Rumble in the parking lot

I was in the parking lot of a local park this evening, minding my own business, when some jerk dressed in black walked up and popped my in the nose. So I drilled him a couple times in the ribs. ...or... I was in the parking lot of a local park this evening, not paying close enough attention to my budo taijutsu training partner as we moved through the light and shadows cast by the streetlights, and I neglected to move my nose from the space his fist was about to occupy. Thud! Pete (my friend) grabbed my arm and held me up, though I don't think I was in iminnent danger of collapsing. So then, after a few more rounds of Ka no Kata, we started practicing Fu no Kata, and I got some payback with a few well-placed thumb strikes. But then I was a good uke and let Pete really work over both of my arms to practice his strikes from ichimonji. We actually had a pretty good session tonight, nose bop included. We played in the parking lot because the grass was too wet for a couple of warrior-wannabe's feet. I did one roll on the asphalt, and though I wasn't thrown into it, it felt good. I need to practice a little more, then have Pete throw me on the tarmac a few times. Then maybe we'll move to concrete. I suppose at some point, we oughtta get rolling on some uneven surfaces, too. And in snow, this winter. That ought to be pretty interesting. I'm sure for outsiders (that'd be dang near everyone reading this, unless your name is Pete, I imagine), it must sound really wierd to hear me wanting to be smacked around and tossed on my can on progressively harder surfaces, but I just love it. I love coming home sore and bruised, feeling like I've really been using my body for something more than holding down an office chair. I love the idea of continuing a 900 year-old warrior tradition from Japan and putting my own mark on it in little ways. I can't wait until Pete and I get some pads (helmets, gloves, shoes, cup) and can spar at maybe 75 percent speed (I still really don't want my knee crushed or my elbow snapped, thank you very much!). And before you go hunting this Pete fellow to give him a little what-for to remind him not to break your favorite northern Wisconsin blogger, remember, not only did I ask him to beat on me, and not only is he becoming a better warrior for it, but he's my friend, so I'll have his back. And I'm bigger than you.