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Churyoku!!

Posted 19 Sep 2005 in personal

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Today, I enjoyed burning my feet.

Yeah, I know that’s weird. So bear with me a few minutes.

My sensei (instructor in Japanese swordsmanship) asked me last month to help in a demonstration at the Japanese Fall Festival that Fujitsu was gonna be putting on. Apparently it’s a big thing they do every year. I had no idea how big. But anyhow, I agreed. Only thing is, I haven’t been practicing that much lately so I felt really uncomfortable about demonstrating our art when I’m not in top form. In the past 6 months, I’ve probably made it to class twice a month. Ugh! Used to be, I NEVER missed a class. For the first 5 years, I was at every class, seminar, extra practice, you name it and I was there. And for some reason, I’ve just slacked way the hell off. I’m sure part has to do with the fact that my divorce became final this spring. And I’ve had to deal with a ton of drama in my life over the past 2 years which ramped up substantially this year.

But that shouldn’t matter. I should have stayed focused and continued my training as normal. Beating myself up now does nothing, though. Suffice it to say, I’m a little rusty.

Still, this was just the the opportunity I needed to motivate myself again.

The festival was only about 3 miles from my apartment, so I didn’t have to go far to get there. But when I got there, I was stunned by the crowd assembled on the “campus” of the Fujitsu company. This was HUGE! There were dozens of booths with different kinds of Japanese food; everything from yakisoba and sushi to odd-looking meatball-like objects in plastic trays and cold noodles with krab (always beware when they spell crab with a “k”). The food smelled SO good! I was eager to finish the demo so I could chow down on food I rarely get to enjoy.

There was also a booth devoted to anime, and more than a few teenagers (and more than a few patheic denizens of their parents’ basements) dressed in wannabe kimonos.

I made sure to arrive a little early so I could change into my hakama and warm up. I met up with my instructor, Paul, and while discussed the demo, we realized that we were gonna be performing out there on the concrete. Not that big a deal, except for the fact that we don’t wear shoes with our uniform. And it was 1:00 in the afternoon. In Texas. The temperature was already about 99°.

Wincing yet?

I sure was. Once it was our turn, we took off our sandals, bowed to the crowd, Paul gave a short speech and we began our demonstration. Standing still was torture. It felt like walking on hot coals, without the walking part.

And here I am, trying to act all stoic and focused in front of about 200 people.

Inside, my feet are screaming for me to move. And it’s all I can do to stand perfectly still until it’s time to step and cut. It sure does test one’s focus to try to move in a balanced way and make a strong cut while one’s feet are sizzling like so much bacon.

(Allow me a moment to brag, but I kicked ass. Didn’t flinch. Did every kata and kumitachi perfectly.)

Outside, I was calm and intense.

Inside, I was doing the Snoopy dance.

Luckily, the demo only lasted about 15 minutes. We did some solo exercises, some paired work, and then Paul did some tameshigiri (cutting traditional straw mats with a live blade). It went really well and we got lots of compliments and requests for our website URL. It’ll be interesting to see if we get any new students out of this. We usually do.

I know of at least one. Me.

I’m back.

Posted by FullMetalPatriot
12th gen. American, Constitutionalist, Harley-riding Texan, gun owner & NRA member, blogger, illustrator, Florida Gator alumnus. #TCOT

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