I guess I just like kicking alot

When we arrived to our dojo this week, we found out that Sensei had car troubles, and wasn't coming to class. Our lead belt was going to take over.

As we were warming up, Sempai asked us " Is there anything in particular that you would like to work on in this class? Anything that you'd like to develop? Is there a kata you'd like to work on? or a technique?"

We waited in silence for a few seconds as we stretched.. then I put up my hand.

I suggested "I'd like to work on my kicks, Sempai."

The students around me did a sudden intact of breath, and I saw wide eyes all around me.

"Ah" said Sempai teasingly "That's a good idea.. 5,000 kicks would make the class go by quickly.."

I blinked in confusion " I just find that it's more difficult to do a good kick because I have to balance on one leg when I do the technique.. but when I punch
I have both feet on the ground."

"Aha!" jumped Sempai on my answer "You want to do balance exercises. I can provide that. 5,000 kicks balancing on one leg.. that sounds wonderful. Any more suggestions Mireille? This is shaping up to be a great class."

All of the black, and brown belts started laughing.

My husband chuckled, and said to me in one of those LOUD whispers "Honey.. I think that I'd quit talking now.."

This brought even more laughter from the class. Since it was all in good fun, I didn't mind.. but I did wonder what class was going to be like now that I had opened my big mouth.

So class happened.. but it wasn't as bad as all that.

Sure.. we worked on our roundhouse kick, and front kick, but it wasn't that awful. Sempai just helped us work on fixing those little details that smooth out the kick, and helps you maintain your support foot.

Sempai noticed a definate difference in our kicks by the end of class. Many of us had become aware of what we were doing with our support foot, and using it more effectively.

Sempai called us into kata formation, and then said "Since a certain new Shodan black belt wants to work on her kicks, I decided that the class will do a
kick with each move of the kata."

All of the students of the dojo teasingly grumbled about how they were going to repay me for my suggestion after class. I put my hand up and asked Sempai if I could be dismissed from class a good 5 minutes before everyone else so that I can have a head start of running away from them... or could he please shoot me now.

"Shooting is too quick a punishment" called out one of the brown belts "We need something more long lasting."

I just turned and gave him a pretend "frightened" look which made everyone chuckle.

We did our kata.. and I found it FUN. Adding a kick to each move was challenging mentally, and physically. I had to adjust my weight with each move. It changed
the feel of the kata, and the rhythm. It seemed that the other students had fun too. At least their faces were smiling at the end of class.

One of the more experienced black belts came up to me and said "Well.. I never thought that I'd ever see it happen.. that a student would request to do work on
their kicks during class! In the 15 years that I've been training, I've never seen it happen before.. until now.. until you. You are something else!"

All that I could do is blush.

I think that my husband is going to invest into some duct tape for his loud mouthed wife.