Oh.. my … gawd…

My kyu test is tomorrow.. I’m testing for the first time.

I shouldn’t be terrified, but I kinda am.  Sensei wanted me to test three months ago, but I couldn’t be there.  Saturdays are tough for me… so instead he is making an exception and I’m testing on a Tuesday.

Wish me luck!

Tags: test

Cynthia at Luna Tail does a blog and occassionally writes on what day it is.. in her cycle I mean (if there are any boys lurking and I doubt it, be warned.. this post is going to be about Girl Bits)

I, too, suffer from some nasty PMS… the older I get, the worse it is.. but I’ve noticed that since I’ve started working out, it’s gotten better…

But I’ve never really paid attention to where I am in my cycle… I know I’m when I”m going to get my period because I’m a rip roaring bitch the week before.. and I can’t stop eating… it’s crazy.

I’ve hesitated keeping track because I don’t want to be anticipating things, but maybe if I track it, I can keep tabs on what helps… so I’ll also be adding in what I ate that day…and what exercise I got  (with the help of The Daily Plate)

I have NO idea what day I’m on.. or what to start with.. is day one the day I start my period? or the day it ends?  probably starts…  because that’s pretty clear.. ending is sometimes, well…  dragged out…

Maybe Cynthia will swing by and let me know what she uses as day one.

My first Kyu test is on June 21st…

sweating … bullets….

I got new shoes on Saturday.

I wore them to work on Monday and by Tuesday my knee was swollen.  So I muscled through it and went to the dojo.

That was dumb. 

My knee BLEW up…  and I couldn’t train last night.

Sucks sitting on the floor, watching everyone else practice.

Omg.. it was so funny!

We were praticing Front Kick to Chest and we were supposed to target the knot of the belt of the person we were practicing with. 

I did ok.. I was so careful to try and extend my foot that I was going too slow and not really snapping my leg out there.

My partner did better, but she didn’t extend her toes out so she kept missing.

Sensei demonstrated on me.  Tap .. tap.. tap.. the ball of his foot tapping my belt.  Fine, no problem..

Then he says “And then if you want to extend”.

BAM!  He kicked me!   Not hard.. but hard enough to knock me back a foot. 

I grunted like a pig and then cracked up.. 

(but I can see where he could really really hurt a person)

I’ve missed a lot of karate lately.  Which sucks. 

I had class on Tuesday but I missed it due to a lovely stomach bug that left me afraid to walk more than 5 feet from the bathroom…  you don’t want anymore details than that.

And I lied to Sensei.. I couldnt’ quite bring myself to share that piece of information (but I’ll post it here for the world to see.. imagine..)

So, Wednesday, I stretched out at home and did a little warm up.. a few punches etc etc.   I noticed (because I had time to notice) that a lot of things that were a struggle for me in January, no longer are.  I can get REALLY low on many of my stretches and I have something resembling a muscle forming on my forearms.. Shocking!

This morning I put on a pair of pants I’ve not had on since last summer. 

They are too big.

I mean WAY too big.

Like I can pull them down over my hips and back up again.

holy crap.

I feel so awesome!

I have an anti spam thingy on this blog and have upgraded to Wordpress 2.5 and yet.. there they are…

Must contemplate course of action.

Shotokan Kata Heian Shodan -

I am in the beginning steps of learning this Kata.  I can’t wait until it comes naturally and I don’t have to think about it. 

I wasn’t sure if I should post this on my  dog blog or here but this seemed like the more appropriate spot.

 When I train my dog, I expect that they will make mistakes. It’s how they learn.  These are the steps I take when teaching sit, for example.

1. Model the behavior.  While standing at the dog’s side, I put one hand on his chest and one on their back and say “Sit!” and then I slide my hand down the spine and scoop under the butt to coax him into a sit.  The hand on the chest is to prevent them from moving forward.  Then Praise.  Repeat a few times a day… usually for about a week.
2. Use a food lure.   Put a treat infront of the dogs nose and say “Sit!” while lifting that cookie up.  Nose up/Butt Down.   Feed that treat.
3. Add compulsion: same as step two only we now add in a slight lifting of the collar with the leash… this associates the feeling of lifting up on the collar with the word “Sit”.   Feed the treat.
4. Remove lure, continue with compulsion.  Feed a treat when dog sits.
5. Remove compulsion.  Ask dog to sit.  If the dog does not sit (oopsie! a Mistake) lift on the collar with the leash.  This should be a reminder cue to sit.   Feed the treat when that butt hits the ground.

Eventually we phase out the treat.. and treat only occassionally.  It’s like gambling.. the possibilty of the reward is what keeps us pulling that lever.

I know.. you’re still wondering what this has to do with Karate training.

When the dog doesn’t sit, he gets a reminder.  What I expect from the dog is an  ”Oh! Right” lightbulb moment and then an immediate fix.  No muss.. no fuss.

 I would be very surprised if what I got instead was “Well, you see, my hips are sore today from all my romping about and I didn’t want to move to quickly, but I was going to sit”.

In Karate Training, I’m often given corrections. 

• Move you arms and legs at the same time.
• You turned the wrong way, Jennifer!
• Stand up straight!
• Don’t pop up when you kick.. pretend there is a low ceiling.
• Shoulders back!
• Don’t let me bend that leg! Don’t let me!

You  have no idea how HARD it is not to say “Yeah, I know but I had a long day at work today and my brain isn’t working” or “Sorry, Sensei I wasn’t paying attention”… or “Aw crap, I knew that was wrong!”

I keep reminding myself of my dogs.. just fix it.  And try harder next time.

I got on the scale at the gym on Saturday and I’ve dropped 4 pounds in a month.  That’s my goal.. a pound a week! 

 I’ve been working really hard at watching what I eat and making sure I get to class.  Heck, one day I cheated and had chocolate covered cherries but my calorie goal was still ok.  Go figure.

 I’ve been looking for ways to add strength training in to my routines since my legs get very tired during class..   they want to buckle under the front kicks.  And by the time we get to side kicks, I’m ready to fall down.

 Sensei reminded me to focus on my technique more than power.  I’m so excited to feel my body moving with energy that I got a little over excited.  Once I cooled it off a little, my front kicks got better.

 I started doing dumbell swings with 2 5lb weights I happen to have lying around from my Denise Austin workout days.  Ow.  Who would have thought just swinging those things between your legs and up over your head would really make me work my thighs!