"Karate Class"

So on Saturday, I went to “karate” with one of my students in the eleventh form. She met me outside my building in the morning and we walked across town (ten minutes) to the “karate school”. The school is located in the basement of an apartment building that I have walked past countless times. I’d never noticed the green kung-fu sign before and now that I have noticed it, I don’t know how I could possibly have missed it.

When Luda told me about her karate classes, I naturally assumed she meant karate classes; but as it turned out, there was no class. Instead, “karate” turned out to be a self-directed activity in a tiny, tiny workout center consisting of two punching bags, three ancient weight-lifting machines, barbells from Arnold’s steroid days, a bunch of mats, and a couple of benches. Luda and I changed into our workout clothes in the smelly equipment closet. (Nothing quite like that smell) Then we went out to do some “training.”

I was a little unsure what was going on at first. It took me awhile to realize that there was indeed, no karate class. At first, when Luda started stretching, I thought that perhaps we had to get warmed up on our own and then class would start, so I followed Luda’s lead: she did two quick side stretches, I did two quick side stretches; she reached down and touched her toes twice, I tried to reach down and touch my toes twice; she did two leg circles with each leg, I did two leg circles with each leg. This was our warm up. It didn’t really warm much up. Mostly it just reminded me of how out of shape I am.

After we warmed up, she escorted me to the punching bags and asked, “Do you want to hit them?” She handed me some boxing gloves and we hit the punching bag a few times. Then we kicked it a few times. Then we punched it a few more times. Then she got boxing mitts (not the proper name I know, but I’m no million dollar baby) and I punched them for a bit. Then she asked me if I was tired. I wasn’t, but we went and sat down on the mats to stretch anyway. She did a couple quick stretches, never holding anything for more than three seconds. I followed her lead because I didn’t know what else to do. By that time, it had become pretty evident that there was to be no karate proper; just karate type kicks against the punching bags, and into the air…and here I thought I could become a black belt.

That was pretty much our workout, though I did throw in some sit ups for good measure. The place was full of young kids, mostly boys, waiting to use the punching bags and doing random air kicks and punches. As unimpressive as my personal workout turned out to be, I was impressed by center as a whole. I was impressed to see a place promoting healthy living to kids. I was impressed to find a place (not the computer club) bustling with so many young boys. In that regard, I was pleasantly surprised.

The rest of my Saturday was rather uneventful. I dug out an ingrown toenail. I ate borshch. I did some lesson planning for next week. I went over to Jennifer’s house and watched a movie. I ate potatoes drizzled in mayonnaise. (Actually rather delicious. I before never knew how much potential mayonnaise has-- more than just for sandwiches folks.) I took a hot bath to sooth my muscles. I started a knitting project.

Oh yeah, I’m knitting again, and this time, I’m going to stick with it. I am determined to finish at least one domestic-type project in my life. It turns out that cross-stitching isn’t really for me, but I have high hopes for knitting.