From Fear to Black Belt: My Karate Journey

As I had gotten older I had adopted a particular approach to my training. I always did what I was told, never was lazy, and focused on one key principle: getting my head down and working tirelessly. I realized that the best thing you can do in Karate, and in life, is to work, work, work. This unwavering commitment to my practice eventually led to success and personal growth. 

Into this journey, I was 10 years old when I started Karate in 2013. At the time, I was settling into year 5 after returning from a six-month holiday in Mauritius. One day, my mum informed me that she had enrolled me in a Karate class. Leading up to that first class, I was apprehensive, being a very young child who found many things intimidating. I recall shouting, screaming, and even crying, pleading with my mum not to make me go. Prior to Karate, my only significant hobby was being creative in art and design. However, I was also taking swimming and ice-skating lessons, activities I didn't particularly enjoy but had to do because of my mum's insistence.

 

Although I didn't like swimming or ice skating, I did manage to learn how to swim. As for ice skating, I could only go really fast and had no grasp of techniques or how to stop — correctly, that is. On my first day of Karate, I attentively listened to Sensei, trying to mimic the movements of my fellow classmates. While I can't recall the specific techniques we practiced, I believe it involved a lot of kicking and punching. By the end of the class, I received positive feedback and praise from one of the black belts, and I realized it wasn't as scary as I had initially thought.

 

My biggest fear before attending that first class was the idea that everyone else would be skilled while I would be the awkward, clueless newcomer, fearing judgment or ridicule. What I failed to grasp at the time was that everyone starts somewhere, and we all begin as beginners. I never saw myself, let alone imagined a life with Karate, back when I was 10 years old. Now, at 20, Karate is everything to me.  

Daily Training

Shuto uke kokutsu dachi: Self training

 基本

KIHON

1. 上段追い突き

Jodan oi-zuki

2. 上段揚げ受け・上段逆突き

Jodan age-uke・jodan gyaku-zuki

3.  中段外受け・中段横猿臂  (騎馬立ち) ・裏拳横回し打ち

Chudan soto-uke・chudan yoko-enpi (kiba-dachi)・uraken gyaku-zuki

4.  中段内受け・上段刻み突き・中段逆突き

Chudan uchi-uke・jodan kizami-zuki・chudan gyaku-zuki

5.  転身下段払い・中段逆突き

Tenshin gedan-barai・chudan gyaku-zuki

6.  手刀中段受け (後屈立ち)・中段縦四本貫手

Shuto chudan-uke・chudan tateshihon-nukite

7.  中段前蹴り蹴上げ・中段追い突き

Chudan mae-geri keage ・chudan oi-zuki

8.  連蹴り:  中段前蹴り蹴上げ・上段前蹴り蹴上げ

Ren-geri: Chudan mae-geri keage・Jodan mae-geri keage

9.  横蹴り蹴上げ・横蹴り蹴込み (騎馬立ち)

Yoko-geri keage・yoko-geri kekomi (kiba-dachi)

10.  回し蹴り・中段逆突き

Mawashi-geri・chudan gyaku-zuki

11. 中段前蹴り蹴上げ・中段横蹴り蹴込み・回し蹴り・中段後ろ蹴り蹴込み・裏拳横回し打ち・中段逆突き

Chudan mae-geri keage・chudan yoko-geri kekomi・mawashi-geri・chudan ushiro-geri kekomi・uraken yokomawashi uchi・chudan gyaku-zuki

12.  手刀上段外回し打ち・手刀上段内回し打ち

Shuto jodan sotomawashi uchi・shuto jodan uchimawashi uchi

型

KATA

 

A.  順路初段〜順路五段 (Junro Shodan ~ Junro Godan)

B.  松濤館流型 (Shotokan kata): RANDOM

組手

KUMITE

I. 基本一本組手 (Kihon ippon kumite):

II. 自由一本組手 (Jiyu ippon kumite): JKS variations

A Lifelong Journey: The Benefits and Commitment of Karate

Engaging in a sport or regular exercise from a young age offers numerous health and fitness benefits, providing a distinct advantage. When it comes to these advantages, no other sport excels quite like Karate. Karate not only delivers a comprehensive full-body workout but also nurtures the mind and imparts the core value of respect, as it begins and ends with this fundamental principle. This understanding of respect extends beyond the dojo and becomes an integral part of our daily lives, influencing our behavior at school, work, home, and everywhere else. This emphasis on respect is a significant aspect of not only Karate but also other martial arts, leaving a lasting impact wherever you go. Karate is more than a temporary pastime; it's a lifelong journey that becomes an inseparable part of your identity, a commitment that you are obligated to uphold. Dedication to this journey is of utmost importance, as it contributes significantly to your personal growth. It's the commitment to continual improvement that imbues Karate with meaning and makes it a fulfilling pursuit. When you enter the dojo, it should be driven by the genuine desire to train, not just for the sake of it. With time, you'll realize how deeply Karate becomes intertwined with your life, erasing any thoughts of quitting or giving up. If you're training without the desire to train, you're in the wrong place and the wrong state of mind.

To expand on the main benefits, Karate offers a wide set of benefits, combining physical fitness improvements with valuable life skills. It enhances physical strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health while teaching practical self-defense skills. Karate cultivates mental discipline, focusing on concentration and self-control, which extends to personal development. Confidence and character growth are nurtured, promoting respect and humility. Additionally, it provides stress relief, fosters a sense of community, and imparts cultural awareness. The structured belt system within different organizations encourages goal setting, and its inclusivity makes it a lifelong activity accessible to people of all ages.

As I started my Karate journey at a very young age, I am very lucky and glad that I did. Training twice a week consistently, year after year, I have been able to look young and stay younger ever since — sort of. While karate can contribute to these aspects of youthful living, it's essential to remember that aging is a natural process, and no activity can completely stop it. Maintaining a youthful appearance also depends on other factors like genetics, diet, skincare, and overall lifestyle choices. One diet I am particularly invested in, is the Okinawan/Japanese diet. The Okinawan diet has gained attention for its health benefits and longevity. It's characterized by a focus on fresh, whole foods, particularly those rich in nutrients and antioxidants, which is why my family and I are mindful eaters.

Remember, the diet is about eating until you are around 80% full, as eating around this much leads to a higher life expectancy. Avoid filling yourselves up to the point where you're on the verge of throwing it back up, you've only got one stomach. In my younger days when I was a teenager, my stomach could take on any amount of food and be completely fine. (This was during my prime days at 15 - 16, where my body would use everything I consumed to aid muscle growth and repair whilst keeping body fat to a minimum). Sadly, my body no longer works that way and after regretfully ceasing exercise for over a year shortly followed by lockdown, it wasn't all that bad. I had no fat on me. Just pure muscle. Given that any fat I required to put on from carbs, just to cover the bones of my torso, would disappear immediately unless I was always snacking on carbs. Back to the diet, it’s just like when you charge your phone or other device’s li-ion/li-po battery. If you keep the charge at a maximum of 80% overtime, or even 50 - 60% you can achieve a higher battery life for your device of roughly 6 months to even a year longer. The same thing can be said when you water a plant. You wouldn't overwater them, would you? Yet, if you water a plant with the right amount of water, it will continue to thrive, grow and remain healthy. If you're interested in looking and staying young, consider combining your karate practice with a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, proper skincare, and adequate rest.