Those were the Days

Those were the Days

I started going to United Studios of Self Defense almost nine years ago.

Wow, I can’t believe it’s been that long. I did take a year off after I tore my Achilles tendon (because it’s pretty much impossible to let that heal up when you’re jumping around on it three times a week).

Still almost eight years total? I’m glad I can say I’ve got a black belt to show for it. A long road, but a fun one! Plus, I love telling guys (when they inquire) that yes, I can kill them. Maybe that’s why I’m still single. Who knows.

Back to my point. Tonight Sensei pulled out the very first thing I ever learned about Kempo. It’s a grab escape. If someone grabs your shirt or the front of your jacket and starts to get rowdy, you do this move. Well, there are probably a thousand moves you can do, but this one is great. And, as I mentioned, it’s the first move I ever learned.

A handful of instructors came to a church activity for the women and showed us some kicking, punching and how to get away from would be attackers. It took exactly two kicks for me to decide I wanted to join. After they taught us this grab escape I was hooked. Doing it tonight brought eight years of wild and crazy memories back to me. Like the fist time I sparred and the fist time I grappled. (The grappling match lasted a grand total of four seconds–I got wasted.) I also thought about the first time I could do ten lunges while touching my knee to the ground. I can still do the lunges, but my knees don’t like it much and I like to whine about it. Mostly in my head. Sensei punishes whiners. Trust me.