blairmacg | Dojo Update

It has been a busy few days, working in the new dojo. Many of my students are pitching in, building a community as well as a dojo. Today should be the final major painting day. The coming week is for sign installation, clean out and clean up, and new carpet. Then, once I get the back rooms cleaned out, I'll paint those as well. Mirrors and mats shall follow.

I had a few moments of gut-dropping anxiety, thinking through what must be done to make this work. By the same token, the to-do list has a demonstrated, measureable success rate. And I wouldn't be taking the risk if I didn't believe in the results.

It's been a trip, figuring out what works in this little city. Its population is in transition, shifting from rural agriculture and manufacturing employees to include residents who treat the city and surrounding countryside as a bedroom community while working in larger cities. Most longterm residents aren't much interested in anything that hasn't been in town at least as long as they have. Most newer residents don't do much in town if it isn't part of the kids' school or church activities. Finding advertising that hit our target population has been...difficult. Now, with a dojo that sits on the main road, we're expecting that to be our best "billboard."

I'm looking forward to having a master instructor in my dojo for the months ahead. (Being a single mom, I couldn't commit to teach five nights a week, so someone else is coming in to help get things rolling.) My students will reap great benefits directly, and my own teaching skills will get a boost as well.

On the selfish side, that instructor will be drilling me on sparring. When working self-defense, I'm relaxed and in control. When I'm sparring, my brain turns off the strategy center and lights up bright green with BLAIR SMASH. Then, when I get a penalty called, I get too timid. It's psychological, I know, but haven't yet found a way to step around it. Having an instructor there to drill me three days a week will hopefully make the difference.