bow, we show that we submit ourselves to the training we receive here. We stop in our daily lives to be here--even on hot nights in the summer, or during the year, when we could be busy with shopping, studying, or watching TV.

Next time you bow, try to remember how important this little move is. It's not a fighter's move. It's the move of a martial artist, one who is willing to be changed by what happens in these moments we have here, and maybe even let the study of Tae Kwon Do be a part of life.

Still kicking in Cleveland

We're in Cleveland for the next few days, hanging out with my brother and sister and their families, and visiting my parents. Needless to say, I didn't make it to all-belts yesterday!

Not taking a complete break from TKD, though. I promised everyone a demonstration, so I'll do that one of these days. Bill says he'll cut some boards for me, and also give Robbie a saw and let him cut, too. (apparently, it's one of my Grandpa's saws--kind of cool!) I have tattoos for the children to put on, and my kicking pad for them to kick. I think I'll do my tournament breaks: reverse kick, then flying side kick.

I even practiced Won Hyo on the beach at the Indiana Dunes, while white caps were rolling in. Very cool.

Wonder how everything's going at Hughes. I hope the dojang has finally cooled off. They probably need an enormous fan to get the hot air out and the cool in.

No Boards

I'd hoped to get some boards for my Cleveland TKD demonstration at all-belts this evening. But there weren't any.

I guess if I want to do any breaking, I'll have to hope my brother can cut me up some 10 inch pieces of 1 x12 . . . :-)

Self Defense

At the end of class Saturday, we pair off to work on self-defense moves.

I'm always a bit skeptical about all but the simplest self-defense moves. I mean, when is this actually going to come in handy? I don't get into bar brawls. No one has ever thrown a punch at me (except for my kids in their younger days).

Actually, it could be a bit misleading. Most women are raped and attacked by someone they know. You're not going to be arms length when you know it's coming.

In class, we try two moves that I promise I will never use in real life. In one, you practically lie down to trip the other person, then kick them in the kneecap. . . another was a hip-throw.

The men who share a mat with me and my partner are really getting into it, though. It's Brian A. and Jim, so no surprise! Those two really enjoy fighting, and they rarely hold back. It's not "light to no contact" with them when they spar!

I point out the problem with the floor-tripping move.

"You can't run away! You can't get away from the bad guy!"

"The purpose isn't to run away, I think," says one of them. "It's to hurt and maim."

"You guys have been playing too many video games," I say.

During the hip throw, they take turns throwing each other with gusto. They're big guys, so they make a resounding SMACK as they hit the mat. Ouch.

Luckily, there's more to class than self-defense. Ms. Pryor has us pick out a trouble spot in our forms and we practiced it over and over, to her counts. Kind of like practicing piano or the flute, where you go over that tricky chord change or run ten times in a row to get it down.

It's very helpful. I finally get that last part of Won Hyo down with those tricky reverse inside-outside blocks!

Training schedule

I think I'm doing too much.

I'm referring to my exercise/training schedule. I'm doing ballet 2x a week, and TKD 2x a week. That shouldn't be too much, but the way my schedule is now, it's too much.

My schedule:
T: ballet
W: TKD
Th: ballet
Sat: TKD

Other days I swim, walk, or sometimes just sit on the couch!

Problem is Thursday. Yesterday I was too tired to do well in ballet. I kept yawning and spacing out during the combinations.

I guess it's not too much exercise, it's just too much, too close together. I'm thinking of changing things up a bit for fall: doing TKD on Monday evening instead of Wed. That way, I have just 2 days in a row of serious exercise.

Any thoughts about training schedules from you real atheletes out there?

Scary?

I finally broke down and decided to get a helmet. If people are going to be kicking me in the head, I better have one. I'm a bit worried about this investment in braces . . . and about the safety of my head.

Now don't I look just a bit scary in it?

Partnering

"Did I forget something? It's time for grand allegro, and we still have 20 minutes!"

It's Tuesday morning ballet class, and Suki is puzzled. Usually, we barely have time to do our last activity.

"I think I didn't talk enough today," says Suki, and we all laugh. Often class comes to a standstill as we chat about this and that, or hear stories of Suki's former eccentric teachers.

