I hear "do something else" at least twice a month from my sister. She is not involved with karate and never was interested in joining. Karate has been part of my life for sixteen years and I can not imagine giving it up. It is hard to explain to a non-karate person that karate is not something you do but part of who you are.
There have been two breaks in my training. The first was when I was pregnant. I was teaching well into my seventh month. I would have kept going but I knew that I was making the students nervous. I was out a total of four months. The next break was due to my torn ACL. I returned to the dojo in a limited capacity after four months. After my injury I seriously considered not returning to the dojo. At eight weeks post-surgery I probably told people that I was not coming back anytime soon. I was perfectly resigned to hang up my belt for a while and I was OK with it. I even packed up my uniform and tucked away my equipment. Then it happened. Around twelve weeks I started to feel the urge to return to karate. I started to spend time in the dojo - watching and talking with the students. A few weeks later I was back on the dojo floor.
I am glad that I am back in the dojo. I am sure that my sister will keep telling me to "do something else". I am sure that I won't.
7 comments:
I understand that it is part of who you are - but I don't see you gaining anything out of it anymore. You need to broaden your horizon.
That's a very interesting comment. Karate broadens you horizons in so many ways and it always will. I completely understand how you feel about karate, it's a part of my life, too, and to think of it not being a part of my life makes me very sad. There's so much to it, so much you learn about yourself every single time you walk through the dojo doors. There is no end to the learning. Why broaden your horizons when they are already broad?
Karrie
Oh please...spare the melodrama. Memorizing some katas and fighting people with weapons boosts one's ego more than anything.
This has nothing to do with ego and everything to do with self-esteem. Katas are not memorized, they are learned to the point where they become a natural movement. If you do not practice martial arts you cannot possibly begin to understand what it is all about. There is nothing melodramatic about what I am saying, it's just truth. Yes, some people take their practice too far. I am not one of those and neither is the author of this blog. Again, if you cannot understand what this means unless you are a part of it. Maybe you should give it a try before proselitizing about the negativity.
I guess it's just the way the Internet works, but I'm amazed that someone anonymously posts a criticism of you for pursuing an activity that gives you joy, community, learning and fitness.
New horizons? Let's see, you're a mom, you're a wife, you run an office, you study and teach karate--and that's just what we know from your blog. Yeah, I think you need to get even busier. ;-)
I really enjoy reading your thoughts, Michele. Thanks also for your subsequent post about what you get from karate. I don't pursue a traditional martial art, but I see so much value in what you're doing.
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