Somersaults

Man oh man, I thought I had it bad with my ADD little brother as a kid – these children were something else, a circus of activity, color, laughter, subjects, ideas, and energy all swirled together so that I felt something like Captain Hook captured by the Lost Boys who were only eager and happy to interrogate me on my knowledge of all things to do with martial arts. Which is little, despite my admiration and enjoyment of tai chi. I tell you what, I know the group was concerned that the kids wouldn’t be able to get anything meaningful out of only having five minutes set aside for each specific activity but I promise, had we tried to dedicate a minute more to any one activity, the kids probably would’ve had us all walking the plank. Don’t get me wrong, their enthusiasm and excitement (especially after we mentioned the food – their eyes lit up so bright and fast it was like watching so many pairs of suns rise all at once in some kind of celestial race for afternoon) was surprising and wonderful, I loved how happy they were with us despite any initial first-time-around-the-block disorganization, but given the slightest, teeny-tiniest lull of any kind and they just went wild with things. We had girls who, during the simple thirty second down time of explaining the next exercise that would be trying to show off for us all the gymnastics they already knew, boys who were trying to demonstrate all the “martial arts” they knew by attacking each other in a wild flurry of smacks and laughter, and some of the really young ones trying to explain their entire back story from family troubles to ballet class to homework assignments.

I really feel like we were successful so far as giving the kids something constructive, fun, non-competitive, and yet still group interactive to do for an afternoon where they might have otherwise simply been playing video games or watching older kids play basketball with sighs in their eyes. It was, at times, difficult to keep control and attentions focused enough to complete our planned exercises and routines, but their interest – though perhaps flying off on tangents almost constantly – remained keen and deep throughout the entire session so that those who had to leave early made sure to know when we were coming back, what they’d miss, and whether or not we’d be bringing the snacks back. :] I know I had a lot more fun than I’d anticipated (and I really had anticipated enjoying myself), I know I certainly got a fine workout out of the deal, and I have to mention – even though I’m not the gymnastics guru – there was an older girl in our group, maybe twelve or thirteen, who, when faced with the task of performing a somersault, caught my eye, shook her head, and murmured: no way, I can do that.

Even though it was the lovely Miss Shannon that demonstrated and helped her perform the somersault – I’ve seldom felt so good about life in general as I did when I saw her face after she’d successfully completed her first somersault. Maybe she’s too old to have gone home and excitedly asked her parents to watch what she’d learned to do that day, but I felt as though a difference had been made in her day for the better, let her know she was capable of new things always, always, always. And what a nice sentiment to walk away with at the end of a day. Not a bad day, not bad at all.