Weeks 7 and 8 : Back from layoff

Whew! That was one long layoff. And not totally my fault. Really. First, there’s the French custom of  a 2-week school vacation about every nine weeks. Second, the dojo building is a municipal gym. When school’s out, the gym’s closed (don’t ask why, this is France). So I was going to have a forced layoff of two weeks, anyway. But there’s more.

Then the weather conspired against me. Turns out this winter was one of the coldest, snowiest and downright disagreeable winters in recent memory. When it wasn’t snowing, an icy north wind was blowing. Most times riding my bike, I felt like a survivor of the Titanic. I was constantly freezing and often wet.

Given the weather and it being flu season, it wasn’t surprising that I got sick. Not a full-blown case of the flu, but enough to knock me off the bike and not even think about going to aikido class.

After a miserable time of cold, aching and nose-blowing, I returned to class about two weeks ago. For one class. That’s all I had in me. Since I’d only been training about six weeks before this layoff, I felt like I was almost back to square one.

The most recent class was better. Training with wooden swords was only just this side of awful for me. When it came time to do the same techniques without the swords, they actually seemed easy. Finally, about a half-hour of techniques from a kneeling position really put my old legs through their paces.

So I’m in the game again. It’s going to take a while before I get back into the swing of things, but I’m happy to be training. This old dog ain't about to quit.

Week 6: Same old, with a twist

Watched Sensei's 4th dan test dress rehearsal at the end of one class this week. Very interesting. As for me, I'm still plugging away toward my first ranking. . .whenever that will be. 

Kìyevame.

Week 5: Another one-workout week

Missed Friday. Didn't feel like braving the cold on my bike after work. Wednesday went okay. At least my ankles are toughening up. Can kneel for a whole 2 minutes before they start going numb.

Week 4: Only one workout

Due to slippery streets and not wanting to fall off my bike into the jaws of oncoming traffic, I made it to Friday's class only. The class went well. No specific problems other than my usual stiffness and clumsiness.  A guy in class even complimented me on a  forward roll: "You came out of that just like a cat!" On the next one, I crashed down like an elephant.  Some cat.

Techniques: Variations of kokyu nage and kaiten nage

Week 3 : First workout of 2010

Two weeks is a long time between classes for a beginner. Felt I was getting into a good rhythm before the break. Not so this week. Had a harder time with Wednesday's class than before the vacation. Not only was I all arms and legs,  but I was grateful for the short rests while sensei demonstrated the next technique. 

Problem techinques:  Katatori menuchi iriminage. And variations. Evade a shoulder grab, lead the attack in a circle, then an about face and the attacker goes flying. Or something like that. Looks doable when it's demonstrated, but my mind went blank when it came time to actually do it. Hope I don't get attacked any time soon. My fumbling technique would  actually help the attacker.

Didn't go to Friday's class. Too much snow, wind and cold--even for an aikidoka.