Sunday 23rd

I could go on and on about today. But I will suffice to say that the classes were great fun and that I actually got a fair amount of sleep, so I could enjoy them. The day started out with Karen, Doug and I going out on the town in search of oranges and Gatorade for the seminar. Apparently there is no such thing as powdered Gatorade in all of New York City. The best we could do was to get large gallon bottles of it and water it down a bit. Karen and I sliced oranges during the dan class and took the kyu class. I believe I either ended up taking 2 or three classes that day. Yamada Sensei, Sugano Sensei, and Donovan Sensei all taught. I folded the former and the latter's hakama, but Sanji got to Sugano Sensei's before I could.

Later that day Karen, Sanji and I all went to a church service together and then I went out with a friend. I didn't get a lot of sleep that night either. On the way home the next day I slept through both plane rides and for several hours at home. I think I got a cold from all the fun I had while I was there. I'd do it all again if I could. I can't wait until I move up there.

Tonya

Saturday the Seminar

So the deal here is Karen and I were dying to get out on the town, and we knew that there would be so many people training that we wouldn't be missed...so we went out to Rockefeller Plaza and had our picture taken with this metal man person and looked at the Christmas tree and all the decorations. There was a whole long sidewalk thing that was about 4 inches deep in loose change that was being donated to some sort of charity or research thing. Karen and I threw in some coins. and took pictures of the people raking the money piles flat. We went into several book stores and got some things we'd wanted for a while and did a little Christmas shopping. We also learned to navigate the subway in time to make it back for the end of the shodan testing and to set up for the party.

The party was great fun. Karen and I did some line dancing (electric slide and cha cha slide) with some of the member's kids. We did some ballroom dancing with other people. I must have danced for hours with at least 20 different people. It was a blast. Karen and I both got lots of compliments on our dancing skills. The party didn't last as long as it did last year. It wrapped up around 12:30 and cleanup took only a few hours.

Tonya

Friday 21st

So I trained with Luke in the 12:15 class. I felt really confused the whole class. I believe this was because I hadn't gotten enough sleep the night before. I can't recall why. The opening was slightly different than what I was used to. I think the technique was sankyo.

I trained with a beginner in the next class. Once I was sure he knew how to roll. (He'd taken about 10 or so classes) we did the technique the rest of the class was working on. It was a bit confusing to explain things to him, especially when I wasn't quite sure myself of the opening. At times I knew what to say, though I tried to use physical cues more than words to help him out. I'm pretty sure English wasn't his first language, but he was young and learned fast.

After Sensei's class which, was very enjoyable, Karen and I went to a tango class that was just down the street. I found it very romantic and relaxing to just watch the couples dance. I really liked the music.

When I volunteered to decorate the dojo I didn't realize what a big job it was going to be. I think next time I'll start earlier. Karen and I pulled out all the stops. Mike and his friend also helped. A lot of the job included climbing rickety ladders and stringing lights around the training hall with masking tape. To make the tape stick we had to dust the walls first. It took until about 3:00 in the morning. The results were worth it though. Sensei was pleased and that he got so many compliments on the decorations. I thought Karen and I did a great job. Especially considering half of the light strings had dark patches on them. We also hung ribbon and mistletoe. (I think the latter was sorely underused.) Karen bought a tree and we decorated it with trinkets that were there, and that I brought with me.

I will say that other than decorations it was a fun night. I felt like I got much closer to the various residents of the dojo. Lots of happy and unexpected events occurred. ^_~

Tonya

Thursday 20th

I forgot to mention Wednesday night. Karen, Doug C. and I went to where Luke works. Its really nice, plus once you learn the correct way to project your voice, you can actually have a conversation over the music.

So anyway Thursday morning was fun. The openings Steve Pimsler did weren't so difficult that I had any trouble figuring them out, so I was happy.

Eran taught the 12:15 class. I recall he did a lot of slamming iriminage. I can see in my mind's eye, whomever he chose as uke making a very loud BAM! when they hit the mat. I trained with Claire that class. She was really funny. I always enjoy training with her. She puts an emphasis on not forcing the technique.

Luke's class was the next one I took. I think I had way too much fun on the last technique. We were doing jo-tori. I was already having fun because I chose to train with Allday, but anyway we did a technique where we took the jo away from uke, stepped on his foot, pushed them over and then jabbed their windpipe with the end. I was grinning the whole time. My partner seemed highly amused by it.

I had a fun class with Luis because I recognized most of his techniques as either being on my 4th or 3rd kyu test. I felt pretty smart that class.

Tonya

Rest of Wednesday

Sorry it's taken me so long to write this. I had a very eventful trip, so much so that I had trouble sitting down to write anything, because I was busy and/or preoccupied.

Anyway Sensei taught the 5:30 class and because Karen and I wanted a break at that point, we trained together. Maybe that wasn't the best choice because Sensei chose to do an opening neither of us were familiar with. It took half the class, before Doug Carey was kind enough to help us out. I think we were both a little frustrated at that point.

The last class was a lot of fun. I can't remember any specific technique's at this point but Alberto is an energetic teacher and likes to make us switch partners a lot, especially near the end of class. Then he likes to do some form of jumping up and down that kills your legs. I don't know why but that part of class always makes me laugh. I guess I like pain or something. ^_~

Tonya

Wednesday December 19

Today's first class was tons of fun. I trained with Mike in the first class. Steve Pimsler taught. He's one of my favorites because he's such a sweetheart... and his technique is really clean.
Last night we got in late around 10:30. I had fun giving the deshi the stocking I put together with Karen. They were like kids on Christmas day as they looked through it. I got them Lindt and Ghirardeli chocolates, skittles, gum, starburst, slim jims, cashews, and those fancy cookie wafer things. I think it was well appreciated.

Tonya

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