Yesterday was aite, actually. Junior class was patterns and partner stretching. Master L turned up (he's been at uni for a year, and was actually one of my original instructors, so it was a bit cool to show him whether I'd improved or not while he was away!), as well as the world champ-I-don't-know-if-I-like-him guy, and friendly P. Friendly P used to be a green belt about 5 years ago, but got in a motorbike accident and messed his shoulder up. He's trying to come back, but his shoulder gives him issues a fair bit.

The patterns was cool, because I was asked to teach a yellow belt her pattern for a bit, and then I got dropped in with Master L and World Champ (the only two black belts) to do Ko Dang. That's an honour, right? RIGHT? So yeah, that was good.

Stretching was as per usual, partner stretches are useful, and I can almost do the splits, shoop woop.

In the senior class we worked on sparring technique on bags. Person holding the bag had to rush at you constantly, and the idea was to keep them from advancing through force, speed, side stepping and back kicks. I didn't fair as badly as I thought. I'm not usually the best under pressure. For normal bagwork the person with the pad would rush in, and the aim was to stop them dead with a back kick, or a lead leg side kick. Again, I didn't do too badly.

Friendly P said he was impressed with how much I'd progressed since I'd last done a lesson with him. I think he last coached us when I was also a green belt. So, two belts ago? About four months? He said he couldn't understand how I was able to generate such power when I am tiny. I explained it was about still having the mentality of thinking I'm massively fat, and he said to keep that mentality, ahaha. Oh Friendly P, you're so friendly!

The American seminar draws closer, in July, and I am so excited to meet them and train with them. It's weird to think a whole team of high ranking dans will be here with us. So cool!