Saturday May 16th, 2020

It’s late, 10pm, but I’m finally getting in my ten minute write. We had karate last night and K, a ten year old ichi kyu, lead kihon and taught a bo-staff kata. He is an intense, intelligent and quiet young person; he did a great job. When he started the bo staff instruction, I hurried out to find bo staffs for the kids. I thought we had three, but I only found one. I initially came out with a smaller staff, a wooden sword and F’s bo staff. S fetched his. I practiced with a broom stick (witch that I am.:-) It was fun.

After class, I did sixty chest-style push-ups quickly in the clover, and threw in twenty “tricep” push-ups on my knees. Squats went ok, but sit-ups on the concrete patio were hard.

This morning, Senpai N lead kihon, then K did his exercises and kata walk. S and I participated. F lurked on the side, off camera, for K’s promotion. K did great, particularly given he had to do it all over Zoom with us on speaker. Also, doing the walk following exercises is no easy feat. He had a great attitude, and quickly absorbed and incorporated any notes given by Sensei or the Senpais. By the end of the morning class, Sensei awarded K his junior shodan virtually.

Sensei wanted us to participate in giving notes. At one point, S and I suggested watching stances, or keeping his guard up, merrily participating, then I realized we were muted. I did not know how long we’d been muted.

After class, I called my sister while walking on the treadmill. I used an incline of sixty percent and walked for an hour. We talked nearly two hours. It had been a while since we talked, so we had a lot to get caught up on. She may be able to apply for Medicaid this summer; often, many of her child clients take the summer off from therapy. If this summer is typical, and we expect it will be worse because of the pandemic, her income may drop to the level where she qualifies. At least then she will have some protection from being bankrupted if she contracts this illness.

Author: an Ichi Kyu

I study Kyokushin karate at a dojo in Burbank. I don't yet have permission to say more than this about my dojo. I am also a mother of two, both of whom have studied Kyokushin karate a year longer than I. They are instructors! My husband created the art posted on this site. I have his permission to use it, but he expressly asked me not to credit him as the artist. He's moved on to other styles, and doesn't particularly want a public association with this piece. I love this artwork, personally. And me? I work full time as a cloth and hair simulation artist, as well as a python coder, in the visual effects industry. I have roughly sixteen years experience in film and about four in television. I am 50; I suppose my decision to attempt the black belt test, along with creating this blog, represents my mid-life crisis. Wish me luck!