Karate Graded

Five hour grading, sensei with clipboards. Quite intense. However, only two trips to the loo and only twenty press-ups, and fun kumite. I love kumite, but am looking forward to a time when my brain keeps up with my body. That is to say, one day I am sure I won't labour to plan, execute and get out before missing a chance to do. Sometimes, rarely, it happens, and it feels good, but still too often my opponent sees that my lumbering old brain is slowing me down and pops me one in the chops (preferably with control...).  All good learning.

The upshot is that we all passed, so phew for that. Wish I had some photos for you. Visualise white gis, determined expressions and just a little sweat.

Ooh, and some blood. I got a impressive (looking) wound on my arm - with blood, mind - but carried on to do two more rounds. Huh! my bad self (I paraphrase)! That's veterans for ya. I've got a strips on it and a plaster now...sensible.

There were some brilliant performances yesterday, and no doubt some aching bits and bobs today. Onward and upward for us all.Chip, chip, chip.

Soon, some thoughts on the process of learning martial arts.

.かたつぶりそろそろ登れ富士の山

 
katatsuburi soro-soro nobore fuji no yama

little snail
inch by inch, climb
Mount Fuji! 


Thank you 'haiku guy' site for collating lots of Issa haiku. This one is probably well-known, although I have only just found it...

Trembling karate legs - grading approaches

Oh, sweet blimey cakes. With several of my karate kyu-mates, I am being graded on Saturday. Aim: 2nd kyu. To those confused, and mildly amused, by the coloured belt system, this means we are hoping to get two large steps closer to black belt / 1st Dan / shodan (or 'beginning level').

My favourite bugei book is Sword and Brush, by Dave Lowry. In it he explains that the kanji for 'dan' means 'to carve steps up the cliff'. I'd previously visualised my progress as a climber in mountainous territory ... and me still in the NT carpark, lacing up my boots. 'Carving out steps' captures the exhaustion, attention to detail and inability to see the submit....but, as my sensei says, it's fortunate that we enjoy boredom and pain. Anyway, so that's how it feels trying to reach the first dan (let alone move on from there) - when I will be, I hope, ready to start learning karate! *bow*