Ah, late again! But for a good reason, of course; I had one hand-in and one home exam/test, both of which were due yesternight, the one between Sunday and Monday.
I had a surprising amount of muscle soreness after my little forest jaunt, or then again, perhaps not so surprising. I forewent any more training that week, apart from the everyday things like chosing the stairs instead of the elevators and suchlike. My cough has finally eased up, and now only breaks out occasionally, once or perhaps twice a day. I was absolutely delighted to prepare my smoothie (made, this time, with two oranges, one apple, a lot of frozen berries, some pumpkin seens and a few hazel nuts and almonds, and two coffee measurements of proteine powder) and set off towards sparring practice on Saturday.
There were only me and the Fighting Furies, plus the trainer, which is a pity because hot damn it's gorgeous, lovely fun! I ended up partnering the trainer, Theo, most of the time, which I don't mind even though I always steel myself - I know how good he is, and how hard he hits.
We took a good look at kicking and hitting, and, again, this is something I really appreciate with these Saturday sessions. Theo knows the importance of going into the most basic of basics, and to build from there. He is good at showing, too, with his body how it is supposed to move. I daresay I finally got some idea of how to properly execute a hook, and uppercut!
Now, one would think that, as an iaidoka, I would have all the leg muscles I need, even after a two-week enforced rest. As my thighs, bum and other leg muscles all attested to when I woke up on Sunday... I do not. Executing a proper kick is tricky. Again, I am happy that I've been doing martial arts for so long, and that my "mitorigeiko", that is, learning by looking/watching, is fairly good these days. Getting the body to do it is another matter, but, hey...
I've had a lot of trouble with kicking, or rather, using my muscles correctly, keeping my stance and not get unbalanced. Now, however, I've felt what it's supposed to feel like, and know what I must strive for.
And that is important, in every physical thing one does - know what it's supposed to feel like, and look like, so that one can strive for it.
"Opening" the hips is a bit of a dodgy description, but it really is the best. Suddenly, I had balance! And lifting the leg correctly, rather than doing a dance-like swipe, as well as doing the quick kick rather than let it hang in the air... aye, it felt a lot better afterwards. Going back to basics is never wrong, no matter how advanced you are.
We donned gloves and did one of Theo's trademark "learn to move your legs, damnit"-exercises, which are always, always useful. Switching around partners was good here, because one of the FF, who is damn fierce and hits like a sledgehammer, nevertheless needs to move her feet a bit more, and when Theo, after explaining patiently, eventually actually puts you through some rather intense practice whether you think you're ready or not, you have to move your feet. ...and it feels a lot better avoiding his punches than standing there, taking them...
The ensuing easy sparring that followed was very enlightening. Distance, closing the distance, moving here and there, ducking, the "oh shit"-block, allowing your opponent to do their stuff, coming up with combinations... very enlightening indeed. It is worth going out of one's comfort zone, always, stop thinking and, well, as they say, "It is essential to let go of the mind". I think it is Mencius saying that. If you let go of the mind, it will be in all directions. If you put your mind in your hands, in one strike in "I must block", it will get stuck there, and you will be undone. (Yes, I have read "The Unfettered Mind" quite a few times and yes, I can almost quote it verbatim by now... still good, though).
We finished with using heavy sticks, and hitting hard. For longsword practice, we call it "tip control", but it is always the same, no matter if you call it "pulling your punches" or "stopping" or whatever. Hit with full force, but keep control so that you can stop within a centimetre from actually connecting.
It was, again, enlightening, to use heavier sticks and hit with full force. It does help, even when you're defending, because you really get something to defend against. And still your partner retains control, so that if you would be too weak, you'd still not get all blooded up.
I do have a bit of an advantage when it comes to parts of single-stick training, but I must always apply myself fully to what we are supposed to do. Single stick and katana are not the same, even if similar!
I write about Saturday's practice in detail because it was, as I've said, enlightening, and very rewarding. I may have felt very weak (two weeks, I say, two weeks of a stupid cold!), but I came there in good spirits, and left in even better. Even when it's tricky and hard, it encourages me to try even harder. And to have such an emotional state in relation to your physical exercises is important! It makes it all the better. Of course, you can't have it all the time, but to know that you have it sometimes, or at least feel it sometimes, is a very good spur to keep on, to not stop, and even to keep upping your own game.
I want them muscles, and I want them skillz, as they say.
This week, I wonder a little about what you do after training? When you're full of energy, endorphines and cheer, exhausted or not, mind clear or full of new things, what's your favourite after-training activity?
See you all next week, until then, good luck with your training!
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