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Today was Open Training. I went to it because I'd promised a friend (and myself) that I'd be there. I gave myself no excuses to not to attend. I am glad I went. I got the opportunity to work on my forms--the ones I thought I'd forgotten.
I remember vividly the lower forms: Keecho Hyung Il Bu, Ee Bu and Sam Bu.
I remember Pyung Ahn Cho Dan (just a few things to tweak on that one!), but for some unknown reason, Pyung Ahn Ee Dan and Sam Dan were attempting an escape from my mind, so I made sure I practiced them multiple times.
Pyung Ahn Sah Dan ("Superman"), I know fairly well. It's a short form and I'd really insult myself if I didn't remember that one!
Pyung Ahn Oh Dan also was easier to work on , despite it being months since I'd worked on it last. Bassai was a little more challenging, as was Nahainchi Cho Dan. I just decided that I'm going to work on my forms a little at a time, and a little every day. Practice makes perfect. Funakoshi #11--Karate is like boiling water. If not heated constantly, it will cool.
While I was in training today, I set myself two goals. They're not huge ones, but they're attainable. One goal is to go in to have fun. The other goal is to perfect my kicks and forms. No more am I going to have that "I can't" mentality. It's a defeatist attitude and I don't need it in my life. I'm going to focus on the FUN part of martial arts. I love to learn and i love to work hard at something that is fun. I will get myself to a better mental state. I won't get discouraged or frustrated anymore. I'm working on that.
When I started back to martial arts this month, I decided that come hell or high water, I was NOT going to make any excuses for not going. I've made two classes so far and feel pretty good about it. I have class twice a week. Last week we worked on the elements of Tang Soo Do and the animals of Tang Soo Do. It was fascinating to think of the forms in terms of an element or of an animal. I hadn't ever learned to do that before!! Let me tell you, I found myself thinking about class a lot more than I have been in the past.
I had to take notes instead of practicing the falls on Thursday because
I'm still fighting with this stupid pinched nerve in my neck/shoulder. It's driving me nuts because I'll think I can do something and then I stress it out again. I'm not the best patient. I'm IMpatient and want to be able to do what I've been doing.
I have a sheet of the terminology used in class that I am now studying so that I can become more familiar with the Korean. I find it interesting that I've already integrated some of the terms into my thought processes. I may not be an expert, but repetition is a good thing. I need to have more confidence in myself though. When an instructor calls a technique, I should be confident that I know it instead of panicking and thinking "I don't know that". I've got a goal to learn terminology by the end of this year. I think it's highly do-able. I just need to sit down and study like my do. I have homework too. In fact, today, I'm going to sit down and study. It's on my agenda!!
This is the start of another busy week. I'm going to attend both of my classes this week and throw myself into learning. There is no reason for me not to. I enjoy taking classes and I truly enjoy learning. I just need to put it all together and I'll be set.
Tonight was another great class. We went over the elements of Tang Soo Do on Tuesday, so tonight, we covered the animals of Tang Soo Do. In Korea, there are five creatures: Snake, Leopard, Tiger, Crane and Dragon. Each of the forms that we do can be equated to one of these animals. Similarly, each of the forms can be equated to Earth, Air (wind), Fire, Water or Metal, which was the subject of Tuesday's class.
So, keeping that in mind, Ms. S tonight had us do Ahp Chagis (front snap kicks) and visualize specific animals. When she told us to think of a Tiger, there was a noticeable change in the energy of the room. It makes you think when you're performing the forms with an animal in mind.
We also took the animal theme one step further and put them to use in forms. We took our lowest form (Kichyo Hyung Il Bu) and performed it thinking of a snake, then a leopard, then a tiger, etc. If you visualize the animal as you're doing the form, you start to feel more power/speed, etc. When I did a form as a snake, I found myself improving my C-step and working harder to move as if I was truly a snake. With the tiger, I found myself stepping out harder, trying to put more power into it, as if I was springing out on an unsuspecting prey. A dragon was a bit harder to do, especially since nobody's really seen a dragon!
After forms, we moved on to the other room and worked on falls. I didn't participate in that as I'm not cleared by my chiropractor yet. I got a lot of good notes and pointers on falls from Master M and Ms. S. Whenever my neck and shoulder are back to "normal", then I'll start working on falls agin.
Last night's class was an eye opener. Master F ran us through our paces and had us practicing kicks. He indicated that we should do low, medium and high kicks. I found that I need to work on my perception of height. My low kicks were, yes, low. Mid-level, not so mid-level. High? NOT!! This just tells me what I need to work on. I have to work on the perception of level, plus I already knew I needed to work on my kicking skills. Now I have more incentive to work at it. I am challenging myself to improve my kicks. I have listened to what has been said in class and also at various tests, so I'm sure I can use that to my advantage.
I'm rather pleased with myself. I didn't let myself make any excuses. I know I'm not the best at what I do. I can do it though. I have much to improve, but that is the way of a student. You strive to constantly better yourself. I'm thinking it goes along with the perception of height...you think you're doing something really well and just sail along, but really, it could possibly stand improvement.
I told one of my instructors what this month's goal is. I'm striving to make all the classes this month, *NO EXCUSES!* That's my first goal. It's attainable because we have classes up until Thanksgiving. I plan on making all of my classes. I'll only be out if I'm sick.
