Last night, I finally got punched in the face, thank Zoroaster. Training can now begin in earnest.
Lemme back up a few months. Last November, both my sons started Tae Kwon Doe classes at Zandri's Martial Arts in Brookfield, CT. They have a deal that if 2 family members are students, everyone else is free, and they had an MMA class meeting twice a week at 815pm, which I could fit into my schedule.
So I started going twice a week. Its been hard training for me and great fun. Its not a class for aspiring cage fighters, but we cover aspects of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muy Thai, boxing, etc. (This reminds me that I should post about my Fitness Revolution at some point.)
As befits a nearly-40 year old guy with limited background in striking martial arts, I am a little timid about being hit, especially in the face. I knew that nobody there was really trying to hurt me, but I had some kind of psychological barrier that I've had trouble overcoming. I think you have to be willing to take a punch in order to wade in and land one.
So last night, after the usual warmup -- running, pushups, burpees, crunches, etc. we pair up and do some no contact sparring. I'm not sure exactly how it happened, but I moved forward throwing a jab and took my partners fist into my nose and eyebrow ridge. Smack! Ow!
It was hard enough to bleed a fair amount, but not so hard that I had to sit out for long. And LO -- my life did not end. It sucked, but not unbearably so. Maybe now, I won't be so chicken about closing in when we practice standup. When I came out of the bathroom after cleaning up the blood, I said thanks!
And later that night, when I threw a kimora on his right arm, I let go right away when he tapped. I'm not one to hold a grudge -- especially when someone does me a favor.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
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14 comments:
Think Yoda ever floated up to punch Luke in the snoot? :)
The above is in my Yoda voice. I have a GREAT Yoda voice.
I have a great Luke voice. "But I was going into Tosche Station to pick up some power converters!"
If you haven't bled in your dojo you ain't doin it right or you haven't been there long.
Pop N Fresh
Depends on the art, Pop.
well, no. or rather yes. but maybe yes and no.
We spend half our time (roughly) with brazilian jiu jitsu. much less scope for striking there, of course theres the chance that an elbow or a knee gets misplaced when you're rolling.
And there was that time that I broke the instructors nose (or so he claimed) when we rolled off the mats onto the wooden floor.
And I had a very sore elbow a couple weeks ago when my opponent got me in an arm bar and went temporarily deaf and didn't feel me tap or say "TAP" real loud.
so as long as you mean "bled" in the sense of some level pain and trauma, instead of specifically spilled blood, then yeah.
Hmmm, I've been thinking about getting a little martial arts training. I'm never going to be a black belt, but I thought some Krav Maga might be a good idea. I'd be really leery about getting punched in the face though; it'd be a shame to waste that Lasik surgery.
Are your newly-lasered corneas more vulnerable to a punch in the face?
Did you go "waaah"?
That's "Waah, Waaah". And you have to put your hand _HERE_.
"What a stupid concept."
It's hypothetically possible that a shot to the eye would jar the flap loose. That would be Bad.
Wait until the first time you're knocked unconscious. That was a real eye opener for me.
I would have thought it was quite the opposite. Maybe you were doing it wrong :)
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