Why do I keep going on Saturdays?

I really needed to go to class today. I hadn't been to classes in a week, especially since I missed all the classes I normally would've gone to either regularly or makeup days. I figured that since this was the day where they took more time for each thing, it'd be better.

In general, it was, simply because I hadn't done it yet this week. We learned the next segment of IW#2, which came back (say hi to the ceiling, take the cookie platter away, punch, smash the pumpkin, and the hi-lo switch). That one section alone is pretty cool looking, so I remember it well once I got the hang of it. I think the kids are used to the fact that I'm the only adult in the class, and I'm pretty harmless and I'm nice to them, and don't talk down to them. And I try to be silly and pump them up, because some of them really do know the information better than I do! :-) So that went well. Ben P. even told one kid who knew me but felt a little intimidated working with an adult, "Don't worry, Mrs. V is pretty nice. She won't hurt you," which seemed like a nice compliment to get. So that went well.

Weapons class was not too bad either. The whole class was doing DSJB, and we were given a new trick to do. They showed us the "7s" triangle-like trick, but they also showed us how to do "9s". Oh man, 9s did NOT come easily for me. Here I am, the only adult in the class again, and a whole bunch of children old enough to be mine were working circles (literally and figuratively around me). As SW has been known to say, women tend to think things out a little too much sometimes, but we have to analyze it and break it down so that we can mentally process it. And doing these 9s, that as certainly the case. I started out doing the movements without swinging the SJBs, then I'd let go and get the swinging motions going, then slowly I started getting the hang of it. Oh yes, it's another case of learning something because I'm a glutton for punishment. I don't want to do the routine that they are teaching the kids completely, as I think that I've been learning a few other things along the way that I want to hopefully show off. And besides, it's a freestyle, I can do whatever I want within reason! So we'll see what I can throw in there, like those new release moves with the triangles. So that class was a little more productive.

As we are finishing up weapons class, before starting board breaking class, yep, you guessed it. Even though Gary was there, and Ryan was there, and there were 2-3 student instructors there, I was pulled into service rather than taking class as we had a LOT of intros who came in today. Man, I hate that when that happens. I had to get a little 4 1/2 year old acclimated to the W/O/Y class, tell Gary who his parents were, and by then, board breaking class was over. WTF? I hate that. Ben remembered that all I wanted was the chance to be able to practice breaking my roundkick, so he worked with me, and I got it done on the 2nd try, with only him holding the board, so that was good. I need to make it so I get it on the first try now! But without much warming up and getting it on the 2nd try, I'm feeling a little more confident.

I just resent it a little bit that the guys can't get it together, or that people weren't around to help out more. I mean, in the end, I still got to practice, but I end up working, and I'm not there to do work as in sales, I'm there to work and practice and get better at my own material that I'm working on.

I only have until the end of this cycle, and once I graduate in June to Red/Black, then I can go to the early morning Black Belt classes rather than the color belt classes, and perhaps that will fix the problem for me. But in the meantime, I suppose I'll have to put up with it for a few more weekends. The downside of going to Black Belt classes will be having to get up earlier in the morning to go to classes, but the upside would be that I wouldn't be drafted into service so often when I'm just trying to take class myself.

Maybe one of these days, I'll learn!