Self Defense Class

So today was the last and most intense day of the self-defense class I've been taking over the past two weeks.  We had "Simulation Day", which is where we get all padded up (in brand new pads no less, yay for increased funding) and we get attacked by two men (only one is every attacking you at one time) and we have to defend ourselves and run to safety.

We had four simulations total, and the first one was really easy and I was thinking to myself, "Self, you have got this, you just got away from a 250 pound man.  You are awesome!"  I did the moves, I was supposed to and got away.  Yay for sweet freedom.

Second simulation, the two attackers are crowding me and all of a sudden this guy is totally in my bubble and crowding me and everything I learned from class flew out of my head. My response to being grabbed by a big intimidating man? Punch anywhere on his head, and knee him for all that I'm worth.  It worked, but I wasn't feeling so sure of myself.

The third simulation, was the same as the second, but we had a fellow classmate fighting with us, and about the same thing happened.

The fourth simulation  was the worst, because I had to close my eyes while the attackers insulted me and bumped against me and I couldn't fight back until they had me on the ground (stupid unrealistic rules).  I've decided that punching is my best weapon.

So it was pretty intense and scary, but I feel more capable of defending myself now. 

There is this small, very quiet, Asian girl in this class and coming up to the fourth simulation, she was really nervous so she asked me to give her a pep talk (I'm pretty good with pep talks).  So I told her all the usual stuff about how it will be fine, it's only a few minutes (max three minutes), but I told her that she can unleash the Asian Fury.  And from what I heard through the door and from the instructors after the class, she did indeed release the Asian Fury.  I'll get to a see a video of it next week (sadly, I can't share the video here because the techniques we learn are supposed to be secret so men don't find out about them, we don't need to let the enemy know our awesome female self-defense moves).  I'll also get to see a video of my fights, which is good because the adrenaline rush has basically erased my memory of it except for a few flashes. 

The biggest surprise was that I won the "Silver Whistle Award" which is given to one student in the class that the instructors felt did really well.  So I feel pretty awesome, especially since there were some really tough, "hell hath no fury" women in the class with me.

Sadly this last picture is not the closest Troy and Tony, my instructors, got to each other.  When they were demonstrating for us how to get an attacker off of you if you are on the ground, they were MUCH closer...awkwardly closer.

Now that self-defense class is over, I'll need to go back to my normal exercise routine (my hamstrings still hurt from all the kicking we did in class).  So back to peaceful yoga and the elliptical, but most exciting of all:  I found a tennis court near my apartment that has a practice wall.  I love practice walls because it means I can play tennis whenever I want to and without needing to find a partner.  Joy!!!! That is on my to-do list for Saturday. My wishful thinking (meaning that this will never happen) to-do list includes, practicing the piano, practicing the guitar, and actually reviewing my lecture notes after class. I've decided to look at this positively by saying that if I never cross these off my to-do list than I will always have something to do.

Oh, and I finally went to the Dallas library (it took six weeks, which in Lacy Book Time is three years), but I've got it figured out. But now that I have books my productivity has sharply decreased.  I wish there was a way to read a book and study at the same time. 

My next test is in a 11 days so back to diligently studying I go. Goodbye, pretty library, I will come to you soon.  October 19th to be exact.  Don't pine for me too much, but know that I will be pining for you too.