Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020

I’m a little bit discombobulated because kids woke my husband and me up at 6:30am. They asked what to do about the neighbors’ broken sprinkler jetting water into the sky. F said it was like a fountain, shooting up and into the street.

There was an earthquake last night, too, a small one: 3.7 in Englewood.

My children and I set up the computer on the back patio; we participated in karate class outdoors via Zoom. That was cool: our yard is still wild, even with the bit of laundry hanging about in an attempt at domestication. We practiced karate with trees as our backdrop and the night insects as our audience. Senpai Peter led most of Kihon and did a good job. Sensei offered corrections on the direction of yoko keage: Janice’s was too straight to the side and mine was too much at an angle.

S and I kept F in the center again. Though we were tired after class, we were not overheated, as we had been while doing Kihon in the upstairs bedroom. During class last night, we also did kiaias as quiet, more gutteral “shi-ahs” so we would not disturb the neighbors. Sensei taught the class this new kiai style, saying it was a kiai for advanced karateka: practitioners who know how to avoid conflict with neighbors and family during a pandemic!

It was great to see so many kids and adults on-line, taking part in the class.

Afterwards, I did my exercises on the patio: chest push-ups on the concrete and tricep push-ups in the overgrown clover. During squats, I punched at a tall dandelion; it was practically at my chest. I used the plant for targeting. My goal was to deliver punches fast enough and close enough to move it with air, but not actually hit it. Move it I did! I rushed through sit-ups and yes, did fetch a yoga matte for those.

Six minutes left before I need to login to work!

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!