blairmacg: (FeatherFlow)
[personal profile] blairmacg
As most of you know, I've spent the last year or so dealing with the fallout of deteriorating hip dysplasia.  For the most part, daily life isn't deeply affected--evening stiffness, a bit of a limp when I'm tired, and an occasional wince-worthy pinch if I step wrong. It's my martial arts training that took the biggest hit. Multi-hour sessions of intense training are a thing of the past, as are sharp sparring matches, most kicks above the knee, and anything that requires lots of torque or pressure on that joint.

Considering all that, I'd pretty much given up on testing for my Sandan rank (aka third-degree black belt). Yes, I could perform the material... if I could spread my demonstration out over a few days. But an hours-long high-intensity test? Erm, no. Not only was it doubtful I could get my hip to hold up for that long, I was certain I didn't want to create more damage than I could properly recover from.

And it totally bummed be out--even moreso because I'd been on the verge of testing way back when my elbow dislocated. The complete healing of those ligaments overlapped with the decline of my hip and... well. That was that.

Thus you can imagine my shock and my weepiness when, after I ran the belt promotion for my own students, my teacher announced my promotion to Sandan.

And, unbeknownst to me, my adult students had put together a little celebration for it, too. Cake, drinks, everything for all the students and parents. I came home with little red-icing fingerprints on the back of my gi from kids hugging me after cake. :)

So. There it is. Sandan. Me. Whoa.



Date: 2015-06-06 11:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] aanna-t.livejournal.com
What a wonderful surprise, congratulations!! Can I give you a hug and leave sticky, icing-red fingerprints on your back, too? =D

Date: 2015-06-09 06:05 pm (UTC)
ext_959848: FeatherFlow (Default)
From: [identity profile] blairmacg.livejournal.com
ANY TIME!

(and I'm kinda bummed all the red washed out of my gi. Those hugs mean so much to me!)

Date: 2015-06-06 11:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scott zrubek (from livejournal.com)
Congratulations!

Date: 2015-06-09 06:05 pm (UTC)
ext_959848: FeatherFlow (Default)
From: [identity profile] blairmacg.livejournal.com
Thank you!!

Date: 2015-06-06 11:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] queenoftheskies.livejournal.com
That is so wonderful, Blair! Congratulations!!!

Date: 2015-06-09 06:05 pm (UTC)
ext_959848: FeatherFlow (Default)
From: [identity profile] blairmacg.livejournal.com
Thank you so much!

Date: 2015-06-07 03:04 am (UTC)
jazzfish: Jazz Fish: beret, sunglasses, saxophone (Default)
From: [personal profile] jazzfish
:) Congratulations!

Date: 2015-06-09 06:05 pm (UTC)
ext_959848: FeatherFlow (Default)
From: [identity profile] blairmacg.livejournal.com
Thank you, dear!

Date: 2015-06-07 04:18 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] iron-fox21.livejournal.com

Way to go!


...I still think you should try punching through walls and making hearts explode.

Date: 2015-06-09 06:07 pm (UTC)
ext_959848: FeatherFlow (Default)
From: [identity profile] blairmacg.livejournal.com
Hee! Punching though walls can be easy, depending upon the wall. But making hearts explode is just too danged messy.

(Can you tell I'm a single mother? The mess of any single action is a primary concern. :) )

Date: 2015-06-07 03:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] elenbarathi.livejournal.com
Oh, congratulations, outstanding! Sandan, wow, that rocks! *bows* And it sounds like your teacher and students rock too.

"little red-icing fingerprints on the back of my gi"

Awwww.

Date: 2015-06-09 06:08 pm (UTC)
ext_959848: FeatherFlow (Default)
From: [identity profile] blairmacg.livejournal.com
My teacher and students TOTALLY rock. I adore them.

Honestly, the single most difficult part of choosing to move was knowing I'd be leaving them behind.

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