September 10th, 2009. My very first karate class. There I fell in love, became slightly obessed, and started this journey. For any adult beginning karate students, I am sure that you can commiserate the feelings of nervousness and excitment, all bound together to create a highly strung (more highly strung than usual for me) version of yourselves. I remember physically starting when my sensei called for the three of us to sit in lines, and then practically tripping over myself to get to the mats. I dont remember much more of that first class it all seemed like an intense blur, but I know that I gave it my all and didnt think the workout was all that hard....
The next three days were spent in sheer agony, as all my out-of-shape muscles screamed in protest to the previous nights activity. I could barely walk, dont even ask me how I managed to go up and down stairs (I'll give you a hint: very gingerly and whimpering like a baby with every step taken) and my arms hung uselessly from my sides like limp spaghetti. My Co-workers wondered what kind of very good drugs I was on , as here I was limping, barely able to move (and when I did I think even the slow moving seniors out there had taken pity on me), and yet all that could come out of my mouth was my karate class and how awesome it was. I was hooked after the first day.
The next three months were several things, excruciatingly painful (you want me to do how many pushups... on my knuckles??) strangely exhilarating (yes!!! I can pack a powerful punch and kick) and filled with mental head aches (for someone with average to above intellgence, I can not do a Kata unless I have all the moves written out and memorised .. yes if you look in my little green duotang I have, the first step in my chung ji kata as "look left, turn 90 degrees to the left into a left lower block in a front stance").
My half yellow belt test: (November 28th 2009) My sensei is small but his presence can fill an entire room... with mixed feelings of trepidation and intimidation. Yes folks, he can scare me to the point where I stand there frozen to the spot uable to move and comprehend a single order hes given out. I love it! He expects the best out of you and you only dare to give it your very best or he will call you on it. Before my test, the other sensei that worked with us took one look at me and told me to, "just breathe". I took this to heart and I am sure that Sensei Lyle was probably wondering why I was sucking back wind, and so noisely at that, the entire duration of my belt test. I did pass my test, not exactly with flying colors, but well enough to be proud of myself and what I had accomplished since september.
The art of desicrating...errr...dying your belt. Yes people, there is a way to dye your belt half yellow... although I neglected to ask whether you simply dye half of it yellow on both sides or all yellow on one side. The simplest way, the way that made most sense was to dye half the belt on both sides yellow. I apparently missed my common sense pill that morning and took it upon myself to dye (with fabric paint I might add) the entire length on one side yellow. As you can imagine, my endever ended up in huge failure. The fabric paint soaked through both sides and resulted in a frantic trip to Michaels to buy white fabric paint to cover up the yellow that had soaked through to the other side. A few curse words and tears later (with my husband wondering if he should check me into the psychiatric ward)I was pretty proud of myself for having accomplished such a difficult task. It wasnt until my very first intermediate class that I realised the collossal error I had made. All the other half yellow belts had half their belt- both sides dyed. I could have cried, but of course you dont cry in karate class . After class that night I grimly bought more yellow and white fabric paint and set about making my belt the way it should have been. My belt is now yellow and yellowish-white, and I am looking forward to the day that I can earn my full yellow and put away the disaster I have been wearing for the last three months . Valuable life lesson: if its nearly impossible, you are doing it WRONG!!
January 2010- till today. All things said and done, I have been amazed with what I have been able to achieve so far; my heian shodan kata is coming along very solidly (because I wrote it out!!!), my techniques are getting better and faster, I am fairly flexible and I have decent power. I am still trying to figure out sparring and how to control my tricks . Ultimately my goal is to enjoy the journey set out in front of me and the destination is earning my black belt. I hope to share all that is karate and life oriented so please feel free to laugh and cry alongside of me :) To have friends to share your life is one of the greatest things imaginable.
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