Hi KT, just thought I'd update you on this point, last night was my first night doing partner work since going back about 3 weeks ago.

Normally we do some drills back and forth, but instead we just sparred for about half an hour (resting for a minute or so between rounds).

Man, my whole body is aching this morning!!! After going back for the first time, I woke up and everything ached. Then it started to get better where the morning after I'd be a bit stiff but not too bad.

Well, today it's like stepping back in time 3 weeks, but worse!

Anyway, in terms of how it went - I was very tired so fought quite defensively (charging forward attacking was tough when my speed is way down and I was knackered), but managed to do OK. I caught a couple of the black belts with some techniques (it was only light sparring, but it still counts <g>).

Overall I felt I did OK for my first sparring session in years. We also did some paddle kicking (targets) which I haven't done since starting back (just air kicking, basics and poomsae) and that went well too. I even did a few back kicks without too much pain*

* On my first session back I did a back kick and stretched the kick out to loosen my legs and hips. Something I always used to do on the first couple of kicks. Anyway, I felt my left hamstring "twang" when I did it and then couldn't do a few kicks (side kick, reverse turning kick and back kick) without shooting pains. Anyway, by the time I went back the week after it felt much better, took it easy on my first back kick and it went again. The next week I was on a strict "no back kick diet" and this week did a couple of gentle ones again and it was fine :-) I'll build up the speed/power in them over a few weeks, but nice to know it's healing.