Ninjabread house and Sadie Hawkins class!

Saturday I didn't blog because I was too tired at the end of the day. I finished the ninjabread house with Koala, and then brought it to the gym.

what's better than gingerbread? Ninjabread!!

I wanted to take my motorcycle out for a quick ride cause it was kind of warm out (46 degrees) but instead I did another modified circuit. Then, I went to a derby get together and we brainstormed about team names and  talked about Roller Con and all kinds of appropriately geeky roller derby fantastic-ness.

Today was the Sadie Hawkins class at the gym, where we all got to bring a guy and beat him up in the name of charity! We raised over $300 for RI Foster Care, who knew beating guys up would raise so much money?
All the members seemed to have a great time, and we plan on having another Sadie event soon, definitely an annual fundraiser. The guys looked like they were going to die, but they all said it was a good time.

I brought my friend Anthony to class. He has been boxing and doing MMA for a while, so he knew what he was doing in class and gave me a few pointers.
After class, we sparred 3 rounds-aka he let me beat him up while giving me pointers- but they were good rounds.

My shins started to hurt after the second round with Anthony, so I took a round off and then did the third.

There was an exhibition at the gym today after the Sadie class, and I wanted to do it, but figured I shouldn't since my shins were hurting.

Jaime saw Anthony during class and during our 3 rounds sparring, and signed him  up to spar one of the guys from Battleground.

Jaime was putting the list together, and needed more people, so I volunteered to get in the ring.

I was matched up with Morgan, someone I had never sparred before.

I went over and introduced myself and  told her how my shins hate me, so I might die, but I was looking forward to sparring her!

She told me that she had only recently started sparring at Battleground, and she had sparred Sonic yesterday.

Morgan and I were slated to go on 7th, so we hung out and watched everyone else's rounds, and then got ready.

We got in the ring, and started our round. I noticed right away that Morgan was faster than me (she's a runner as well - no shin problems there!) but I tried to keep up with her and cut her off. I got a few good body shots in on her, and tried to work on getting in and out, something I've been working on a lot with Gretchen.

We finished the first round, and I got a quick drink, and felt good to go. Usually a little out of breath after a round like that, but not today!

Morgan asked if I could tone it down a few, so I tried working on my speed and pivots instead of power in my punches. I don't think I did a good job toning it down, though, because we stopped for a bit in the second round, and didn't do a third.

Sparing is unlike any other activity, and it kills you at first. I feel the same way Morgan did today every day I spar with Aleks, but I am constantly being told by everyone (Zach, Menace, Jaime, Sonic, Gretchen, Anthony) that's how you learn.

I talked to Morgan a bit after the rounds, and asked her to come back to spar sometime. She got my nose good, and I would definitely love to have one more person  around to bash my face in!

After the exhibition was over, I got back in the ring and did 2 rounds with Anthony, and then he did three rounds with Marcia, two rounds with Menace, and one with Dena.

He had a lot of fun letting us beat him up, and he offered some really good pointers for me to work on, especially when fighting people shorter than me. (so basically, everyone!) I've got some good stuff to work on now, and hopefully I can do another exhibition soon!