Technique Saturday

I went to CIT this morning. We worked on technique and how to teach it. It was a very intense class. We worked on power during the warm up--he had us bunny hopping up on and over our mats that we roll out for falls and throws. (the mats were folded up) The course was the four sets of folded mats, then a set of cones with a bar between them. There were 14 of us, in class, so it was a bit crowded. He also had us do push ups, then walk over on our hands and feet (in push up position) to the next pad/cone-bar combo and do push ups. It was not my favorite part of class but...since we only did 2 push ups at a time, it wasn't all that bad. I have to work on those push ups. I do "girlie" push ups--me on my knees. Even those are not the best as I have a tendency to "sink" at the hips. I will have to strive for better. I have to make sure that I'm up to working really hard for the next several months. I couldn't do some of the warm ups because Mr. M didn't want me to. I to re-injure my knee. It's really not my knee as much as it's my hip that is bothering me these days. It's been bothering me a lot and I just ignore it. Some days it's better than others.

We worked on how to do a good front stance and how to teach the front stance to our classes. We discussed the center of gravity and where it is in the execution of a front stance and a boxing stance. That was a good learning experience. We all worked on front stances, then we worked on horse riding stances. Afterwards, he demonstrated how to teach a good low block and how to teach high blocks. Then we paired up with a partner and worked on throwing kicks and blocking them--from a horse riding stance. We did round kicks first, then we moved into knees and elbows and blocking shots when our opponent was hitting us with knees and elbows. You don't have time to think, only to react.


I didn't go to WW since I had to be at class at 8:00. I DID lose a half pound from last week, which wasn't too horribly bad, all things considered. I know I didn't drink enough water, nor did I eat right. I also didn't do any exercise this week, so I get what I get. Next week? We'll see what happens.

Friday at last!!!

I swear, I have seriously felt like breaking not only one, but SEVERAL boards this week. Not individually either. I need to break multiple boards at once. I am THAT stressed!!
I've pretty well mangled my workout schedule this week. I spent 2 hours talking to Mr. M about my resume and finding a new job on Monday. I didn't go to class on either Wednesday or Thursday. Today, we're not having class. Tomorrow I have CIT and then *I* am going home. I am not staying around for the class right after because I am supposed to be going to Scarborough Faire with one of my daughter's friends and her family. We're all going.

Well, heck. I just found out that we're not going. They've got something to do instead of us going. We're now talking about hitting up one of the local state parks. We'll have to see how that works out.

I just spent some time with my daughter, trying to explain her form to her. She didn't have the interest in it that I'd like to see from her. Her form is Sam Dan and she has absolutely no interest in doing the form. I am not going to be hyper critical of her performance of the form, but I'd like to know that the form she's learning to advance a belt IS going to be performed correctly.

One of the changes they've made to our dojang is to have the students fill out a "practice record" and have their parents sign it. Then they get an instructor to sign off on the record. One record per month, two for each test. I've got to figure out how to get that record thing filled out by my kids. I have to convince them to get more motivated. My son more or less HAS to attend the classes because he's on the competition team. My daughter, on the other hand, I have to figure out.

Wednesday

I'm feeling a bit 'blah' tonight. I've decided that I'm skipping class tonight since I really don't feel good. I hate that I'm doing it. I have to figure out how to attend a black belt class tomorrow night. Shouldn't be TOO much of an issue. I'll attend the 6:15-7:00 class. I can pretty much attend any class I want to anyway. Need to work on that.

I've about decided that I'm going to start meditating again. I haven't been meditating lately and that's something I've got to start back up on again. I know that it'll help soothe me and help me focus on my work, both at work and at the dojang. I am calmer and more grounded, better able to focus, so I have to start doing that. I also need to start walking in the morning (weather permitting) and get myself more active outside of the dojang. I'm GOING to get myself more physically fit.

We have had some pretty drastic changes at the dojang. We've had several of the instructors leave. My friend, S is about to leave to go back to school. She'll be "Professor S" within a few months to a few years, I believe. She'll be teaching and going to school at the same time. I'll miss her, but I am very happy for her at the same time!! She has been our lead instructor for the Little Ninjas and the Young Warriors, so that's going to be a major change. The class times for the Little Ninjas and Young Warriors was changed to incorporate the Young Warriors into the Basic class. The Little Ninjas are at 4:00, so I'm not able to be there for that anymore. It was a bit funny to hear one of my little girls from Young Warriors ask me on Saturday night why I wasn't at Martial Arts anymore. I had to tell her that I was not able to make the Basic class or the Young Warriors class because my 'real' job keeps me there until after her class is over. I'm still around...I'm just not in the earlier classes. I WILL be at the belt test on the 30th though. My kids are testing, so I definitely want to be there!!

I finally got serious about a new job...

I finally got serious and got out my resume tonight. I've updated it, but was told that I need to do some SERIOUS reworking on it *in a hurry*. Okay, I'm game.
I have to get my experience (18+ years with ONE COMPANY) out there and downplay my lack of education (high school grad with SOME college but no degree). I need to play up my experience in Customer Service and play up my contributions to helping my company make money. This is what I was advised tonight.

Hmmm. Need to work on it. I'm planning on taking it with me to work tomorrow.
I apparently also have to beard the lion in its den and get copies of my last performance reviews. I was told tonight that I need that. Here's my dilemma--they don't give you any copies of your reviews at my company. I asked for it last year and was told I couldn't get a copy. I will go talk to HR to handle that.

I'll be looking seriously over the next several months. I WILL find something better.

Oh, by the way...this all came about because I was told to reschedule *MY* appointments to accommodate one of the men in the department. I understand the bit about the being short staffed, and not allowing people off when someone's out (not that we'll have a full staff anyway--I'm sure we'll have someone calling in sick while this other guy's out!) on vacation, but...what I don't understand is why my daughter's orthodontic appointment must be rescheduled to make way for someone's appointment with a mortgage broker. I realize he's buying a house and that it IS important, but please...let two people take the time off for a short time on one day. Would it kill the other 4 people to pull their weight around there for a change?????

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there...and the Dads who fill in when Mom's not available.