Of early work and youth karate…

Last night was pretty hectic. I had a big division meeting in the morning, so I was at work at the ungodly 7 am hour. Luckily, they supplied coffee and I was in a jittery, nervous state for about 3/4 of the event. Afterward, I had a lunch meeting in another building, so I went over there and had lunch with one of the women that hired me. She’s a great lady and has taken a vested interest in making sure Cat remains good to me. I briefly misplaced my keys, apparently they fell out of my pocket and someone turned them in to the security desk. Thanks to kind anonymous strangers for that one.

I returned back to my office to get some work done and before I knew it 4 pm had rolled around and it was time to head home. I went home, dropped a pretty gigantic deuce, and proceeded to the Boys and Girls Club for the first session of our eight week youth karate class.

How sad it has become. The one mighty bastion of youth martial arts that this club had once been is long gone. Oedewaldt has taken point for this class, and he runs it like he runs most everything else. That isn’t necessarily a good thing. Along the way, he inherited a lesson plan from Sensei Brewer (the first I’ve ever heard of Sensei Brewer actually doing this). I was shown verbatim notes, along with phrases that Kevin has elected to use for this class for all eight weeks. Maybe he and I just have completely different perspectives on how karate should be taught/trained, but having a written laundry list isn’t the way I like to do things.

Also, he talks to everyone under the age of 20 like they have Downs Syndrome, which is not endearing in the least. There were several kids of greater than average beginner ability, but yet he still soldiered on with The Plan, despite my efforts to get him to spice it up a little. During one of the moments when I got to talk to the class, I asked them who had done some type of martial art before. Three quarters of them raised their hands, and it largely showed by their ability to pick up the prescribed material for this week: rising block and front stance.

Oh, that, and he insists on bringing in a Kuras tradition… game time. He had them race across the gym doing crab walk and jumping. Is it useful for engaging children? Yes. Does it make us look like the retarded stepchildren of martial arts (especially considering most of these kids have done something else before)? I think so. Am I upset that this is what has become of the class that I started Karate in? Oh yeah.

In the end, though, the class ended up being pretty good. There were several parents that came up to me to ask me questions, and he attempted to chime in and I shooed him away. I am perfectly capable of answering the questions of white-belt parents. I think I talked one of the families into coming to the YWCA classes, which we will see if they actually show up.

After this I went home for awhile, got some dinner and watched a little TV. Tasha and I grabbed a quick Double D’s ice cream (they’re closing on Sept 24!!) and then we headed home. I had plans to join and Turner-san for a movie tonight at Turners house. Unfortunately, Matt bowed out due to last minute wedding plans. I still went over and visited Turner, as we don’t get to hang out very often. It was a good time, I stayed for an hour and a half or so. I stopped by my parents to drop a few things off and then it was home to bed.

This weekend will be busy with the joy and awesomeness that will be the wedding of and . I will probably not make it to Karate as I have to finance my wife’s new dress for the wedding, which must be purchased tonight.