Shadow Ninja's

I’ve since moved from hotel life to trailer life.  It has been a good transition as I am now in better control of making healthier meals and I am getting better and more consistent sleep.  The transition was tough as it came close to Sifu Regier’s challenge of shadow boxing in confined space.  The day I received the challenge I remember precisely. 

Here I thought a battle with the trailer sewer hose was big.  This I hadn't counted on. Ninja’s had somehow gotten into the trailer.  Dressed in black, one Ninja had already gotten into the cupboard and had a mouthful of dry mini-wheats. So with nothing to lose I launched down from the bed and snapped a side kick into the first victim.  He flew clean past the table well into the kitchen and straight out the tiny one foot window.  A second one wielding a stick.....no..... a battle ax came flying from the 3 foot squared bathroom.  Crossblock, knee to the guts, second Ninja down.  

Suddenly ominous music was playing.  Obviously the worst Ninja had been hiding in the closet the whole time.  He was obviously the leader because like all good martial arts encounters, the best Ninja is always dressed in a different color.  He wore crimson yellow and definitely meant business.  What was this!?  In his hand he had popped the top of my Pringles.  BIG MISTAKE.  After a fight of epic proportion the battle was over, the ninja’s were vanquished......for now.

This was an interesting challenge.  Practicing kicks, punches in confined space is nothing new, but a full out attack of shadow boxing ninja’s makes things very interesting.  I sometimes like tapping into the imagination for shadow boxing, forms, techniques.  It adds some realism.  What I also noticed in the exercise is how I missed circular motion on my opponent.  With the very limited space I had, everything had to stay linear, so my techniques and sparring style adapted.  I would say it got a great deal simpler, sticking to more thrust punches and front thrust kicks.  Most importantly was an awareness of surroundings and concentration on technique rather than getting in on an opponent opening. It was a great challenge, thanks Sifu.