Don't think about it, just go with the flow...

Well today's class was... how should I say... EXTRAWESOME!!!!

Sensei was on a work trip so he wasn't here today with us, so Tom did both the kobudo class and the karate class. We started our kobudo at a little bit after 8:00, first weapon we worked was the nunchaku. We did Tae Kyo kyu Ichi and Ni... that would be low block embussen drill and the mid block... very different easy enough, then we did the dreaded Kihon Nunchaku, I had blogged the whole thing a while ago, very in depth much manipulation of the nunchaku. We did this 5 times, and then dissected parts that we had questions on, we worked this for about 45 minutes.. then we switched to sai. We did some basic warm ups with it, and then started the first kata... Sensei Charles, you probably know the name of that one, its where you go along the path... smile.. that's what Tom and Sensei say because the same path is taken 5-6 times in it. Then we got to the bo... I must say after manipulating the nunchaku and sai for an hour, my arms were very limber and very loose at this point.

What happened next was something I wasn't expecting. It really does make a difference in which order you practice your weapons because as I picked up my bow to do Tsue Sho, I noticed it was feather light. As I went slowly through Tsue Sho (brown belt requirement in Shuri Ryu karate) I felt like I was possessed or something. The movements were instinctual. My techniques so crisp I felt like jumping for joy, my blocks and strikes just so clean and precise, and my strength and posture, emulating a novice Sensei. Yes, I am boasting because I am extremely proud of this new confidence. I performed this form about 6 times, each time getting a bit better.

I heard people coming into the dojo for the next class at 9:30, the mixed adult and youth class. I worked that bow like it was an extension of me. Executing the crisp, precise, powerful blows to my imaginary opponent. After I whipped the bow around in front of me in closing the kata, giving a very swift bow in respect for the closing. I looked up and saw that Tom, our resident brown belt and Karla were looking at me with wide eyes, Tom broke the silence first, and simply said, "Wow." Then was able to say, "That was great!" I felt a swelling of pride because something happened that I can't describe. I am completely empowered right now and very proud that the ones I try to emulate and look up to, saw a change in me today and it was a good change.

As we walked off the dojo mat, Shawn, a young boy of 11, was hopping in place as I approached, he smiled as I neared, and said, "That was awesome!" I thanked him and continued to the dressing room.

Not sure what happened today, but it felt like the One's Who Come Before (O'Sensei) smiled on my practice session today.