It was my father who was my
greatest influence in karate, the next was Jackie Chan. As I learned further, I
now understand that Jackie Chan’s techniques are called Kung Fu (due to his
Chinese origin) while karate originated in Japan. My interest was further
uplifted when I met my better half whom was also a product of karate discipline.
I enrolled the Shotokan class with a goal in my mind that I need to at least
learn the basics of karate to protect myself, for self-defense. Karate is few
of the sports I really love since I was a kid. Learning the basics, I know that
I can partly take in the good values and principles karate uphold. But inside
me, a voice is greatly rejoicing! It is also a way to keep my body in shape while
enjoying what I am doing. Win-win.
How was my karate class? It
was great. Yes, I had a good pain and soreness all over my body. Another thing that
surprised me was that I am actually the eldest in the group. Hahaha! My
classmates were kiddos which I am also thankful about because I love kiddos.
And of course, my Sensei is way younger than me too. But during weekends, a
senior Sensei came to teach us and we trained together.
 |
| with my young Sensei |
Karate is not a joke,
more especially when it comes to training. Before training, it is most
important to do the warm up exercises. I love every bit of it, especially when
I need to flex my body and the way I need to stretch my leg in order to improve
my kicking skill through a butterfly stretch. It was a really good feeling.
Ahhh, wait.. am I a masochist? Haha! It really hurts like hell. During the
first day, I also learned how to punch right and block some punch thrown to me
by an opponent through various blocking techniques. But there is more to learn
like the beautifully executed Kata techniques. This knowledge were taught to “sempais”
with higher belt. As a beginner, one must start as a white belt student.
Learning karate I repeat, is
not a joke. One must be physically and mentally fit. In order to learn, one
needs extreme focus and committed heart. One must make all the adjustment to
attend trainings every day. A sore body is not an excuse. Why? The more
trainings one gets, the more the body became relaxed and flexed and then the
soreness will go away as if you had a real body massage. I remembered, there
were times when all I wanted was to train because my body really ask for it. After
I was initiated for the next belt after white, I decided to stop attending the
Shotokan class. I know there are more serious things to learn but I already
fulfilled my goal. The most important thing I learned from my Shotokan classes
is respect. Respect to self and to others. This is to make sure you gave yourself
the chance, that room for improvement to grow every day; and to honor the body,
soul and spirit in you. This is to be happy in harmony with others, the way
they move should be in consonance to you like a dance in life that goes on and
on smoothly, perfectly, peacefully. Every relationship you build with others
must be treated with utmost respect for it depends on others how you react as a
karateka, whether you are the attacker or the defender, so much like life too.
Karate is never used to harm others but to protect yourself and possible,
others too; never to start a fight but always to defend; and never to give up
but seeks to move forward humbly until the end which started and finished with
a bow and sincere brave eyes. This is how I learned I must apply in approaching
life. I was so thankful for that karateka experience of my life.#
