Hey! Watch where you swing that thing!

I haven't been feeling 100% lately. I don't know if it's stress starting to take a toll on my health just making me feel worn down, or what. But I really wasn't up to doing double classes tonight. So, I just attended Instructor class, which was pretty full tonight. I actually got to the school a litle late that I could've just joined in late, but I was just trying to escape home for a while, so I was talking with a new/transferred mom (her son just transferred to our school) and Sandy's daughter, J. I was kind of glad, as it looks like SW was really putting everyone through the ringer tonight! I did pay attention when she was doing forms with the 1BDs, as she was reviewing one section with them regarding the hand loads in the last segment of the form. Hopefully, I'll remember.

Instructor class was actually fun tonight. It's kind of nice when we don't have to work on our forms, and we learn something new that we could be teaching the kids. In this case, this cycle, SW has been teaching new "freestyle" forms in SJB and JB to the kids, and we got to learn the form. Hooray! I get to use something other than that damn SJB! ('Cause we all know how much I LUUUUUUV the SJB-- NOT!!). So tonight, we were learning the new JB/Bo staff "freestyle". Let's see if I remember it and can describe it.... It starts with a reverse figure 8 while held in both hands, then a #3 strike, then a one handed figure eight with another #3 strike, then the over the head #4 then back to #3 strikes (what Drew was practicing yesterday), then some sort of step back and turn around and strike, then a big over the head and turn with a strike, a #7 then #8, then (the part I was having major trouble with) 3 figure eights with my right hand, 2 "twirls" in front and while turning, 1 twirl behind me, and land in that #3 strike again. The home stretch was the easy part! #4 strike, #8, #7, #3, then take a step back while doing a #6, and then stab in a rear stance. I might be forgetting something, but that was the main jist.

My biggest problem was the "twirls"-- for which I can't think of a better word for what was done. It's something that has never been formally taught to me by SW, only by just about everybody else. It's basically doing a hand over hand to spin the JB either right in front of you, or behind you. I think one thing I have to remember is that the left hand is always on top-- that's a good start. I think I just really have to practice this one. It's not required of me right now, but it will be in time. Strike lines and some easy passes I can do. But these "twirls" are just near impossible for me. It shouldn't be this hard! But as I told SW that I was fairly confuzzled about it all, she said, "Trust me, it really isn't as easy as it looks." Then again, I need to do things and be shown things in super slow motion more times than most. But once I get it and it clicks, OH, it clicks! I was just thankful that I was picking up most of it, and that I was paired with some of the more experienced people to help me through it.

I have to admit, if I wasn't feeling so bleeh lately, and my knee cooperated more, I'd enjoy TKD a lot more, and I could see myself taking class more often. I dunno. I don't know what's wrong with me, that part of me doesn't want to go, and part of me does want to go. Part of me wants to be able to go out there, and help teach. Part of me is happy to be on the sidelines. It's hard to explain.

I was just glad to have a change of pace for class, and actually learning something new, especially with a weapon that I like, was good. I need a change up now and then.