"OK. So what else shall we do today?" she asks.

"Since we have a boy today, can we do partnering?" I ask.

The "boy" in question is Mike, a large but graceful man who joins us when his busy working schedule allows it. I believe he owns a race car--that kind of guy. He is funny and kids Suki all the time.

So we do partnering, just like the real ballerinas!


We begin with an adagio, a slow combination, and Suki asks me to go first. Mike stands behind me and holds my hips steady as I do passes and an arabesque in releve.

When you watch real ballerinas doing a pas de deux with a partner, it looks like the boy is doing all the work, holding her up and lifting her. What you don't see is how hard she must work! Working on releve, even without pointe shoes, is tough, and of course slow movements are the hardest. It takes immense core strength--my abs ached after class! Still, it sure looked cool! I wish there'd been a camera. Mike and I decide to end with a small jump, and he lifts me high enough to do a few beats with my legs. Cool!

I don't have such success with the allegro movements. Suki has us do tour jetes, turning jumps with Mike lifting us as we move by him. I can do a passable tour jete, but I lose my nerve doign it close to Mike--I'm afraid I'll kick him! Of course, if I do it right, I won't kick him, but still.

Partnering in ballet is fun in the same way sparring is fun. You're not just doing movements perfectly, you're moving in response and along with someone else. You constantly have to adjust what you do, and be sensitive to your partner. I love it.

Small warrior

During Passing of the Peace in church Sunday, I turned around to see 10-year-old Alosha and his Dad, Marty. I was glad to see them, as I'd heard Alosha had recently gone to some sort of martial arts tournament.

We greeted each other, and I told him I'd heard he'd been to a tournament and asked what kind of martial arts he practiced.

"Tae Kwon Do," said Alosha.

"Oh really!" I exclaimed. "I do Tae Kwon Do, too!"

"Are you still active, or did you do it in the past?" asked Marty.

"I just started in January,"I told them. "I'm a low green belt."

"I'm testing for my double tip black belt next week," said Alosha.

I'm not sure what that means. Must be a different belt system than the one we use.

"Alosha won a silver medal in sparring at the tournament," said his proud dad. "That means he's second best in the country!"

"Is sparring your favorite thing?" I asked.

"Yeah," said Alosha smiling.

"Mine, too," I told him.

Alosha said he takes class 5 times a week at the Y! Wow. No wonder he was able to win a silver medal.

"Well, I guess you better watch out for Jane," said Alosha's dad.

"I think I'm going to watch out for Alosha," I said, smiling at him. He smiled back.

Frank's story

On my way out of class on Saturday, I ran into Frank on the stairs. I actually almost literally ran into him--he was moving very slowly.

"I'm not sure I should have done that biking before class," he said.

"Did you bike to class?" I asked.

"No. I rode from here to Lisbon this morning," said Frank. "It took me a bit longer than I expected.

I was impressed. Lisbon is about 15 miles away.

"Wow. You must be a real biker!" I said.

"I've only had that bike for about two months," he said. "I turned 50 this year and I decided I wanted to be in the best shape I've ever been in. So I started Tae Kwon Do and got the bike. I've lost 30 pounds so far."

I liked the "in shape at 50" idea. Kind of like what I did when I turned 40: my youngest went off to kindergarten and I started ballet. Then TKD. I started both because I like to do it, but I'm getting in shape, too. I think I'm in the best shape I've been, too.

Frank looks like he's in pretty good shape. He's very tall, over 6 feet easily, and lean and muscular. Seems like his plan is working.

Perseverence

Good thing I got this tattoo. It says "Perseverence." I needed that on Saturday.

It wasn't crowded at All-Belts, and the big ACs were blasting out cool air. But Ms. Pryor told us to get stretched out before class.

"We're going to mostly work on sparring today."

Yikes.

I began with a round of ballet stretches, which feel good in this hot, humid weather. Then we got paired up to spar.

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Sparring can be one of the most exhausting activities. But Ms. Pryor told us we should "play spar," not using all our energy, and not making contact. Instead of going all out, we worked on technique, first using only roundhouse kicks, then only roundhouse and reverse, etc. Then we helped each other look for where we were vulnerable when sparring: where our arms moved so an opponent could get in a kick or punch.

