I've noticed something funny recently. That is, I keep finding my hands, and arms, and body doing bits and pieces of karate moves. Nothing that makes me a menace to navigation or anything -- no inadvertent spear-thrusts at innocent passersby or alarming the office mates with roundhouse kicks and kiais -- but just finding my arms or hands flexing, feeling a desire to "stretch" in the form of a fore-arm block, things like that. It's as though my body is feeling comfortable with those movements, which is just ... odd.

I don't know that I've pursued an interest  -- outside the home (or Internet) -- this diligently for some time, certainly not one with such a physical component (maybe my old square dancing days are the best precedent). My training classes are something I make a special point to schedule around (and rue when business travel takes me away from them). It's something special I share with Katherine, too, which is nice. And even though I way too often feel like I have two left feet, I never have to drag myself to the dojo. I want to be there, getting better at it.

Weird.

In upcoming events along this line, our dojo is having its spring tourney on 8 March. Katherine's competing, as she did last year -- but as an orange belt, rather than a white, which is a huge difference (and tremendous progress). I didn't compete last year (since it was just over a month after I'd started), but I planned on doing so this year -- until it ran smack-dab into my Netherlands trip. *sigh*

Later in March, we'll both learn whether Sensei thinks we're ready to test for our green belts. I don't know if I'm ready (or if Katherine's ready), but I trust Sensei to make that call. Either way, I look forward to it.

Filed under :: Karate :: Parenting
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Ah, the wonders of muscle memory!