Double-header Sunday

(Vids from Thursday night are finally uploaded, so check them out!)

Lately I've been feeling as if one class is just not enough, so I decided to sign up for back to back classes on Sunday morning. Plus, there's so much to work on, from fixing my returns which have gone funky again, to the layout to the mod...

So the first class, I focused on the layout - trying to lock out my hips and shoulders, so that it's a floatier layout, and not so whippy. My hips have been cooperating (somewhat), but now I need to work on my shoulders.

Here's one of the better attempts (and how I wish youTube had a slo-mo function!):

But as they say, Rome wasn't built in a day. (And I have a really slow learning curve) I mentioned to Dino that while some people are able to incorporate the one modification per turn, then carry it through to the next turn, and work on another modification, it takes me much longer to have that first modification set in, and so if on my next turn I work on a second modification it all turns to crap! I have the feeling, though, that D has more confidence in my abilities than warranted.

Then at catch time, trying to fix my return, which has become funky (again!) - Funny that all the apron work is fine, until it's time to push and turn, and then I freak out. Here, check it out:

(Marisa, whose been MIA for far too long, is to be thanked for her cinematography skills!)

The second class was mod time -- which consisted of me throwing it over and over again, and figuring out timing, awareness, etc. Even though this is a trick that I've been working on for a year and a half (!) now, I haven't grown at all tired of it. Sure, frusturated at times that it's still not where I want it to be , but the idea of giving up on it hasn't even entered my mind. It's funny, actually, because the layout, in contrast, is a trick that I've flirted with, but never really committed to. Although it's absolutely lovely when done right, to me it's more of a segway to a double layout, or even (hopefully in my lifetime!) a double layout full.

I also threw mods to catch (or not!) First time up I wouldn't go at all. Second time, I actually went around the bar, but couldn't release my hands until way to late. Third time, I did the mod almost properly - slapped hands with Dino! Baby steps forward are okay in my book - they more you in the right direction. Whatever phobia is holding me back when a catcher is there are being acknowledged, but not catered to. When my mind, heart and body are ready, they'll let go of it, in the same way that I can half turn to the mat now when something goes wrong mid-trick. I stopped struggling (but never quit practicing) and one day, it was there, as though it was the most natural thing in the world.