Saturday/Thurday Classes

I went to class Saturday (after serious debate) and I am so glad I did. Class had a real different flavor.
Paul Sensei taught (this is the first class he's taught that I've attended), and the class had a really interesting feel--though I can't put my finger on it. It was really refreshing.
I'm kicking myself for not writing about it over the weekend, because I honestly can't remember much of class.

One cool thing though was after the first class (beginner's) I was getting ready to leave. Bob Sensei came over to myself and my friend and said "why aren't you staying for the next class?"

"We have to work" In unison.

"Do you have time for the second class?"

I had to be honest "yes, but..."

"you should stay"

"I'm not cool enough for second class"

"I can certainly understand that" he said.

Okay, so my new rule is: I'll stay for the regular class if Sensei brings it up again. heh

I missed Tuesday's class due to working a little later than usual. *bummer* So tonight I was really stiff.
I pretty much felt like I hadn't been on the mat in ages (five days is alot) and just as akward as ever.
We practiced rolling as usual, knee-walking... and then to break it up, knee-walking while keeping the same knee forward OUCHIE! My legs are still aching.

I like Scott Sensei's classes because they are relatively predictable. There's always rolling practice, lots of warmup and always a backstretch exercise. He also seems to focus on one attack for the night. The attack for tonight was ryotetori.
I felt like a lumbering oaf tonight. It was once again a very small class 10 people total (including myself and Sensei)
The opening tonight that was giving me a hard time was from ryotetori: sliding in a little as you reach over with your back hand grabbing uke's hand while then stepping your forward foot to the corner (felt like a tenshin almost... heck, it may have been a tenshin. I'm terrible with terminology)

We did several of these transitioning to ikkyo, iriminage, kotagaeshi (very difficult!).. etc... According to Scott Sensei, if there's an opening for iriminage, there's an opening for kotagaeshi. Though from ryotetori and the above mentioned opening, kotagaeshi seemed a weird transition that even he was having problems with. It was almost impossible to do omote, so we just practiced ura.

We also practiced tenshinage (I love tenshinage) and another technique I've never seen. From Ryotetori, slide in while swinging up and over on the outside of uke's hand. Cut down. Step forward with your back leg while doing the same thing on the other side. Sliding in pinning uke's arm with yours. Both hands press down on uke's neck. From there spin, bringing uke with you. Then a nikkyo pin.

Crikey. So much tonight to digest. Once again I was Sensei target. I did not get through one technique without Sensei having to come over and help me. My poor partner for the kotagaeshi... O_o His arms and hands were very sore once Sensei was done showing me how to properly apply the technique.

I did gleam alot from tonight's class, even though so much eluded my comprehension-- especially with kotagaeshi. Sensei said I could either bring uke's hand down toward my center while making a fist, or extend out to the side, projecting it away from me. I've seen it both ways, but it never occurred to me when either one would be most effective. I guess it really depends on how much distance you get between yourself and uke. It's easier to bring it to the center when uke is closer than you'd like. (for me anyway)

My Mom came to watch class tonight. She wants to start too. Should be interesting

Liz