Okay... it wasn't a typical karate class. Mommy was the sensei (Show of hands: how many of you knew I actually am a real sensei? It doesn't come up often here!). It took place in our living room after we picked up the toys (Sadie is seldom that enthusiastic about picking up her toys!). And in the beginning it was a private lesson, with just Sadie, who had begged for nearly an hour before our little lesson to start learning karate so that she could be a "rescuer." She's very into "rescuing" Mae Bae these days, regardless of whether Mae wants or needs to be rescued.
To really explain how excited Sadie was about her "karate class" I'd have to add that she actually agreed to wear pants. Of course she changed out of them moments after our lesson was over, but getting her into pants any other time is pretty much impossible. We had tears at bedtime when I only had pants and a shirt for her to wear as pjs... because she had her heart set on a nightdress that was in the hamper...
Mae didn't take much notice of what we were doing at first. She was playing with a flashlight that Sadie has swiped out of my closet. After about twenty minutes she noticed and came over and laughed hysterically at every punch or kick. She loved the sound of my gi snapping with each kick and she was especially amused by the fact that I was counting out loud in Japanese.
By the end of the lesson Sadie had actually managed a few pretty good kicks. Not bad for a three year old! I kind of wish I'd started when I was three!
I've decided to start training again for exercise and I have a feeling that Sadie and Mae's enthusiasm to "practice karate," will be good motivation to train daily. It would be nice to have a place to train outside the house, maybe once a week... but I have a feeling that's a few years off! Maybe after Paul graduates.
I haven't mentioned karate on her very often, but it used to be a big part of my life. I have a black belt in Shorin Ryu Karate, a brown belt in Kyokushin Karate, a green belt in Taekwondo and I studied Aikido and Wushu for a bit in college (I was horrible when I gave Wushu a try when I was in Cape Town... it was too different from all the training I'd had previously). I taught a class briefly for the recreational sports department at my college, but hadn't had the time to train very often in the past half decade. Now it'll be something fun that the girls can learn with me, that will mean a little more exercise. I have a feeling I'm going to be sore tomorrow morning from the little we did today! It's definitely a good way to get back into shape!
I've my first black stripe in Unified Tae Kwon Do (in Unified, that was the first of two tests before you could be given your black belt) from back in college. Spent a summer assisting at a Tae Kwon Do daycamp which was fun. I loved it but dropped out when I had my first child. It was very good exercise and I still habitually use the safety habits I developed in those classes.
ReplyDeleteI have a black belt in Hwa Rang Do, a Korean martial art. I loved it and I still use those safety habits Ann spoke of. Falling down is something I think everyone should learn. My niece broke her shoulder and wrist when she fell off her bike trying to stop herself by putting out her hands. Poor thing.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was first in martial arts our head instructor would bring in his kids, he had 8, and the three year old would do push ups for us. He thought it was a great game. All of the kids were amazing at martial arts and would do the most agile moves.
One thing I really like about teaching children martial arts is that you also teach them about protecting others and not using martial arts on your family members or friends. They learn safety and responsibility. Something that is much lacking nowadays. They also learn to protect themselves from others and from getting hurt in an accident.
Since you have girls, you might want to get them involved in judo or jujitsu when they are old enough. I found that more often than not, if someone bigger and stronger gets you on the ground you have to be able to fight from there. I loved my grappling classes as they are mostly about leverage and the smallest girl can win against the biggest guy (I've seen it).
Good job!
Which kind of Taekwondo did you do? I recently started ATA Taekwondo, and have been having a lot of fun with it. My husband is taking it too, but is several ranks higher then I am as he started while I was pregnant, and he's looking forward to teaching our kids one day.
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