Lessons in humility

[trenchkamen]

Finally got around to going to ASU's Taekwando practice.

For a black belt I spent more time flat on my arse than anybody else in the class. Including the white belts. I am about eight years out-of-practice. It's obscene. I also forgot all the forms, but upon seeing them again they all look familiar. I'll feel lame showing up in my uniform and belt (I just wore my work out shirt and pants this time) saying "Sup guys how do I did Koryo?"

I'll keep going to practice, but I feel so damn lame right now.

Comments

[joeshadows.livejournal.com]

Man, I had almost the opposite experience once. I was going to CalPoly, and there was a Karate dojo on campus. Except when I show up for the intro "its freshman time so feel free to try out our club" session, it was... weird. I wasn't sure if it was Wado-Ryu Karate, so I showed up in my gi but with a spare white belt that I had laying about (it's polite to do that in other people's dojos the first time you show up, especially if its a different style). Only thing is, the sensei was from somewhere in South America, and whatever style he was teaching, it was some strange form that had migrated through South America untold generations ago, and unlike Gracie Jujitsu, it did not benefit from the experience. In the course of an hour they tried to teach me three things that would get me yelled at in any decent Wado-Ryu dojo, like counter-rotating your hips on punches (???). And I had substantially better form than most of the folk he had up front in black belts. Needless to say, I was out of there pretty fast. o.O

[trenchkamen.livejournal.com]

That sounds so lame.

And yeah, the teacher said I could wear my old uniform if I wanted. I showed up on the first day without my belt and all that stuff, because it just seemed--rude. I don't know.

[kitschaster.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you accidentally your skills, and now you're back to square one. Well, revel in the fact that not most people have the ability to get up and even attempt the martial arts (like myself). We'd rather do visual arts (I prefer a good finger painting exercise).

Good luuuuuuck.

[trenchkamen.livejournal.com]

You'll never know until you try.

[legaljargon.livejournal.com]

Haha, I know what you mean, Lauren. I worked my way up to a green belt (but not in karate...in tang soo do) my first year in college and promptly forgot most of what I knew. I can still remember the test form and how to low block, but that's about it. :-P

[trenchkamen.livejournal.com]

See, I forgot all my damn forms.

[sumomonkeyninja.livejournal.com]

I took Kung-Fu for 7 years in college and I learned two things.

1. You have to practice ALL the time to be any good.
2. There's always someone who's better than you, and that person is most likely the quiet one in the back.

[trenchkamen.livejournal.com]

Yeeup. Sounds about right.

[fabula-umbrae.livejournal.com]

I never really practiced forms much. Which was kinda dumb on my part in hindsight. I'm freaky out of practice too and just started following Dash when he goes to class and to work out. On one hand I feel incredibly slow and achey and behind the times. On the other hand I think this is actually the same style I took before and I do remember a lot of basic movements. Just my posture needs to be beaten with a stick.

[trenchkamen.livejournal.com]

What style does Dash practice?

[fabula-umbrae.livejournal.com]

tang soo do.