Fresh from Japan, my Nidan (2nd Dan) certificate arrived, and it really made me stop and look at how much has changed since 2021. Not just my karate, but me.
Since I was 10, I’ve been turning up to training without breaks — no long time off, hardly any sick days, just showing up year after year. And somewhere between then and now, something shifted. My technique, speed, sharpness, power, spirit… all of it feels different compared to the karate I was doing a few years ago. It’s almost strange looking back, because it feels like I’ve completely changed as a karateka without even realising it happening day by day.
This certificate isn’t the end goal and it isn’t some dramatic moment — it’s just another step that shows the direction I’ve been heading in for years. And none of it would have been possible without the people who teach me, push me, correct me, and support me. The sensei who have guided me. The seniors who’ve set the standard. The friends and training partners who’ve been there every single week.
So here it is — Nidan.
A big reminder of how far the journey has already taken me, and how far I still want to go.
