Well, after almost 30 years of being out of the MA on any kind of formal basis, I have stuck my foot back in the water and started an Iai-do class at the Japanese Cultural Center in Chicago.
In the first half-hour, I learned something.
Hardwood floors and my knees do NOT get along like they used to. Half-way through the class (we did 10 of the 20 kata in the style - ALL 10 of which are done from the kneeling position), Sensei looked at me and said, "Stand up. You're hurting too loud." I hadn't made a sound, verbally.
He recommended knee pads for my next class and, when the Ikkyu next to me confided that he is a Zen priest who teaches Za-Zen meditation showed me that HE was wearing pads, my embarrassment faded - somewhat.
My question? Any recommendations for the type of pads that I should use?
Like I said, I've been away for a bit and am a little out of touch with the technology.
Respectfully (and with a little embarrassment left over),
Lee Darrow, C.Ht.