Inteeeeeention! Aye, sir!

 1 October 2013

 
Dear Diary,
 
"Come 30 minutes early!" Um. Okay. Do I really want 30 extra minutes of wushu knowing how sore I was after the first 1 1/2 hour lesson? Lesson 2 was only the standard hour but if Aman has nothing the hour before me, he loves wushu enough to be pained watching me learn for a longer period of time.
 
This time, I could feel as my hip sockets went through their range of motion, getting warmer and looser. And tired. Oh, so very tired. I actually took a nap. I think I took a nap anyway. I might have just zoned on the couch as Kaelyn played on Minion Rush on my phone. At least I can pretend Minion Rush is good. It really helps with her hand/eye coordination. She is learning to look right in front of her as well as what is coming. She is reacting better and able to reach some decent distances. 1500 meters from a 3 year old.
 
So I think I had a little cat nap but I'm really not that sure.
 
We went through a lot of things during wushu. Some new and some old. Can I call anything old when it is only the third lesson? One of the awesome things about taking one-on-one lessons instead of a regular wushu class is that everything is catered to me. All the focus is on me (eh, okay, maybe not so comfortable feeling). Anything we do is because I'm ready to start figuring it out. That's what happens a lot. I start to figure it out during the lesson, then I really figure it out during the week. When I return, I amaze Aman with my super I-don't-completely-suck skills. My technique and flexibility have a long ways to go but right now, I'll go for seeing improvement.
 
Aman has begun to anticipate my questions. When he shows me something new, he tells me the practical application. "Let's start something fun. A backwards sweep. To knock people off their feet." I think my arms are short compared to my torso. I don't know how to get my hands to the ground to assist my momentum to get around while keeping my torso upright. Or I just need the practice. (I probably just need practice.)
 

 
The good news is, I didn't fall down. I even managed to turn! My first attempt was about 1/4 turn. After 4 or 5 tries, I got to a 1/2 turn.
 
Each week seems to have its own mantra, something that gets repeated frequently and I know I need to make sure to focus on it before the next lesson.
1: Shoulders down.
2: Loosen up.
3: Thumbs.
 
As in, you're going to break your thumbs if you get into a fight because you keep not keeping them tucked over the first two knuckles. Just between you and me, Diary, if I get into a fight right now, a lot more will be broken than just my thumbs. Still, something to remember to check frequently.
 
The overarching mantra is to have intent. I need to execute each movement with its intended purpose.
 
My new stance is rest stance. It isn't as bad as drop stance. I talked to Jared about it and he likes rest stance so I'm thinking that my thighs get in the way of me enjoying rest stance. I just can't sit very comfortably on my heel. Not terrible, just not like I could happily stay there forever.
 

 
Also new this week was a side thrusting kick. Must. Work. On. Balance. Any work where my left leg is the one holding my weight is not as awful as when my right leg is the standing leg. I will need to practice a little extra with my right leg down for a bit until my balance evens out a little more.
 
There were a few times when I had a bit of a shoe problem. Last year, I moved from an almost minimalist shoe to an extremely minimalist shoe. They work great for just about everything and I don't get shin splints like I was with tennis shoes. Hooray! The problem is that it really hurts to run on gravel or evil acorns AND they actually are a bit too big since they loosen with use. So they move around a bit too much on my feet. When running, I can put socks on and eliminate the problem. The problem with socks in wushu is that it's another thing that can slip and move around. Not so good when you're trying a stretch kick and working on snapping up and down. Ahem, kicking WITH INTENTION. I didn't fall but I could have easily. So I went ahead and bought a different brand which should arrive next week, hopefully before wushu but if not, no big deal. It'd be cool if I could fit into Jared's old wushu shoes but, alas, his feet are a bit bigger than mine (and the soles are super smooth so they'd probably cause me to fall at this stage of learning anyway).




 
 
2 October 2013
 
Dear Diary,
 
Oh my gluteous maximus.
 
That is all.
 


 
3 October 2013
 
Diary!!! Shoes. New shoes. I love them!

 



I finally get the chance to tie them a bit different off a thing I've had pinned on Pinterest for a while. Different ways to tie your shoes based on your foot. I've never needed but my feet aren't normal so I figured I would one day. That day has come!
 




 




4 October 2013
 
Dear Diary,
 
Shoes.
 
New shoes.
 
They could hurt a little less.
 

 




5 October 2013
 
Dear Diary,
 
Boooooo! While practicing today, something in my left hip joint started hurting. It doesn't hurt constantly, only when I maneuver it a certain way. I'll have to take it easy and be sure to stretch it. It's not like I was doing anything really rough so I don't know what caused it to start hurting.
 
In good news, rest stance is becoming easier. The backward sweep is not quite as terribly awkward as before but I still can not quite go a full half circle (haha) around. That could be because I have to practice it on the driveway. I don't have a space in my house quite big enough. Differently material underfoot.



Oh, and Kimmi said my front stretch kicks were looking improved. (!!!!!) (Yes, that is me rejoicing in the inside.)