What better time to update my online diary than a cold, October afternoon when I have absolutely nothing to do and am bored out of my mind. The start of my final week off of the year started in the same way that most of my holidays do, something goes wrong. Fortunately it hasn’t been as bad as previous holiday experiences like the time I managed to put myself on crutches for five months on the first night.
As my week off started it became apparent that I was to be the recipient of the mother of all colds, starting off with a slightly blocked nose, to an all out bed-ridden, tissue fest. This was coupled with the annoyance of my mum’s car failing its MOT, which meant that her alternative transport method to work was to be my car, leaving me grounded from 8:30am to 6:00pm. It hasn’t been too bad in all fairness and its not like I have been feeling up to touring Cornwall, it just means that I actually have to get off my arse and walk for a change. I know that sounds very lazy but come on, its not like I don’t get enough exercise is it!
As the realisation of a week indoors dawned on me, I decided it was probably a good time to renew my studies into the history of Korean martial arts, and also to watch as many films as I can. I have gone through my Stanley Kubrick and Bruce Lee phases and am now thinking that I am drifting towards some Horror stuff, kicking off nice and light with Sleepy Hollow tonight I reckon. It’s nice to have a slow paced, relaxing week to be honest as work has been pretty hectic, as has training and my social life. The weekend before last started with a trip to the Corn Exchange for the end of month rock night which consists of live bands and rock/metal favourites, complimented with a nice frothy jug of ale. The following day it was back up to Dartmoor for a night around the camp fire (literally) and then back for two hours of training the following Sunday, making it a very tiring, but totally cool weekend.
Training has been very hectic recently, mainly due to the new syllabus introduced to the Kickboxing class which now gives students the chance to grade up to black belt. We also have a great new uniform to go with it, which I am really enjoying training in due to it being nice and loose, but also having a lot of stretch in it making it very nice for sparring, and also making it my current outfit of choice in Viper Squad sessions. Squad training has been pretty brutal lately as we have all tried to step up the level of competitiveness which naturally leads to heavier contact in the fights, but also makes them closely simulate a tournament style fight, which to be honest is the whole point isn’t it!
From a traditional view, I have been working through the two Chil Sung forms that we learnt at the seminar and have just about got Chil Sung Ee Ro all the way through (although making it look good is another thing), while I can only really remember the first section of Chil Sung Il Ro. I am also in the market for a new Bo-Staff this month as I don’t own a really nice one for performance and seeing as some of my future gradings may include some Bo Hyung, I might as well push the boat out a bit. One thing that did make me smile was in last night’s lesson when I said to two of the young white belts “alright guys?” in which they simultaneously replied “yes sir!” No one has ever called me sir before, and I don’t think my current status within the club really warrants that level of respect, but it did put a smile on my face all the same.
The only real thing I have to grumble about, apart from my cold is my latest injury setback, my foot. In last Wednesdays lesson we were doing a bit of knee wrestling which resulted in me removing a chunk of skin off the top of my left foot due to the friction on the mats. This absolutely hurts like hell and means that wearing shoes is not only painful but bloody awkward as well, and I am starting to think that it may be carrying a little infection due to its reluctance to heal. There, whinge over. Now I can turn my attention back to buying things that I can’t afford and enjoying the last couple of weeks of my life as a 27 year old. Did I mention it was my birthday soon…
Right, bit of music is it?
Ah go on then! This song reminds me of being 14 years old, long hot summers, and spending all my spare time in the sea. (inspired by old photos).
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