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I have a confession. I like getting tossed around, and enjoy taking some good-natured puishment. I have always felt that to fully understand the application of a technique, and it's affects, one must expierience it first hand. In a very realistic fashion. I have always been an enthusiastic Uke in previous studies. I have been a favorite "whipping boy" of some of the more rough and tumble instructors that I have crossed paths with. I take a good fall, I bounce right back and, like I stated earlier, I enjoy it.
Tuesdays are a more technique oriented class at my Dojo. Most of the classes that I have been to have focused on energy work rather than physical application of technique. Last night I attended the Tuesday class for the first time. I had a blast.
We worked on joint locks, take downs and throws. I will admit to occasionally resisting a little bit more than is sometimes necessary. I'm a creature of habit. I like to play with the person applying the technique. I like to know the technique will work. I like the other person to know the technique works.
Sensei caught on to what I was doing, and for the rest of the night he used me frequently to demonstrate the aerodynamics of bald people. He actually apprechiated that I was not just allowing the technique to happen. That to get me down you had to use the technique correctly. So did my fellow students. One guy said "It felt more real. When I finally got you down I knew how the technique was supposed to feel." Which made me feel I had contributed something. Also having spent so much time on the receiving end, when I was Nage the techniques just seemed to flow easier.
All and all a very productive class. Though the metaphysical aspects are very important to me, it was nice just to get down to business for an hour and a half.
06-09-2004 01:52 PM 