And so it starts...

Today, I escorted my daughter to Japanese language lessons. I noticed that the gym was dark, and empty so I followed my theory of "it doesn't hurt to ask", and approached one of the main people there. They gave me permission to use the gym, and train in kata.

I chose to perform every one of my kata as if I was competing with full power, concentration, and speed. Each move existing of it's own, and needing all of my effort. I didn't stop long between kata, but kept the demand up almost flowing into the next one.

Warm up:

Kihon Sono Ichi, Ni, San
Shiho Tsuki Ichi, Ni, San
Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San
Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San Ura
Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San Tate

This took me 15 minutes to accomplish.

Main Body of work:

Pinan Sono Ichi 5 repetitions
Pinan Sono Ni 5 repetitions
Pinan Sono San 5 repetitions.

I was exhausted.. just emptied of all energy after this effort. 30 Kata one after the other with full effort totally depleted me of everything I had. I stood there on the last 3 kata of Pinan Sono San repeating to myself "Surely I can do one more.. just one more.. come on..I've got it in me.. I WANT to do the last ones.. I can do the last ones.. One more, and then I can rest.. "

Sure.. I knew that I could lower the output of my energy, and speed, and perform the kata in a more relaxed way, but that is not what I wanted. I remembered the saying of "You train like you want to fight.." I totally applied myself to the end of what I had within me, and wondered why it is that I can train for hours under my Sensei's guidance without feeling so tired, and now I'm at the end of my rope within 40 minutes of training. I think that it was the constancy of it. I just kept going, and going. There no moments to catch my breath, and listen to instruction. I just did my kata one after the other.

I only lasted 40 minutes.. Sheesh.. that's it. Part of me was disappointed.. there was so many other things that I wanted to practice.

Next time that I have a chance I'm going to work on my higher kata.