Well, that was something: I got to lead Connor’s black belt boot camp briefly this morning while Mr. Turner was attending to a sick/injured student.
Category Archives: krav maga
Inspiration
We didn’t want to be late — not for the Curriculum Evaluation to qualify us for Black Belt training. We’re not always on the ball for evening classes, after school and work and whatnot, but Saturday morning was an entirely different beast.
As we wrangled our oversized karate duffel bags into the car, I caught a whiff of something. My sense of smell has changed over the past several months (presumably due to The Change Of Life), so gross things like skunks, farts, cat shit, and BO all smell the same to me now.
“…I think Dad left a fart in the car overnight,” I ventured.
Connor paused, considering. “Yeah,” he agreed. Then, “It’s the Fart of Inspiration!”
So, thanks, Dad, for wishing us good luck with your lingering fart. I’d like to think it helped motivate us through our two-hour test!
Twitter Update: Black Belt Training
We passed the initial Curriculum Evaluation and are continuing with our formal Black Belt training! 🥋
Now that we really understand the level of effort and intensity that’s required, we’ll be better prepared for the upcoming boot camp days and future testing. We’ve got this!
Chillin’
It’s that hour between Connor’s karate class and my Krav Maga class, and we’re both taking advantage of the weather to sit outside at the picnic tables.
We’re pretty chill. Watching the other adults start to show up for the class that begins in about 15 minutes. We can hear the Beginner Youth class every time someone opens the door. We try not to chuckle too loudly at the little kids playing pretend with their parents while their siblings are finishing up their class.
I always have this idea that I’ll bring my Bluetooth keyboard and “catch up” on my blogging in that hour between Connor’s class and mine… after I finish the day’s Spanish lesson on Duolingo… and after I scroll through my Facebook feed for a few minutes… and sometimes (though not today) after talking to Mr. Turner for a while.
It’s probably about time for me to hit Publish on this, so I can go inside and get ready for class. I know I’ll enjoy it… but, in this moment, I’d almost rather just stay outside and enjoy the weather.
Selected to Begin Training
The email arrived in my inbox this afternoon, about five hours after I sent a message explaining Connor’s recent absence from the dojo.
I received the email in duplicate: once for Connor, and once for myself. It read, “We are excited to announce that you are invited to participate in Black Belt Testing this fall!” Attached was a document (which, had we been present at class this week, we would also have received in hard copy) detailing the upcoming mandatory meetings and test dates.
I don’t know how I feel about this.
Lately, I haven’t been in the best headspace, generally speaking. I’ve had that behind-the-eight-ball feeling for quite some time now, like I can’t summon enough cares to give about much of anything. The mind-body connection is real, and I’m getting a definite chicken-and-egg downward-spiral vibe.
I’m currently carrying some thirty pounds of fat that I DO NOT WANT, and my new nutritionist is telling me to reject “diet culture” and instead learn to listen to my body. —I don’t know if I can trust my body to know what it really needs, nutritionally speaking, especially since my brain has a dopamine problem (i.e. ADHD).
I’m not confident in my ability to meet the fitness requirements of the upcoming black belt testing — so much so that I hesitate to even write down the Black Best Testing dates on the calendar. Granted, I have a personalized strength training program at the Fitness Center at my work centered specifically on my black belt fitness requirements, so it’s not like I’m not working toward my goal… but I’m still dubious. It’s not a for-sure thing in my mind that I’ll be able to complete 40 push-ups, a two-minute forearm plank, or 1,000 jumping jacks, along with the other calisthenic requirements — not even considering the actual curriculum, which I think I do have a pretty good grasp on.
I’ll keep showing up, putting in the work, and pushing forward like I always do. Maybe I’ll surprise myself.