I love my hot pot
Mmm, ramen. And really, really hot green tea. Although I now have six packs of Thai noodles too, and Girl Scout Cookies (thanks to a shopping trip). Sadly the B&N at Hampshire Mall is behind the times -- Chr(o)no Crusade Vol. 7 was not in store. That just gives me an excuse to go back next week! And get some cream for my hands, too. Nothing quite works, and the shea butter is just so... greasy.
So today was the first practice. It was fun! Unfortunately I still have fencing techniques ingrained in me, so I bend my knees when I'm not supposed to and find myself lunging when I shouldn't. Oops. It's a really small class; six people plus the president. Luckily there are enough naginatas for all, and we (usually) aren't in danger of smacking each other. Today we worked on attacks - "men", sort of a head shot; "sunai", which aims for the calves; a kind of odd switching one I didn't catch the name of; and several different steps. I probably spelled sunai wrong, and since I don't take Japanese I don't know what she's saying half the time. :P It was quite fun, and soon I was swinging the naginata with great vigor. And I got a blister, because I was holding it wrong. Feh.
I think I like it better than fencing. Mostly because the naginata is big, and the movements are big and, unlike fencing, it's not about fine muscle control. (I don't think...) Fencing was on a smaller scale, especially with the epée - you have to hit with this tiny point on a certain part of the opponent's body. Maybe naginata will become more detailed as the semester goes on, but for now... It's good.
Plus I got a hakama, which I think I can keep. It is rather nice.
Because I did not eat a proper lunch nor dinner, I am so, so hungry right now. I could probably eat another bowl of ramen. Or drink even more tea. Green tea is awesome.
So today was the first practice. It was fun! Unfortunately I still have fencing techniques ingrained in me, so I bend my knees when I'm not supposed to and find myself lunging when I shouldn't. Oops. It's a really small class; six people plus the president. Luckily there are enough naginatas for all, and we (usually) aren't in danger of smacking each other. Today we worked on attacks - "men", sort of a head shot; "sunai", which aims for the calves; a kind of odd switching one I didn't catch the name of; and several different steps. I probably spelled sunai wrong, and since I don't take Japanese I don't know what she's saying half the time. :P It was quite fun, and soon I was swinging the naginata with great vigor. And I got a blister, because I was holding it wrong. Feh.
I think I like it better than fencing. Mostly because the naginata is big, and the movements are big and, unlike fencing, it's not about fine muscle control. (I don't think...) Fencing was on a smaller scale, especially with the epée - you have to hit with this tiny point on a certain part of the opponent's body. Maybe naginata will become more detailed as the semester goes on, but for now... It's good.
Plus I got a hakama, which I think I can keep. It is rather nice.
Because I did not eat a proper lunch nor dinner, I am so, so hungry right now. I could probably eat another bowl of ramen. Or drink even more tea. Green tea is awesome.