Week 2: From Sparks to a Forest Fire

What a fun filled week this was. By the end of this week a few of us decided that we had the ability to put together a match with what we've learned. It would be a REALLY REALLY bad match... but we have all the tools to atleast make one. But, enough about vague things that could be done, why don't I get right into the meaty part of this.

Monday started off just like any other and we did our cardio workout, and our series of bumps. The one difference though, was that a new bump was added into the mix, the leaping back bump. Essentially, its exactly as it sounds; jump into the air, and fall on your back.

After discovering a new way to fall down, we moved onto something else that would make us fall down, the shoulder tackle. For the most part alot of us got use to doing them fairly quickly, but that doesn't mean that there wasn't a miscommunication with a few people, and either both stayed standing after the shoulder tackle, or, more commically, both people fell down.

As the week progressed we learnt a few more moves, rollups, backslides, small packages, school boys, and some that we could mix into our chain wrestling repertoire, the most noteable being the drop toe hold. Nothing is more fun than falling on your face!

The middle of the week kinda blends all into one mass right now, so I can't really remember exactly what day everything was done. But, in the middle of the week there were a few things that made me fairly happy. One of which being that taking all the bumps at the start of the class started to not hurt at all, and I even succeeded at doing a front flipping bump with no 'box' to help. A few others got to the point of not needing the 'box' on the same day. Then the next day we stop doing bumps at the start of class... coincidence? I think not.

Thursday ended up being a grueling day for cardio. Granted, we only did a single cycle of our normal cardio start, but there were a few new additions that ballooned not only I, but everyone else. What we ended up doing to start was races. The races consisted of running across the ring to touch the other rope, then run back and touch the first rope. Lance timed them and we discovered the Daniel (aka Gibraltier) was the fastest of all of us. Oddly enough he's the one that I usually 'compete' against during the cardio sessions. After everyone faced 2 other people in the races we moved on to shoulder tackle drop downs. Basically, you whip a person, take a shoulder tackle, then they run the ropes, you drop infront of their feet (they jump over you), you get up and take another shoulder tackle. This was continued 4 times. We then got to move onto something that needed the blue crash mat, Hip Tosses. Lance's reasoning for the mat was that people are less afraid to do it with it there. I found that once the mat was taken away I started to land the bump alot better.

Then came friday... Friday had a few things that happened... Some good, some bad.

We started the day like any other, except this time I finally broke one of my goals in the cardio portion. I managed to do 61 step ups in 45 seconds, unfortunately Daniel beat me again by gettin 64. It seems that every day he's able to get that slight edge on me and I just can't beat him at any of the exercises, but its usually only by 2 or 3. Even if I improve by 3 or 4 from the day before, which has been happening all this week, he still gets just above me. I have a feeling that he is going to be like a Lance Storm to my Chris Jericho. Those of you that have read Jericho's book should understand what I mean.

Anyway, after our cardio, and shoulder tackle drop downs we moved onto selling. This is one of, if not THE most important thing in the wrestling business, in my opinion atleast. I mean think about it, if it doesn't look like something is really hurting you the people aren't going to care about the match at all. So after a while of Lance beating all of us up we moved on to simple spots. What Lance had us do was a headlock, into a whip, shoulder tackle, drop down, hip toss, arm drag. Now this was a simple thing to do, unfortunately, things dont always go well, when you aren't paired up with someone that's been doing too well in class, or showing up on time. Our first run through (no arm drag) was slightly botched to start when my partner postured up on the wrong side for the hip toss. Luckily, I noticed and corrected myself to make it so it didn't end up in a heap. The second run through, I was not so lucky.

I did the aggression in the first round of the second run, everything went smothly and it looked decent, aside from my partner not selling anything like he was suppose to, but that matters not.

Second round of of the second run through... I headlock him, get thrown off into the ropes, do a shoulder tackle on him, run to the next rope, he positions for the hip toss... except he doesnt set up properly... he was on the right side, but I wasn't able to plant my right hand correctly and it slips off.

Now just to tell you, the right hand on a hip toss is your stabilizer, its what makes sure that you're able to get the hieght and rotation that you need to land on your back.

What happened next wasn't pretty... with my hand slid off and I already commited to the hip toss I go straight down. The back of my hand and wrist hit the mat first, then I land right on the top of my head, and I feel a few crunches. I hear the entire class just go "oooo...", I guess it didn't look too pretty either. Luckily I have a fairly strong neck from doing no hand back bridges. I was able to pop up after it, a little enraged, and a new fire for the business in me, but otherwise unscathed. We then did the spot again, and everything went well. The day finished with us learning how to the the top rope back bump (aka one of the Flair spots)

For all that are wondering, I am fine. No stiffness in my neck, no woosiness, nothing that may seem like a concussion.

So let's just all hope that next week doesn't have any of the exceitment that friday had.