So last night I took my first karate class.
It’s down at the Lone Tree rec center, and the sensei is the same as the one that Katherine has earlier in the evening (this class is 7-8). Both sensei and everyone in the class was friendly and supportive of the “new guy.” There were six or seven others in the class — if there are more, they were frightened off by the snow and cold. I’m the only white belt — there are three yellows, a green,
two purples, and a black. All men, except the black belt. I was probably the oldest there (aside from sensei).
I didn’t go right in with a gi (karate robe) to begin with. I’m waiting for a few weeks of class to pass. We still need to figure out our family logistics on karate nights– Katherine’s class lets out at 5:35, mine starts at 7, when/where do we do dinner, do I change at home or in the locker room, etc.
Unlike Katherine’s class, it’s not held in the “fishbowl” basketball court, but in a dance studio back behind it. Which makes perfect sense, but it will be a bit more difficult for Katherine to come watch, “so I can tell you what you need to work on.”
Though I’d picked up a lot watching Katherine’s class the past few months, there is, of course, a vast difference between watching and doing. Karate is, in many ways, like golf — about twenty different things you have to remember to do at once, and just when you think you’ve gotten one of them right, another comes to bite you in the ass.
Taking the class was, frankly, a bit daunting. (It would have been more daunting if I’d known I was the only begeinner.) I’ve not taken a fitness/PE class since, well, college (fencing) (unless we’re going to count my years in square dancing), and, well, let’s be honest — the fitness/PE/sports thing is not exactly my forte. But I did — all right. At least I didn’t feel like I’d embarrassed myself when all was said and done. I made many of the right moves, learned most of a kata,
stretched in some ways better than some (and not as good as some others). I wasn’t groaning in pain after the class (I did pop a couple of Advil when I got home).
From an exercise standpoint — it was active (more active than for the kids, it seemed to me), but not exhausting. I worked up a sweat and was breathing heavily at times, and I felt it, but I don’t think this is going to be a “look, I’m losing weight through karate class” kind of thing. Which is fine, because that’s not the main reason I’m doing it. I’m doing it … well, because it’s got sort of a fun panache to it, and because I would like to condition my body and reflexes a bit.
All in all … I plan to go back.
Well, in a couple of weeks, as I have a business trip next week. Bleah.