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October 20, 2005, Test Ukemi and Honorable Injuries
Just got back from a seminar in New Jersey. I had a great time. My Sensei and I went and we stayed at his Sensei's house. There was never a dull moment.
There was testing on the first day of the seminar after the classes. I was called up to be uke a couple of times by the head instructor at the dojo. Both were ladies. One was testing for fourth kyu and the other for third kyu. It was awesome. The woman testing for third kyu had a wicked iriminage. She was a bit shorter than me and she dropped me straight to the mat. I had no where else to go but straight down. She also had to do free style at the end of her test. I had no idea that was going to happen as free style isn't introduced until second kyu at our dojo. So when the instructor said "Free style" I thought "Oh s#*t." So another guy and I "attacked" her. She did well. So did the other woman who tested for fourth kyu.
During the seminar I was working with the uchideshi and he was throwing me pretty hard so I was hitting the mat hard with my hands. On one particular throw, when I went to hit the mat I actually slapped a guy's face. He had just taken ukemi for his partner and was still laying on the mat. There was this loud CRACK when my hand made contact with his face. Poor guy. He laid there holding his face. I was kneeling beside him apologizing and the head instructor came over saying it was an honorable injury. He ended up being alright, joking that I hit like a girl.
There were two yudansha women there who are also friends of my Sensei. It was good to meet other women, especially black belts. Also, there was no macho attitude at this dojo and everyone was friendly. I'm already looking forward to next year's seminar.
10-20-2005 09:00 AM 