New Tricks: Wheel Kick

Sensei Kristen O'conner led class in Shihan's absence a week ago last Monday. It started out as normal, but ended kind of strange. We did our usual, punches, blocks, and kicks. It was hot and even in the winter, that room gets steamy and uncomfortable. After, I looked silly, drinking from my tiny 1 cup water bottles. I picked up the wrong size case of water. They are so funny looking. Poland spring carries these tiny little bottles of water, that are 8 ounces of water. I can drink that in one sip after kihon, and did.

Sensei was very peculiar that night. She warned us that Shihan had instructed her to get us ready for something complicated. She said not to worry about it. It can be done, but it will be hard, but she was not going to tell us what it was. "Above all", she said, "don't give up". Very hard to concentrate on what we are supposed to learn, when the whole time I am trying to figure out what we are going to learn next week. Added a little more interest to the night though. I like puzzles.

New Tattoo

Last week I finally got my tattoo. I wanted to cover and ugly little bunny that has lived on my arm for way too many years.

I had found a beautiful Japanese watercolor on rice paper of cherry blossoms. I really wanted the flow and the translucent colors of the paint to be on my arm. I had thought of the kyokushin kanji. I was going to wait until I reach the black belt level, but was thinking about the title I won. How many times in my life am I ever going to be champion at anything. So I went with it.

I went to my buddy Ryan and we drew it right on my arm. I took a picture with my cell phone and sent it to my husband.  We sat down and started a few minutes later. Just as Ryan started the Kanji, my phone buzzes. "It's too big" is the text message from my husband. "Too Late" says Ryan and continues to buzz away at my arm.

This is only the first half. I want it to go down my shoulder and have a twig come up over my collar bone. I also want to put a flower pedal 'under' the kanji, just one.