First Time At Aikido

I finally got to the Aikido class. Hugslut came with me to check out a Saturday morning all levels class. She was less drawn than I was so I went to a free beginners class by myself last night. It was SO MUCH FUN!


I threw myself into it determined to not be the scared newbie who doesn't even manage a summersault because they're so tense and I had a great time. The people are great, and the class size is small enough that there's enough high levels to help with all the low levels (because if you pair a newb with a newb they're both just gonna get hurt).

As I was signing up, I was chatting with one of the higher levels and he was telling me "just relax and don't worry if you don't get something. We all started there and no one gets the techniques right on the first try . . .  except for Dancers, we hate dancers. I mean, we LOVE dancers, but we 'hate' dancers. They'll walk in off the street as a rank newb and watch the sensei perform a technique once and pick it right up. It's all just choreography to them." To this I think I mumbled something about seeing how that could be frustrating... and then promptly forgot it since I have had no dancing classes and had nothing really to add.

Later, I was paired up with a different blackbelt and having a hell of a time keeping my balance on one move we were trying to do. I told him "I don't know what to do with my feet so they just stay put and then I fall down"(I was supposed to loose my balance, but 2 seconds later in the move, and in a position he could support me and I didn't actually fall). He stopped, stood by my side and talked me through "and when I do THIS, then swing your right foot all the way back so you're facing the back door". Then next run-through I could feel the flow of where I was going and did NOT fall down. At that point he said, "Ah, a Dancer" and I'd never been so "wtf? no?" and "d'aww, thanks" at the same time.

Today I was surprised. I expected some bruising and a bunch of DOMS, and instead. . .  nothing hurts, I have no bruises, I'm not even stiff, but my joints are . . . . lazy? My knees and an ankles are both on work-to-rule. They sometimes say no to getting up from sitting, they sometimes wobble on walks, and refuse to carry additional weight. It got better as the day progressed, but it was SO weird. If something hurt I would have gone to a doc but, it seems I'm just getting some enforced rest.

I'm hoping to be back to normal for Saturday morning. A Saturday morning & Tuesday night schedule would be awesome if I can. . . If my body won't let me yet, once a week will do.