I learned a lot, but I'm afraid I'll forget it all!

Better write stuff down:

Sparring Advice for TaeKwonDoMom

1. Move arms to blocking position more quickly when doing a roundhouse kick. I was leaving my chest unprotected then, especially when I did high roundhouse kicks.

2. Keep body straight from shoulder to foot when doing side and roundhouse kicks. It's really easy to lean forward . . . right into a kick from my opponent!

3. Work on multiple roundhouse kicks. "Low, low, low, then HIGH!" as Ms. Pryor says. I practiced this with Chelsea and told her about the "balance muse." (the muse was smiling on me Saturday)

4. Use a reverse kick to counter a roundhouse.

5. Don't look at the scoring zone; look at your opponent's eyes.

Actually, I'm not sure I'll use this last piece of advice very soon. It was given to me by Justin, who is a black belt and excellent sparrer. He told me, "you're giving away your kicks. I can tell where you're going to kick by watching your eyes." And how many people of my rank will be able to do that? Still, I'll work toward that, trying to watch the scoring zone with my peripheral vision.

I must say that I would have scored an head kick on Justin--pretty amazing, as he is a tallish blackbelt. "You surprised me with that head kick because I didn't see you look that way. It was good," said Justin. I was pleased!

Jump Reverse
We also broke with our new breaking techniques. I did it almost by accident, but afterward joined Aimee and Ms. Pryor, who were working on that kick. I think I have the rhythm down now (Jump, land-kick, for any of you dancers out there), so I'm feeling more confident.

Did the tattoo help? Maybe. Unfortunately, it's coming off now. I think I may try a different one next time! I wonder if anyone else from the dojang will want one . . .

I didn't do it.

Contrary to popular belief (and rumors spread by Brian himself),I did not cause this bruise on his arm.

I love Sparring

Quite a different attitude than I had earlier! I was trying to find my earlier "I don't like sparring" entries, but couldn't. I know they're there!

Most of the practice at All-Belts is practice for sparring: combination kicking, kicking in pairs, and of course, sparring itself. I'm lined up with the blue belts and make my way down the line, sparring with each person. First Brian A., then Pam, then Jim, then the blue belt whose name I forgot.

Each person gives me some new ideas (counter a roundhouse kick with a reverse kick, try high kicks to the head, do those double roundhouse kicks). Each person says "good job," and I feel like I've held my own against some good partners.

I just hope I can remember all the good advice!

Picture to come later! :-)

TKD outdoors

Kickerchick's comment reminded me of something. On Saturday, Master Hughes said he'd like to do a trip to a state park sometime this fall for an outdoor TKD class. Sounded fun to me!

I wonder how that would work. Would we work out in shoes? I hope not. I would also hope for shade as otherwise I'd have to work out in my sunglasses, which would look very weird.

Saturday

Hot
It's Saturday morning and I'm in my car and I'm driving to all-belts class and it must be 85 degrees already and I'm thinking "What the hell am I doing driving to a TKD class on a hot July morning?" I think I even say it out loud. But I pull into the parking lot and head on in.

The Voice
First thing I notice when I get inside is that it's cool! The big ACs must be on.

Second thing I notice is that things sound different from last week. I hear Master Hughes calling out instructions to the children's class.

Master Hughes has an amazing voice. He is beyond loud. His voice has this ringing quality to it--especially his "Cheryot" and "Kun Yeh" commands. They certainly make you take notice. I talked to him on the phone once when I called to find out about a make-up exam. I had to hold the receiver away from my ear.

But he's not just loud. There's something of his personality in his voice--a kind of generous joy that comes out in the way he speaks. There's just a different feel in the dojang now that he's back.

The Usual
It's the usual Saturday morning workout with Master Hughes, which means that there are some familiar exercises, some unfamiliar ones, and not always in the usual order. We begin with Chun Jee, move on to stretches, kicking practice, and combination kicking across the floor. We also work on punches and jabs, something I do a lot in sparring.

