I did karate class over Zoom Friday evening and Saturday morning, but the kids skipped both classes. P lead kihon Friday night and had us do five rapid-fire moves for each exercise. It was a good work-out!
I’m proud to report that, after Friday night’s class, I was able to do sixty push-ups on my toes in the clover, without pausing. After class, I felt so energized that I wanted to see if I could do it, and I could! I did! I also did my eighty squats and sit-ups on the concrete patio.
Sensei had ended the class with a Tai Chi exercise. Reach up to the Heavens and bring down heavenly energy, he instructed. Then, reach down to the Earth and bring up “grounding” energy to your heart, he continued, then pull it down to your chi area and mix the two. Then, reach behind for any unfinished business, affirming to yourself that what needs to be done will be done.
When we reached up to the Heavens, I wanted to see the the sky. Our outdoor patio is shaded by the second story, so I stepped clear of the ceiling in order to see the night sky. While we pulled up the grounding energy, I stood with bare feet on the ground. All this literalness is a bit silly, I know, but it felt holy. Sometimes there is no mental substitute for the real stars above you and dirt between your toes. Why settle for an idea when reality is right there?
