Of Jedi Dresses and Hurting Pretty

We aren't qualified to take this class--we don't have the required falling skills--but we poke our heads in anyway. Most of the people are wearing long black robes.

"Who are the guys in the Jedi dresses?" I whisper. Thinking about the first skirted warriors that come to mind, I add, "I don't recall any solid black tartans. I wonder if they're all going regimental...."

Tink chokes on her giggles. I'm being serious.

An older man sits peacefully on the floor. He's in an armlock with the woman standing over him. They appear motionless, but she is straining, pouring out her strength and obvious skill. WA-BAM! She is airborne, then hits the matts. It is a sound I come to love.

The woman is the director of the camp as well as the Sensei of the Suigetsu Dojo. Later, she reflects: "you can hurt people, or..." her face brightens and beams, "you can hurt people pretty!"

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, to Karate Kamp We Go!

Or more appropriately:
HI YA! HI YI! To Karate Camp Wich-ya!

Someone asks "why on earth are you going to Karate Camp?" I look at him, befuddled. "Because I CAN!" DUH!

The oldest of Denise's 7 kids didn't make the grades she needed for ROTC so she's grounded. Denise invites me in her place. It's a no-brainer.

Now, I teach Centered Riding, and many incorporate much eastern energy work into my training. I can Tai my Chi with the best of them, but I haven’t had any formal martial arts training since a brief stint with Shotokan in the dim and distant past. If I had several of me to send out into the world, martial arts would be a passion. I am jumping out of my skin with excitement!

The kids are watching Open Season on the way up, so we naturally we decide we all need cool nicknames. I am dubbed… The Gypsinator! (I’ll be baaaack).