Saturday

We started with our customeary 15-set conditioning exercises with
varied breathing, and then wiggling across the floor using just the
hips or shoulders. We stretched our wrists and shoulders, using both
the floor and our partners for static resistance. We held our
partners' heads while they had to fall backwards with back perfectly
straight. Then we did some unusual and challenging gymnastic
exercises with our partners on the mats. One person kneeled on the
mat and tilted forward while the other stepped on the back of toes.
The idea is to keep your back straight, but most of us had to use our
hands to break the fall. Our instructor demonstrated doing the
wheelbarrow with someone holding your ankles, hopping forward with
your hands and clapping between hops. Once in position, I found
simply standing still to be a challenge, hopping, much less clapping,
utterly impossible. We also tried rotating around our partners monkey-
style, starting in piggyback position, which turned out to be equally
difficult for the partner pretending to be the tree. I tried a few of
times and didn't even get halfway around, despite clinging to my
partner's neck with all my strength.

We worked on the mats for the entire class, focusing on rolling with
proper attention to distance, direction, and timing. We had to roll
toward and around our partners, with one arm leading and grabbing
their legs to guide the rotation, and then using our feet or hands to
take them down. I found it challenging to end up in the right place,
but I enjoyed this exercise. I felt more aware of the reach of my
body afterwards. But I am far from getting the hang of strategic
rolling. Here's a video clip if you're interested in seeing some
accomplished offensive rollers, it's #5:
http://groups.msn.com/RMAHamilton/videoclips.msnw

We also practiced kneeling while evading kicks launched from behind,
from the front, and sitting down evading kicks from the side by
swiveling the knees, keeping one leg straight, flattened out in a
ballet-like position. But the trick is not just to avoid, but to to
use the momentum of evasion to immediately swivel and rotate back
toward your partner. It has to be simultaneous with the kick:
flatten, swivel, and come back. These exercises were like the warmups
that we do starting in a backbend, and exchanging hand and feet
placement while flipping over into a pushup sort of position.

My mom and I were trying to master the art of rolling, so we did not
practice takedowns quite so much. I wanted her to teach me how to do
a backwards roll, but I was too scared to try it more than a couple
of times. I can't figure out how to tuck my neck properly and I have
to confess, I am frightened of breaking it. But at least I got the
chance to improve on my forward rolls. By the end of class I had
figured out how to change direction in mid-roll to land closer to my
partner. I am still a bit skittish to roll from a standing position
even though we were on the mats. I can't quite dive forward, I have
to lift high behind me and let the weight of my lifted leg topple me
forward.

I sometimes roll in my apartment but it's quite small and I can only
roll once in two directions. Avoiding the furniture is an exercise in
itself. The park is a more suitable place to practice rolling,
weather permitting.

*Vsego nailuchshego* (best wishes),
Rachel