The mania continues...
Sep. 8th, 2003 10:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trinityvixenOkay, I'm stupid for karate. I know I am. Senpai Phil (very infamous but previously non-entity in my experience) led our class today. Senpai Phil introduced himself to me, little kindness, the usual go-no-where type intro that has become the staple of many go-no-where interactions that are the staples of my life here. Anyway, class started and man, did I find out why he's so infamous.
Senpai Phil's class was easily the hardest and most enjoyable class I've had to date. It was HARD--60 curl ups! 60!! Senpai Vicki came around and patted stomachs saying "tight stomachs!" to make us feel guilty if they weren't. And Senpai Phil being ever so helpful *rolls eyes* kept pushing our bent legs away from our bodies, making it even harder to get that last twenty done. Ugh, it hurt! But man, did Senpai Phil keep us going, just kept at it. We broke into twos for defence thingys (man, I'm a slower learner than I thought--I can't even remember the names of things in English any more), and Senpai Phil kept mocking my stance--said I was rushing, wasn't bending the leg, etc etc. My partner (who I met at the girls' night out for Seido Richmond but whose name escapes me) critiqued my block, saying I was letting my arm swing out too far. Coupled with Senpai Vicki having to tell me again that I was leaning too much during punches, I got it from all sides (though Senpai Vicki noted that I obviously realized the difference seeing as I reproached myself and corrected it before she made her comment--just a friendly reminder).
Note: being constantly criticized might seem disheartening, but I was thrilled. I'm frankly sick of people praising me for my efforts--some negative reinforcement, a little frustration, a little nagging, and I get things done/fixed/improved. My blocks felt stronger, though I was paying much too much attention to my leg and kept forgetting my hand motions--will have to practice that some more.
The highlight of the evening was the 'push over your partner' exercise in balance and the balancing with one's eyes closed. Oh, eyes closed and on one foot. You open your eyes, put the foot down, you sit it out. I did really well. I mean really well. Senpai Phil went around plain pushing over some students, just for a lark, came over to where I was (and, as it turned out another girl, though I didn't know--eyes closed!) and kept asking us if we were having dirty thoughts (infamy, thy name is Senpai Phil, and I'm getting a good idea why). You'd know who was still up based on the "Osu!"s people shouted. I gathered no one knew my name for a bit, then someone said it and others cheered--those who were sitting it out already. They got really noisy whenever I shifted or hopped to regain my balance, which actually felt great. It was nice to be able to do something right for a change. Senpai Phil had to call time out eventually as I and three other guys (yep, was the only girl still standing ^.^) weren't falling down in time for class to end. Hee, can't end class till the last tree falls. I may have to go standing about on the other foot now to even it out--my right leg was killing me.
Anyway, it's off to work now, finally, after weeks of shunning. I got back my first submitted assignment to an 8 (presumably out of 10), which is a bummer since I was so careful with it. The paper I'm about to get started on was due Friday, never did find out if I got the extension, frankly don't care. Just going to try. I'm worried about the grade as it's going to be either 6% or 3% (the website can't agree on the % per day penalty) off before it's even submitted (and that's IF the teacher was joking about not accepting ANY late papers, ulp!). However, thanks to Columbia's elitist bs, grades don't affect my GPA! I just have to pass...*crosses fingers* That might be harder than I think as it's a Poli-Sci course. Sheisse.
Senpai Phil's class was easily the hardest and most enjoyable class I've had to date. It was HARD--60 curl ups! 60!! Senpai Vicki came around and patted stomachs saying "tight stomachs!" to make us feel guilty if they weren't. And Senpai Phil being ever so helpful *rolls eyes* kept pushing our bent legs away from our bodies, making it even harder to get that last twenty done. Ugh, it hurt! But man, did Senpai Phil keep us going, just kept at it. We broke into twos for defence thingys (man, I'm a slower learner than I thought--I can't even remember the names of things in English any more), and Senpai Phil kept mocking my stance--said I was rushing, wasn't bending the leg, etc etc. My partner (who I met at the girls' night out for Seido Richmond but whose name escapes me) critiqued my block, saying I was letting my arm swing out too far. Coupled with Senpai Vicki having to tell me again that I was leaning too much during punches, I got it from all sides (though Senpai Vicki noted that I obviously realized the difference seeing as I reproached myself and corrected it before she made her comment--just a friendly reminder).
Note: being constantly criticized might seem disheartening, but I was thrilled. I'm frankly sick of people praising me for my efforts--some negative reinforcement, a little frustration, a little nagging, and I get things done/fixed/improved. My blocks felt stronger, though I was paying much too much attention to my leg and kept forgetting my hand motions--will have to practice that some more.
The highlight of the evening was the 'push over your partner' exercise in balance and the balancing with one's eyes closed. Oh, eyes closed and on one foot. You open your eyes, put the foot down, you sit it out. I did really well. I mean really well. Senpai Phil went around plain pushing over some students, just for a lark, came over to where I was (and, as it turned out another girl, though I didn't know--eyes closed!) and kept asking us if we were having dirty thoughts (infamy, thy name is Senpai Phil, and I'm getting a good idea why). You'd know who was still up based on the "Osu!"s people shouted. I gathered no one knew my name for a bit, then someone said it and others cheered--those who were sitting it out already. They got really noisy whenever I shifted or hopped to regain my balance, which actually felt great. It was nice to be able to do something right for a change. Senpai Phil had to call time out eventually as I and three other guys (yep, was the only girl still standing ^.^) weren't falling down in time for class to end. Hee, can't end class till the last tree falls. I may have to go standing about on the other foot now to even it out--my right leg was killing me.
Anyway, it's off to work now, finally, after weeks of shunning. I got back my first submitted assignment to an 8 (presumably out of 10), which is a bummer since I was so careful with it. The paper I'm about to get started on was due Friday, never did find out if I got the extension, frankly don't care. Just going to try. I'm worried about the grade as it's going to be either 6% or 3% (the website can't agree on the % per day penalty) off before it's even submitted (and that's IF the teacher was joking about not accepting ANY late papers, ulp!). However, thanks to Columbia's elitist bs, grades don't affect my GPA! I just have to pass...*crosses fingers* That might be harder than I think as it's a Poli-Sci course. Sheisse.
