Ow.
Tae kwon do didn't wreak as much havoc on my lungs tonight as last week. But I missed the warm-ups, so I may have just missed the strenuous exercise portion that actually does the damage. Will find out later, but at least I'm going to classes again. I got my brown stripe today, for self-defense. Don't really feel like I deserved it, but apparently Master Soobok does, and it's really his opinion that counts. Still... I have to admit I'm terrified of belting up right now. The physicality is gets significantly more intense once you get to the colored belts, and while I trust my cohorts not to hurt me, I don't trust myself not to hurt myself. Which is to say, I'm a wuss. We're being taught how to fall correctly, and I can't get past the floor rushing up at me and how breakable I am. I've broken a lot of bones; it hurts a shit of a lot; I'm not keen to break any more! So yea, I am wuss, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. But I still love the classes and the philosophy, and most of all that wrung-out-rag sensation I have at the end of class. I wear the resulting pain like a badge of honor, and it's totally worth it!