Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Sensei Psychopath

Last night, I started a brand new karate class.  Same karate I've always been taking but different location with a new instructor. Always a bit anxious being new to a class and not knowing anyone including the instructor.  As the beginning of class was getting close, students started to show up. Lots of little kids( about 20) and about 10 adults.  I ask this young woman standing near me "How's this class?" She says, "Its a good class, very intense. Have you ever had Sensei Picchotti?"  I said "No".  She says to me "She one of the best instructors but she is really mean", I said "Mean?" She said "Just wait"  So we get into class and this instructor is a women in her 50's about 5'1 and head to toe intense. From the second we lined up for attendance until the end of class, she was on us like white on rice. Yelling, embarassing, barking out instructions and critiques at a machine gun pace. Everytime one of the younger kids talked while she was or didn't put in the effort she demanded, she yelled "Alright, everyone drop and give me 20 push ups!"  This happened about 6 times. At one piont, she kept yelling at a boy named J.P. ,who because whatever he was doing that was making her mad, had us doing all these push ups. I joked to the same young woman I met earlier "I need to find out where this J.P. live so I can kick his ass".  The sensei was standing right behind me when I said that and said, "Mr. Friedman, his father is right next to you, so why don't you ask him" NICE! (anyone have a shoehorn to get my bare foot out of my mouth). Towards the end of the class, Sensei Psychopath has us doing a drill that is nothing short of water boarding at Guantamo Bay. She says "I know this is tough for you older people but try your best"  She walks by me and I say to her "By the way Sensei, I'm one of those older people you were talking about". She responded "Mr. Friedman, I know how old you are and you're in good shape. Nice try, now do the drill" Holy moly!!!
Class ended and Sensei Psychopath walks up to me and says " My class is hard, Mr. Friedman. Hope you can hack it." Never backing down from a challenge (especially a physical challenge) responded "No problem, Sensei. Bring it on"  She then said to as I was walking out "Good, then I know I was too soft on you tonight and will be sure to step it up next week"  GULP!!!!

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