Cheering up
One of the children who comes in a bit late is looking grumpy while she stands in line for kicking practice.

Master Hughes notices right away and tries to cheer her up with a big hug. She starts to crack a smile.

"Hey Jane, come and hug her with me!" I turn around in our lineup and wrap my arms around Master Hughes and the girl, sandwiching her between us.

"We've made her into a sandwich!" I say. She giggles. Master Hughes goes back to teaching.

No Bruise
During the last part of class, we spar endlessly, in long lines, shifting partners after bouts of a few minutes. I begin facing Aimee, and we follow the instructions: "Just use one leg. Don't put your foot down." It's tricky. "I can't do a reverse kick!" says Aimee.

With each new partner, the instructions change. I make my way down the line until I'm facing Brian. By now, it's just "free sparring, light to no contact."

Sparring with Brian is like teasing a brother. Since we're both the same belt color and work together all the time, we are comfortable working out together, and sparring is fun. But Brian's a challenge. Unlike most men who are close to my belt level (and some who are above) who are strong but slow, he is fast and flexible.

"Go after him, Jane," encourages Master Hughes as he wanders by. "When he goes to kick you, that's your chance!" We all laugh and I keep in there. There's something about a six-foot tall police office fighting a 5'3" dancer that's hilarious.

Despite the difference in size, I think we're not too unevenly matched. But at one point, Brian's right foot makes contact with my left cheekbone. The blow makes me see stars ever so briefly. I yell, stop and bend over, hands on my knees, and breathe. Immediately Brian is at my side. "Are you OK? I'm really sorry."

The pain has already subsided after a few breaths, so I joke back to him: "Yeah, I'm OK, but if I get a black eye, you're in big trouble."

It must be tricky to be a man sparring with a woman, especially one smaller than you. You do have quite an advantage in some ways, and of course tradition says you don't hit women. Still, in sparring, you have to!

Anyway, I continue to tease Brian, telling him that he's going to be in trouble for kicking a poor defenseless ballerina in the face . . . until about his seventh apology, when I say "I'M FINE! Really. But if I get a black eye . . . !"

For the record, no black eye or even a bruise develops. (See Brian? I'm OK! Really!) I guess I have a hard head. Still, I'm thinking about a helmet for the future!

Attic
After class, I look for Master Hughes to pay him back for a bottle of water I got last week. He's talking with Justin. I give him the money.

"Hey guys, come on upstairs and see the table Mr. Carter built!"

Master Hughes, Justin and I go upstairs, through the children's classroom (a bright room with a padded floor for the Mini Ninjas, ages 4-6), and through a door at the side. We step into a dark attic area where rafters make the ceiling and heating ducts wind around us.

"Cool!" I say, walking around. Master Hughes punches on a board and it opens like a window, looking out over the dojang below.

We take a look at the saw table Mr. Carter has set up. The local building supply place won't cut our boards anymore, so someone will do it here.

Maybe I can get him to saw me some boards for my trip to Cleveland!

Not Bad
OK. I guess it's not a bad way to spend a hot Saturday.

Gear

Perhaps you're curious about TKD gear. There's not much, or at least I don't have much. Here's what I've got in terms of sparring gear.



These are my sparring mitts. They're made of a vinyl-covered foam with finger loops and a velcro strap to hold them on. You can see they're much lighter and more streamlined than boxing gloves.



This is how they go on. On, they remind me of my mom's arm splints! As you can see, I take off my watch and wedding ring when I spar--you should wear no jewelry during a sparring match, test, or tournament. It could hurt someone, break, or a ring could get stuck on a jammed and swollen finger. Taking off the ring was weird at first--I rarely remove it! Now I have a little ritual: take off watch, take off ring, put ring on watchband and fasten.



We also wear leg/foot protection. These are basic leg pads that pad the front of your shin and the top of your foot (which hits in a roundhouse kick). As you can see, they don't really protect ankles, which is why I got that bruise the other day. Usually you won't see these as they're underneath our baggy pajama pants.

Other sparring gear not pictured: booties that some people wear. Vinyl-covered foam things that go over feet. I don't own them--they're optional.

