Dojo Growing Pains

We had a new student show up for class last night. He was a very nice guy and seemed enthusiastic about training. I was very happy that we had someone new. Since the beginning of the year, Noah and I have tried bringing more students into the dojo. We posted fliers all over town. I even advertised on Craigslist and Facebook. Usually when new people come, they attend class for about one to two weeks, and for some reason, they do not end up staying afterward. We're not sure if it's the physical aspect of the class or simply because we have a lack in attendance.

I personally think that a large class has its downfalls. The learning curve is a lot slower. You only have the opportunity to learn maybe five techniques in one night, instead of 25 techniques with a small class. In a small class of three to four people, I receive one-on-one instruction each night from multiple high ranking martial artists, who have more years of martial arts experience than I've been alive. Who wouldn't want that? You're learning from the best.

I understand that it's human nature to want and long to be a part of a group. But, I guess I don't have that problem. The only problem I had was that it was difficult to learn a technique and not become upset at myself because I couldn't do it the same as a black belt. The perfectionist in me always strives for the best, so if I couldn't do a technique like a 20-year experienced black belt, then I sucked. Yes, I am crazy.

Well, I hope our new students attend class for the long haul. It's always great to have new energy on the mat. Let's cross our fingers!

The Black and Blues

This past Monday's workout was hard. I had a huge headache, and I was exhausted from working out at Curves. I'm trying to get my body in super shape for my upcoming July wedding. So at practice, I was out of energy.

Sensei Noah and Sensei Bruce wanted me to do Oku, and being Oku, it was a hard board. You really have to be on your A-game or else you get hurt. I really didn't feel up to it, and I took a couple of hard falls without being mentally and physically ready. So, Sensei Noah decided to do some Newaza (groundwork) instead. Basically, I had to escape from every Shime technique. Some of the techniques were impossible to get out of. You literally had to break your arm to get out of some. Really, some techniques you don't want the opponent to get it on you. As I said, it's impossible to get out.

Here is a picture of Noah performing a Shinin technique on Nolan.


The Newaza techniques were fun. I was screaming, grunting, and growling everywhere and anywhere to get out of Noah's pins and chokes. I have a ton of bumps and bruises everywhere. Plus, my back feels like I hit a ton of bricks. It's so sore and tight. I feel like a stiff robot. Advil is my friend. My neck is super sore too because Noah did a ton of chokes on me. I was successful in getting out of the chokes though. Yay! But, boy do they leave a mark. My jaw even hurts when I try to eat. Sensei Bruce commented that, "Cindy's has to stop martial arts at least two weeks before the wedding or else she'll be covered in bruises." Exactly! I see his point.

No pain, no gain!

My Sankyu Test

Sensei Danny Saragosa was kind enough to take some pictures during my promotion. It's strange seeing myself in martial art pictures. I look like a different person. It's also a little embarrassing. I definitely over analyze myself in pictures. Like, "Am I falling correctly?" and "Oh, am I doing the right thing?". It's the perfectionist in me again. Curses....Here we are standing in front of the dojo. On the left is Sensei Danny Saragosa and to the right is Sensei Bruce Raney. Both men are full of martial art knowledge, plus look how big they are. Ha! You wouldn't want to get in a fight with them.


Sensei Noah Harders is presenting me with my sankyu certificate and belt. How exciting! I was nervous and happy at the same time. It's an amazing feeling to be promoted.


Whenever we had visiting instructors, I was always looked down upon because of my belt rank. Our dojo is very old school, so we didn't even give out strips or different colored belts besides blue, brown, and black. Belt colors are at the dojo's discretion, but many senseis have decided to add ranks in between to give their students a sense of accomplishment. The visiting instructors were mainly from the AJJF organization. Their organization has a striped blue and a green belt before brown. I already reached those ranks, but because my belt didn't show it, they thought I was a beginner until I started training.

Many instructors are quite impressed when I hit the mat. They're like, "Wow, she's strong for her size." Also, learning the hard way, instructors don't want to glorify good martial artists. If a martial artist is exceptional, they will simply correct everything you do until you're frustrated out of your mind. Grr...I wanted to punch someone so hard that they couldn't get up!! AHH!!!!

Can you tell they did that to me? You betcha! I was frustrated out of my mind. I was so angry and sad. I thought to myself that I could do nothing right. Well, it just so happens that it was the exact opposite opinion in the instructor's eyes. They saw so much potential and skill in me that they only wanted to help me become the best. Wow! I couldn't believe it when I found that out. I was in complete doubt. "Are you SURE????" Sensei said yes. Oh gosh, after hearing that, I felt so small. Like a tiny ant. Squish me!

My Poor Aching Knee

About a week ago, I was promoted to Sankyu. Yay! It was surprising but not surprising at the same time. I kinda knew it was coming. Actually, I wanted to be promoted a lot earlier. I mean, since it took so long, I thought I was never getting promoted. Ha! So, it was really nice to change from a blue to a brown belt. The last time I was promoted was in April 2008.

Well, the so-called "test" wasn't easy. I got some bumps and bruises along the way. My left knee is still aching. It's puffy and still bruised. Noah threw a beautiful and super high Hane Goshi, but I went so high in the air that I basically was landing on my face. Noah held me up after he saw what he did, but beside my face smacking the mat, my knee wasn't so lucky. I hit my knee on the mat right smack dab in the center. Wowee, did it hurt like a b*tch.

I also bruised my right achilles pretty good throwing Sumigaeshi. My right ankle was caught and hit while kicking Noah over. It wasn't my intention but my ankle was stuck. It wasn't too bad, but it swelled up.

Noah admitted to me after the test that he tried to throw me without holding back. He said that if I was going to wear that brown belt that I had to know how to fall. *Gulp* No pressure. Haha!

But, I passed! I'm so happy!

I Need To Be Realistic.

It's actually really late right now, but I wanted to write something to start. In my opinion, martial arts is fun, challenging, and complicated. Sometimes I get so frustrated with everything because I think I need to know everything and be perfect. I greatly emphasize the "Perfect". I know, it's crazy! I know I'm not being realistic because I'm only a yonkyu, which is a fourth rank or blue belt student. It's the perfectionist in me. I can't help it. I see the technique being done, and I think okay, I got it. That's doesn't look that hard, but HA! let me tell you that it's an illusion. Black belts and/or your sensei always make a technique look easy because they have fifteen years or more experience on you. I'm trying to get over this hurdle and not be so dissappointed in myself. I try to repeat in my head, "Everyone makes mistakes. It's not normal to be perfect. If you're perfect, there is no challenge."

I really need to listen to my advice. Well, let's see how practice goes tomorrow night.

Until then,
Cindy