Active Living Interests & pursuits - Karate 1

Oct 5th 2016 - Intro

(credit:google images)

Daniel (Ralph Macchio) moves to Southern California with his mother, Lucille (Randee Heller), but quickly finds himself the target of a group of bullies who study karate at the Cobra Kai dojo. Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki "Pat" Morita), an unassuming repairman who just happens to be a martial arts master himself. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing, training him in a more compassionate form of karate and preparing him to compete against the brutal Cobra Kai.

Like most kids of a similar age (aged 11) after seeing 'The Karate Kid' film I wanted to take karate lessons. I took a book out of the library and would practice moves in my bedroom, using a pillow as a punching bag.

Unfortunately, I was busy playing football (soccer) September to May and cricket April to September, and so my Mum said I had to give up one of the sports if I wanted to take Karate. That was not going to happen! 
By the age of 14, some of my friends started to drop football, taking different forms of martial arts. They would 'wow' me in the school yard at lunchtime, demonstrating some of their new 'moves', but I loved football too much.

Last year I had a 4th knee operation (2 on each knee), lateral meniscus trim, and medial meniscus repair. The surgeon consoled me, stating that it was basic wear and tear and that there is nothing I could have done to prevent the injury - bar stop playing sports. Team sports had been such a huge part of my life, and I had played them for various reason: stay fit; social aspect; competition. However, at aged 40, I decided maybe it's time to hang up the football boots, but what was I going to do now? 

April 2015

Just a month before our wedding, we are in a local flower shop ordering our bouquets, when I see a poster for Karate lessons in White Rock. The owner starts telling me that it's his Dad who runs to class, but is injured with a bad back right now and so the class isn't running. 

(credit: Google Images)

A few weeks later, in a local Starbucks I see a poster for another Karate school based in White Rock. I take down the info, email the club and make the decision to 'do Karate'. 

Mon Nov 16th 2015

I turn up at the hall in White Rock at 6pm. I am nervous as i don't know what to expect. I don't know if it is a large or small club, but it seems there are only a few kids here. As the session is starting a Japanese instructor walks over and tells me...

"Adults 7pm - Thursday!", then walks away.

I leave, and am a little 'miffed'. I was told by email to turn up at 6, and that there were sessions Monday AND Thursday, I return home. 

Thur Nov 19th 2015

It would be easy to think that this was 'a sign' that it wasn't meant to be, but I don't listen to those voices. I had made the decision to try something new for various reasons. 

- I had waited a long time to do Karate. Not a martial art. Just Karate.

- I am no longer playing team sports, and want to do something active.

- I felt I needed a challenge.

I return to the same venue on Thursday at 7pm. I meet Nina and Hardeep, two black belt instructors and am led onto the mat. I stand at the back left of the gym and we start a warm up. I am completely lost. I am given no individual verbal instruction and we move into doing some punching moves. I am sweating profusely by 10 minutes in. Am I that physically unfit?

After the warm up, I head over to the bare floor area and work with Nina. We do some 'down blocks', 'face block' and 'inside blocks'. She shows the move a couple of times and then starts to count, wanting me to do the move on her count. I freeze....looking at her, waiting for some feedback. I get none. Why can't I remember what we just did? 

My body is tired, but my mind is overloaded with trying to remember the choreography of these moves. After what seems like 10 mins (but was in fact 30) we take a couple of minutes break. After I am instructed that I can leave and return at the same time next class, Monday. The rest of the class continue working and I wonder if I am in fact welcome at the class.

Mon Nov 30th

I waited a full week to return to class, thinking about whether it was what I wanted, if it was what I would enjoy and if I was welcome. I decided to go back.

This time Sensei Hardeep introduced himself and explained some of the procedural aspects of the dojo, e.g. bow as we enter the dojo, bow as we step on the mat. We did the warm up and then did some work on the hardwood floor. As I try too hard to perform the punches I am told, 
"relax the shoulders, don't look down, don't lean forward, don't forget to fully retract, don't forget to use your hip!".
I found the whole training session very overwhelming. I likened it to French Immersion, where I see these students at school fumbling through French grammar.