Party of five!

So, now all five of us are active members of the Dojo Karate in Buffalo! Yes, Jim and I had our first class on Thursday. I was very nervous to do it. I really don't like new things and not knowing what to expect. And it is humbling to join a class with other adults when you are literally like a baby and don't know ANYTHING! But Mr. Newman was VERY patient with us and it was an amazing class. But holy workout! I was not expecting a full workout nor to sweat through my shirt! Sheesh! (I was pretty sore the next day, but in addition to the 45 min karate class, I ran a 5K in 28:09 that morning and shoveled snow that afternoon, so I guess its expected!) Jim and I are hoping to go to their Tues and Thurs daytime class and then maybe switch off one evening class per week (they are late, so we'd have to take turns vs. bringing the kiddos with us).

Also, one benefit of the daytime class is that Mac can take the class right after us, so it is like hitting two birds with one stone. Oh, and he literally sat "like a black belt" which means cross-cross apple sauce with your hands on your knees for our entire 45 minute class! Mr. Newman was very impressed but then thanked us for sending Mac to class with all that pent up energy! Oops, but I'll take a well behaved kid during our class over being super active in his karate class any time!

And I spoke too soon. You know how as soon as you say something, your kids make a liar out of you? Well, if you refer to my previous post, I said we weren't allowing Korri to start karate until gymnastics was over in May. BUT...okay. She REALLY wanted to start AND at least for right now, she will always be in either Mac's or Finn's class...sooooo...it isn't any extra driving and if her other activities over lap on a karate day, she will have to miss that karate class. So, we agreed to let her start on Friday! And she ROCKED it. I mean, her years of gymnastics and dance have primed her for karate. She's flexible, strong, knows how to manipulate her body and take direction very well!! She is so amazing and she LOVED it. So it feels like the right choice.

Now, yesterday, I pulled together a family meeting to stress the point that the belt level you are at and how hard you work for the next one is PERSONAL and not competitive between family members. I could see Jim and I getting competitive and certainly Finn and Korri (Mac is on a different belt color system for now). And right now, I have a feeling Korri and I might advance a little quicker just because we are both in shape (and Jim will be traveling for work, so he physically can't go to class). But at the end of the day, I wanted to stress that it is a competition inside yourself, not external. Hopefully that sank in for everybody (even myself, because I've realized lately that I can have a pretty fierce competitive drive at time!).