Helmet, also made of vinyl-covered foam. It's not optional during a tournament. I borrowed one from the gear closet for the tournament. I don't really want one--I'm ignoring the fact that I may get kicked in the head someday.

And mouthguard! I hate to wear it, but we must during tournaments.

I have been promised a picture of me sparring. I am hoping that Aimee will bring it to class soon :-) I'll post it when I get it.

Young teacher

The teacher at Wednesday night's all-belts class was a bit on the young side. It was 10-year old James.

It may seem odd to have a class of adults and children taught by a 10-year old. But James is a black belt, so he is expected to teach, especially when the head teachers are on vacation. He did OK, too.

The question is, can 10-year olds really teach? I suppose it depends on what you mean by teaching. As you can imagine, I have some opinions about teaching.

What a child can do: lead the class through the usual routine of stretches, kicks, basic moves, forms, and sparring practice. Children are great at memorizing, so James had the routine down.

He also could help a few people with a few basic problems with forms.

What a child (or anyone who doesn't think like a teacher) can do is address the needs of the class at that particular time.

For a child, TKD class is a routine of exercises that you go through. For many people I suppose it is the same. But for a teacher, each move, each exercise has a particular purpose and goal. A real teacher knows these goals, and the exercises are not mere busy work.

Ms. Pryor, for example, knows when we need to get moving with aerobic kicks across the floor. She sees and knows when we aren't chambering our legs right for side kicks, and she knows the exercises that will help us to do better. Master Hughes is especially good at knowing the purpose of exercises and switching up the order of activities in class to make sure we learn all we need to learn.

That's something an inexperienced teacher or a child just can't do. Yet.

This is not to say that a class with a child or inexperienced teacher is a waste of time. A good student can learn in any situation.

But a good teacher's job is to structure the class in a way that learning can take place with intensity, accuracy, and thought. I look forward to the return of our teachers so that we can have classes like this again!

Taped Toes

Thanks to Brian A., who provided me with some tape, my toes were fine last night.

Bad-ass ballerina

"I saw you doing those ballerina pirouettes," says Pam as we take off our sparring gear after all-belts.

"Yeah," I reply. "I call it ballerina sparring."

"I guess you're a bad-ass ballerina," says Pam.

Hmm. Not a bad name. Maybe I'll get it printed on the back of my TKD t-shirt.

Demo in Cleve?

Heard this from my sister, who will also be in Cleveland when we're there to visit:

We are looking forward to our trip! Will we get a TKD exhibition?

I think about a demo while cleaning up from supper. It might be fun to bring some boards along and show them my breaking techniques . . . I picture us in the backyard, me showing everyone how to hold boards. My sister and brother hold one, my husband and brother-in-law hold another. I do my tournament double break (reverse kick, then flying side kick) . . .

Then I remember that I haven't done TKD since last Wednesday! So I practice my form in the backyard while Robbie excavates tunnels in the sandbox.

And I figure out how to get some boards and bring them along on our trip.

Blister Avoidance

I wrote to a TKD colleague about blisters. This is what I said:
Hello Brian--
I have a quick question about taping one's toes for TKD--I notice you do it. What kind of tape do you use? Does it prevent blisters?

I left class Wednesday with two dime-sized blisters on my right foot! But I did not know if taping my toes would help--or even what to use.

Thanks for any advice.

And this was his reply:

Jane,
Good morning. I think I am starting a fad , you would be supprised how many people have been asking? Yes it really saves my toes from blistering. ( But you may loose some traction...) I was really chewing up my feet, but it helps TREMENDOUSLY when it comes to avoiding blisters. I cycle every other practice to try to build up some calluses.

I will show you at next practice they type of tape, I got it at Wal-Mart or Walgreen's. It is not the plain old Bandage tape but more of a mesh. It breathes a little better and comes off easier. It is a kind of mess and the only one I think is worth a hoot.

Look me up at Wed's practice. You can borrow some and try it out. Tracy the new white belt did last week as well.

I think I saw some of that tape at the drugstore. I may just get some.

Here's Brian's daugher, Michelle with Master Hughes. She is 10, and always has a conversation with me in the women's changing room. Very cute!