Intensity

It seems that the intensity gets jacked up higher every class. Not so much with the physical part, since SW and I are ahead of the game fitness-wise, but with the content. We went to class on Saturday because we're getting ready for Mesa. Since we won't have CJ1 down in time, we all picked which form to do--in most cases SA3. The school is doing a "competition class" on Saturdays now, so we learn CJ1 in our normal class, and SA3 in the competition class. In the past five weeks since joining Black Belt Club we have only sparred once. There's only one other guy in the class (Alan), so we usually get paired up for everything. When we sparred that one time we were restrcited to kicks to the body only, and I beat him easily 5-0. He's pretty competitive, and was pissed that I had beaten him. Since then, he's told me several times that he's been practicing, with the only thought being to beat me in class. When we have adult classes, the kids usually hang out in the lobby--unsupervised. To counter this SW and I bring in our portable DVD player for our kids to watch, and that normally keeps them out of trouble. On Saturday, there were more kids than normal due to the upcoming tournament. Both instructors were teaching, and the school owner was in his office, behind closed doors, with a customer. We were working on Bong Mahng Ee, which I have a pretty good handle on, when I saw Princess making her way to the office to knock on the door. I bowed out to see what the problem was. Apparently there was some kid that I had never seen before playing with the DVD and not letting anyone watch it. I went over and tapped the kid on the shoulder, telling him not to touch the player and to share. He didn't even look up at me. "I can touch whatever I want," he muttered. I was stunned on so many levels. One, I was an adult. Two, I was in uniform and higher ranking than he. And three, it was my DVD player for my kids. "Excuse me--that is my machine for my kids. Do not touch it and let them watch. If you want to watch, too, then look over their shoulders." He didn't move. "Now." He rolled his eyes and got up, going over to his father, which I was amazed to find out was a few feet away and not paying any attention to his own kid. When I went back into class I was completely frazzled. The moves I had been doing a few minutes earlier with ease were gone, and I looked like I had never been there before. A few minutes later, the instructor told us to go get suited up. When I went back out into the lobby, the kid was at it again so I took the DVD player and closed it, placing it into my bag. Now I was even more pissed, since my own kids couldn't watch a movie I had brought specifically for them. On top of that, I was the last one back on the mat, tying my stuff on as I went. The first pairing was SW and one of the other girls. SW had beaten her easily, also, the last time we sparred. The girl also outweighs SW by about 20 pounds and is about six inches taller. The instructor briefed us that we were now going full-up, with kicks and punches allowed wherever we wanted within the rules. The match started and the girl attacked SW with full-force kicks. It almost looked like she was trying to hurt her. SW lost, and Alan and I were called up next, with me still pissed off at some seven-year-old that I didn't even know. I figured I would maybe try a kick to the head, but nothing flashy since I didn't feel that I have enough control to not hit him full force. The instructor threw his hand up to start the match. I took a half step forward, and the next thing I knew I was seeing stars from a heel to the chin. My mouthpiece filled with blood. The instructor signaled three points. Apparently he was airborne when he connected. I didn't notice. We started again and I managed to get a couple of kicks off, and Alan jumped, turned, and threw a heel into my stomach. Two points. Match over. Mind you, again, we are half-camo-belts and this is the second sparring match I've been in since I was 17. To the best of my knowledge, it's Alan's second sparring match ever. I was compeltely incensed when I left class. So was SW. When we started to talk about it, I realized that Alan's son was particularly rough on the kid he sparred against, too, throwing axe kicks and moves we hadn't ever seen before, except on UFC. I fully expected the instructor to say something about control, but he never said a word. I'm a little torn as to how to handle sparring against him again, which should happen tonight. I'm pretty sure I could get some hurtful kicks off, but I don't want this to escalate to a broken nose for someone, which I could definitely see happening. At least now I know that he has a few more weapons in his repetoir, and will be a lot more defensive. CHALLENGE STATUS PUSHUP: -711 SITUPS: -711 MILES: -12.3