Training for our schoolās embukai turns out to be an eye-opener. The learning curve is steeeeeeep! I signed up, full of confidence, also partially because my sempai offered to be uke to our techniques. He was kind enough to let me pick up all the techniques I wanted to do. Easy breezy... right?
OF COURSE NOT. Our demo takes place during the āforeigner embukaiā part. And... the top foreigner sempai (another French friend of mine) has decided that we would all start with a coordinated demo. And on that, Iām uke. Easy, then? Nope! Because all techniques are hanmi handachi - uke standing, nage sitting... and Iāve trained on that like maybe once? or twice?
So Iām taking a crash course on learning on how to take the fall 1) safely, 2) in the right direction, 3) at the right speed... AND on how to strikeĀ at the appropriate time with the right amount of speed/strength/angle on 5 different approaches.
Cherry on the top of the cake, my official partner doesnāt train in my regular dojo and is busy with his moving. So Iām basically training with two other guys, and given how important timing, speed and coordination with the other pairs (weāre 14 doing that combination at the same time), the whole stuff is still a big WIP.
Oh well. Itās not like our grandmaster and all dojo instructors will be watching us. Or 500 people in the audience. No, nothing like that. Easy breezy...