With Enthusiasm
May. 8th, 2014 07:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kajelI am a 38 year old, 280 lb., out of shape woman and I can’t believe I said yes to this. I am nervous about this first class.
“Alright, we’re going to start with twenty five jumping jacks.”
“Yes, sir!”
Jumping jacks, I can handle that. Except, I forgot to buy a sports bra. I am jumping around in front of all these men without a sports bra. What was I thinking. How could I have forgotten that essential piece of equipment.
“Now, twenty push ups.”
“Yes, sir!” We respond with enthusiasm.
Six months ago, I probably couldn’t have done one. The fits and spurts of training through medical problems and injuries has helped some. I can do ten.
“Let’s move on to forward lunges. How about 15?”
“Yes, sir!”
I am starting to wonder if I can keep up. I remind myself that I don’t need to keep up, I just need to do my best. Our instructor progresses through the warm up. We do several stretches, we run with high knees, we sprint across the studio and back. It all becomes a never ending blur.
When the warm up is done, I am panting heavily. I feel like I could keel over right there. I suspect the instructor took it a little easy on the warm up for my benefit. I need water desperately, but it is all the way across the room and the instructor is speaking again. I look at the clock and realize we are only ten minutes into class. I am able to catch my breath before we move on.
“We’re going to practice our hook and side kicks tonight.”
“Yes, sir!”
I have my breath back and my excitement is coming back. He is good at explaining how to do things and I am picking up the kicks easily. He expects a pretty fast pace and I am keeping up well. I am becoming comfortable with the drills.
“We’re going to add a jump.”
“Yes, sir!”
I’ve got this. The jump isn’t too bad and I’ve figured out the mechanics of the kicks. I am just trying to make them consistent.
“We’re going to do a spinning back kick next.”
“Yes, sir!” I smile to show my now waning enthusiasm.
We are spinning now and I am having trouble with my balance. I am beginning to feel worn out. I am wondering how long we’ve been doing this? The clock shows another twenty five minutes left in class. The spins are throwing me. I can’t seem to get the technique right that lets me get all the way around.
“Next, we are going to do a spinning back again, but this time we will add a jump before the kick. So, spinning back jump kick, ready?”
“Yes, sir.”
The instructor laughs when he sees my face. I am pretty sure enthusiasm is no longer a part of my facial expression. We work on the drills. I feel like he has nearly killed me when class is finally over.
“Did we have fun?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Did we learn something?”
“Yes, sir!”
I am already feeling every muscle in back. The spinning did me in. I still can’t believe I have signed up for Karate classes.
“How was your first class?” the instructor asks me.
“Awesome!”
-------
This is my entry for LJ Idol: S9 Week 8. This week’s topic was “Yes, and”.
“Alright, we’re going to start with twenty five jumping jacks.”
“Yes, sir!”
Jumping jacks, I can handle that. Except, I forgot to buy a sports bra. I am jumping around in front of all these men without a sports bra. What was I thinking. How could I have forgotten that essential piece of equipment.
“Now, twenty push ups.”
“Yes, sir!” We respond with enthusiasm.
Six months ago, I probably couldn’t have done one. The fits and spurts of training through medical problems and injuries has helped some. I can do ten.
“Let’s move on to forward lunges. How about 15?”
“Yes, sir!”
I am starting to wonder if I can keep up. I remind myself that I don’t need to keep up, I just need to do my best. Our instructor progresses through the warm up. We do several stretches, we run with high knees, we sprint across the studio and back. It all becomes a never ending blur.
When the warm up is done, I am panting heavily. I feel like I could keel over right there. I suspect the instructor took it a little easy on the warm up for my benefit. I need water desperately, but it is all the way across the room and the instructor is speaking again. I look at the clock and realize we are only ten minutes into class. I am able to catch my breath before we move on.
“We’re going to practice our hook and side kicks tonight.”
“Yes, sir!”
I have my breath back and my excitement is coming back. He is good at explaining how to do things and I am picking up the kicks easily. He expects a pretty fast pace and I am keeping up well. I am becoming comfortable with the drills.
“We’re going to add a jump.”
“Yes, sir!”
I’ve got this. The jump isn’t too bad and I’ve figured out the mechanics of the kicks. I am just trying to make them consistent.
“We’re going to do a spinning back kick next.”
“Yes, sir!” I smile to show my now waning enthusiasm.
We are spinning now and I am having trouble with my balance. I am beginning to feel worn out. I am wondering how long we’ve been doing this? The clock shows another twenty five minutes left in class. The spins are throwing me. I can’t seem to get the technique right that lets me get all the way around.
“Next, we are going to do a spinning back again, but this time we will add a jump before the kick. So, spinning back jump kick, ready?”
“Yes, sir.”
The instructor laughs when he sees my face. I am pretty sure enthusiasm is no longer a part of my facial expression. We work on the drills. I feel like he has nearly killed me when class is finally over.
“Did we have fun?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Did we learn something?”
“Yes, sir!”
I am already feeling every muscle in back. The spinning did me in. I still can’t believe I have signed up for Karate classes.
“How was your first class?” the instructor asks me.
“Awesome!”
-------
This is my entry for LJ Idol: S9 Week 8. This week’s topic was “Yes, and”.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2014-05-08 11:55 pm (UTC)Always remember, you do what you can do. We always allow people to modify as they need to. FOr instance, I cannot do push-ups from my toes, so I do them from my knees, I still have my back straight and go all the way down but not from my toes. If you're unsure about how to modify something, ask your instructor after class. And it will come, it really will :-)
I am kind of surprised about the spinning kick. That's a more advanced move than I would expect in a beginner class. I would expect him to maybe show two different levels of a move or kick, like this one for beginners and that one for more advanced students. Do what you can do, okay?
I am thrilled you enjoyed!!!!
(no subject)
Date: 2014-05-09 12:39 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2014-05-09 11:02 am (UTC)Oh my God I need to tattoo that on my arm where I can see it every day!
I so enjoyed seeing your mental process in this story, and the end made me smile and smile.
(no subject)
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Date: 2014-05-09 07:41 pm (UTC)I've tried... I just can't. Either the person in charge gets on my nerves or it reminds me too much of high school gym or something.
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Date: 2014-05-11 03:57 am (UTC)It sounds as if you knew the moves pretty well, if you were able to keep up with the "what" of each segment.
It's amazing that you went and made it through, with the intermittent injury detours, but it's wonderful! Determination is a huge part of health improvements.
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