I was at my friend Annie’s house for her annual holiday party. As usual, most of the adults were crammed into the kitchen, watching Annie heat up pizza and hors devours while we chatted.
“I can’t get over how different you look,” she said. “How much weight have you lost?”
“Umm, like 103 lbs?” I said. (Like I wasn’t sure of exactly how much I lost.)
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared in my direction. It occurred to me that, some of these people haven’t seen in me in a year or more and probably didn’t even recognize me. I began to get uncomfortable with everyone staring, so I pulled out my all-purpose response, “I know. It’s crazy, right?”
So, I found myself explaining paleo, watching their faces slowly morph into expressions of horror. (So many people want to know how I did it, want the same results. But when I tell them what I did, they think it’s “crazy.”) I talked about my love of competitive karate and how disappointed I was that I had to take some time off from Cross Fit for financial reasons.
“That’s too bad,” said Annie. “You know, if there’s anything I can do for you at the [yoga] studio…” (Did I mention that Annie owns Annie’s Om Towne Fitness?)
“Actually,” I paused. “I was wondering if I could borrow your students to try motivational speaking.”
Annie’s eyebrows flew up into her hairline. Obviously, she wasn’t expecting this direction.
“I know, I know. But, I did this short seminar-thing for work and I didn’t entirely suck at it. In fact, I got some hella laughs. A lot of bloggers get public speaking gigs and, I thought, this could be something I can be good at. Eventually. If I can find an audience willing to put up with my learning curve.”
She stared at me for a second. “I was thinking more of having you teach a class.”
“Oh.” Now, I was the one who was surprised. “In what?”
“In Isshinryu,” she said slowly.
“No,” I said flatly.
I'm not going to start holding classes on my own as a brand new black belt…in an area that is flush with with martial arts schools. The idea is crazy. Still, I’ve had this idea that’s been in the back of my head for more than a year. Not for a karate class, but fitness classes that would marry into traditional martial arts.
The idea had been there for a while, tucked into a little nook in my brain. Once in a while, I would pull it out, dust it off and give a hard look at it. Then, I'd put it away again. But it was there. And now there's a chance to make it happen. (Plus, I had this really cool domain name I purchased on a whim.) Now, I had this chance to a fun fitness class for a huge group of people (or a group of huge people) for whom traditional classes had no appeal. People like...well, like me.
So, I talked to Annie again (and checked with my Sensei) and (between us) we came up with a beginning class for adults. I'm calling it Fit Karate-ka Elements. (I stole the "elements" term from CrossFit. It means "stuff you can use later.") It uses the traditional kicks, punches, blocks and drills of Isshinryu, set to music. Kind of like Taebo but with better music…and learning real karate elements so students can move into traditional karate classes, later, if they want.
The class will be held from 7:15 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, Feb. 7 through March 13, at Annie's Om Towne Fitness, 14 W. Downer, Suite A in Aurora, IL. Annie's Om Town Fitness is upstairs from the coffee shop, right on the river, next to a not-so-scary bridge.
So, if you're in Chicago's Far West Suburbs (or know someone who is) check out the details here:
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2589192344/. In true martial arts tradition, if you pre-register, you get a much better deal ($27.37 for six weeks -- that's cheaper than a park district class).
So, spread the word. (Please.) I'm a nervous wreck about this and need the validation and the help to make it happen.
