One week ukemi-free

ugh... I have been more sore and stiff the last week and a half than when I go to class 2-3 times a week.
I was so tired this morning (I hate time changes), but I made myself wake up for class today.

Bob Sensei was teaching (the first Sunday each month we have a 2nd kyu and up class after beginner's which Bob Sensei teaches).

We went immediately into techniques this morning, so not alot of loosening up time. We practiced a kokyunage technique and the rest of class was devoted to ushiro tekubitori attacks.

Ushiro tekubitori shihonage with a Roberto (black belt). For some reason I could NOT do ura-- strange because shihonage is usually easier for me in ura. No breakthroughs there... lol
though it really helped me to practice raising my hands up (extending my ki through my pinkie finger....as Bob Sensei likes to say) and sliding back behind uke, bringing him around into ai hanmi. I spent most of my time with Roberto practicing that.

Ushiro tekubitori iriminage with Omar (a brown belt from another area dojo) He went really easy on me. For once I wasn't complaining. I worked seven days straight this week in preparation for our ops audit at work, so I was beat.
It's funny, sometimes iriminage is really difficult for me, and other days it just happens. Today it was much easier than last class (which was Thursday before last).
Also practiced ushiro tekubitori kotegaeshi with Omar. I noticed he wasn't really making me FEEL the technique, but he was being very careful with me, so I was okay with it.
Usually I get lots of critique from Sensei on my kotegaeshi, but when he watched me today, he only made a small correction (I was not breaking free with my other hand in the pivot quickly enough)
Sensei clapped and we practiced kokyuho.

After class, Sensei told everyone not to change. One of the members wanted a class picture. I was sitting in the "break" area getting water while they were lining up on the mat for the picture and Sensei looked at me and another student and told us we'd have to move a little closer to get in the picture....lol

"me? in a picture?" hehe I guess even non-kyus are still members. I just can't get over this feeling that I'm merely tolerated. I am always shocked when someone remembers my name.

Ron is now trying to recruit me to get some storage cabinets for the supply closet. I guess being a Home Depot guru has its perks. (it helps that I've got a big pick-em-up truck)

Anyway, now that our audit is over, hopefully I'll be able to get back to my regular schedule. I really hate missing so much class. I was starting to have extreme ukemi withdrawls. My friend was making fun of me for practicing my rolls in her front yard this week. O_o

Liz