Well, the last two weeks at work have been pretty hellishly busy. Because I ended up working 30 hours over Easter weekend, I didn’t make to the dojo, so needless to say I was definitely ready to get rid of some stress by April Fools’ day.

One of our shodons, Jeremy, teaches on Fridays and he nearly always gives us a good work out. Lots of opprotunities for breakfalls, if we choose to take them; and he keeps us on the mat for a bit longer when we are practicing a technique which warms you up nicely too. Well, I definitely threw myself into it (pun mostly intended). I took breakfalls whenever I could and worked fast when my partner was willing.

There are 2 other students, Dave and Ron, are preparing for 3rd kyu (as am I) and we all stayed after and worked on various ushiro techniques for another hour plus.

It was wonderful. Stress was defused and I made some good progress on my kyu techniques as well pushed myself endurance-wise – which I need to work on for 3rd kyu as well.

Saturday morning’s class was very up-tempo too. We did a lot of randori, including sending up groups of 4 at a time so they could use the whole mat. We also did some one-on-one stuff in a similar manner. Having the whole mat to work with means you can take some nice, big falls if you choose to put that much energy into your attack – and most people were. It also means you run more, so lots of work for your legs on top of the normal getting up and down. Lastly, we did kokyo tanden-ho, for a good while. So… more leg torture from being in seiza.

Class went long, and I was sore enough that I didn’t work on anything afterwards. Today’s class was a free beginners’ class, so it was very low key, some technique, some ‘aikido parlor tricks’ as Garry Sensei likes to call them. 6 pretty confused with zero to a class or two’s worth of Aikido experience – it was fun. Dave and I did a little ushiro work after class, but we kept it low key, not much ukemi, just working on posture and the technique itself. We agreed that we’d try to work on some weapons stuff during the week – we have to know the first 5 kumi-tachi (sword forms) for 3rd. Plus, nearly everyone in our dojo learns the first 5 kumi-jo (staff) as well – luckily, the kumi-jo will be the focus of the Tuesday weapons class this month.

I’m definitely feeling it in my legs today. No complaints, I’d do it all the same if I had it to do over, but… ow nonetheless. ;-)