Due to an extremely busy schedule (caused by long hours at work, travel, and a sick family member... in addition to the fact that for some strange reason I live on a farm) I have missed karate classes for about 2 weeks. Last night, after a long and challenging day at work, I drove to the dojo with the intent of working out for a good three hours. I had some serious tension and stress to work off.
Well, I made the mistake of communicating this need to my instructor, who said with a nod, "OK... Grappling it is!"
For those who don't know, grappling takes a lot out of you. And for those of you don't know kenpo grappling, it hurts. A lot. You see, there are plenty of grappling and ground fighting styles out there. Every martial art incorporates at least a tiny bit (well, most of them). The most famous is probably Brazilian Jujitsu, where people spend 90% of the time on the ground getting in and out of joint locks and holds. Kenpo grappling is a lot like that... only we dont play fair. We aren't above throwing a few well placed strikes or kicks, going after an open nerve plexus, or even gauging eyes. In summary, kenpo grappling is a very good workout that has lots of real-world street fighting value.
The saying goes "It is better to cry in the dojo and laugh on the battle field". Well, I'm not expecting to get into any fights (and certainly no battles), but I was actually crying for a bit last night. Not "bwaa-haa-haaaaaa" crying, but tears-streaming-of-out-my-eye crying after my instructor dropped to one knee, solidly upon my face.
Ouch.
Anyway, the class was exactly what I needed. While I didn't make it the whole three hours (I was broken after two), I feel a thousand times better, despite a bruise above my nose, a small scratch on one eye, a scrape on my neck that looks like I got a hickey from a lawn tractor, and lots and lots of rug-burns and plenty more bruises.
Am I crazy that I love this stuff?
[edit: no, that's not actually me in that picture. It's not even my dojo, actually)