One daruma down

[klwilliams]

I took my black belt test on Saturday, and passed. My uke was an old friend who, for her fifth kyu test, I was her uke. She got her black belt several years ago, while my back was injured.

Since I can't do suwari waza, I did a lot more standing techniques than usual. Of course my sensei asked me to do sankyo from various attacks, which is one technique I was hoping to slip by unnoticed (I'm not comfortable with the turning version. I just don't see the point.). I did all right, though. The guy who tested before didn't do very well on the randori (three attackers at once) part of his test, and I think that my sensei thought I wouldn't, either, because he sent in the attackers staggered (first one, then the second joined him, then the third joined them). When the second attacker came in, I don't know what I did, but I somehow tripped and fell over, but I got right back up, and did very well. (I know I did, because just about everyone watching the test made a point of telling me so.) I like randori, because it's smooth, graceful, and lets you through lots of people across the room.

So, now I'm a black belt. Now I have to be a black belt, which is a little scary. (On the way home from the test, I stopped by the martial arts store and bought a black belt. I ordered my hakama this morning.)

And my cold is almost gone.

Current book: PALADIN OF SOULS, by Lois McMaster Bujold

Comments

[kathlaw.livejournal.com]

I ordered my hakama this morning.

What's a hakama? And to be precise, you're a black belt in Akido, right?

BTW-- I read PALADIN OF SOULS on Sunday, and adored it. Perhaps because of my age, I liked it even better than CURSE OF CHALION.

Of course I did have that moment of writer's despair in thinking I could never write that well. But I whapped myself vigorously about the head and shoulders and got over it. :-) Because of course I don't have to write like her; she can't write like me, either. And she doesn't do screenplays, thank heaven.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

> What's a hakama? And to be precise, you're a black belt in Akido, right?

Yes, I'm a black belt in aikido, and in aikido, black belts wear black belts and a hakama over their gi. A hakama is a pair of traditional Japanese men's pants, and looks like a long pleated skirt.

> Perhaps because of my age, I liked it even better than CURSE OF CHALION.

Me, too. Something about a 40-year-old woman saving the entire country and finding true love just appeals to me.

> Of course I did have that moment of writer's despair in thinking I could never write that well.

That's because you're comparing your first novel to her fifteenth (or whatever it is now). Go read her first novel.

[kathlaw.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I've seen akido sparring in full costume and that's a great swirling skirt.

That's because you're comparing your first novel to her fifteenth (or whatever it is now). Go read her first novel.

Good point. I have hopes of attaining SHARDS OF HONOR level.