Woot. Katherine and I both passed our tests to 2nd Kyu brown belts. That means two more kyu ranks to go before we (gasp) test for black.
Katherine was quick to point out that I had gotten a “B” after my rank, which indicates a partial passage. Sensei cleared up later in class that I am just all tensed during my kata and other exercises — it slows me down, throws me off balance, robs my moves of power, etc. Though I pointed out that dynamic tension is a great way to build muscle tone, he wasn’t buying it.
(Actually, he was very sympathetic, as he had the same problem early on in his karate career.)
Being told that (again) was helpful, as I made a point during tonight’s class to really try to relax — and I did feel the difference, and Sensei did, too, and complimented me on it.
I mentioned that I was really struggling to relax. He laughed.
Which reminds me of a joke.
A man goes to a psychiatrist. “Doc, you’ve gotta help me! I’m being driven crazy by these dreams I’m having!”
“Well, what are these dreams about?”
“One night, I dream I’m a tipi! One night, I dream I’m a wig-wam! One night, a tipi! The next night, a wig-wam!
“Ah,” the doctor says. “That’s easy.”
“What is it doctor? What’s wrong with me?”
“Your problem is, you’re two tents!”
Thanks, folks. I’ll be here all week.
Congratulations!
I take it your Sensei doesn’t advocate serious physical contact during your testing? I once watched a guy I knew test for his black belt when I was mulling over the idea of taking up Karate, and it looked to me like the testers beat the guy being tested pretty hard. To the uninitiated person who really doesn’t like being hit (me!), it was enough of a turn-off that I dropped the idea of taking up Karate and never considered it again.
Shotokan karate tournament rules do not allow significant physical contact. Seriously hitting someone is a good way to get that person awarded points in a sparring match. We still have folks sparring wearing gloves and mouth guards.
There is a sort of paradox involved, because on the one hand we try to avoid actual physical contact and injury, but we also emphasize the training for self-defense.
Do be aware that there are as many variations of karate (let alone “Okinawan-based unarmed self-defense martial arts”) and practices / schools thereof as there are, oh, branches of Christianity. Some are much more into full contact. Some are much more into the commercial side of things, or the spiritual side of things, or the traditional side of things, or the competition side of things. It does make finding a “respectable” and (personally, YMMV) acceptable karate school difficult.
*If* you have an interest in the Shotokan school, and the local ISKF chapter, I’m pretty sure there’s a dojo up in Ft Collins, and I would be more than happy to get you more info on same (or talk with you more about it).
Special bonus: old fogies like us (well, age 47+) don’t have to do sparring for our black belt — we can take “self-defense” moves, where we show how, if someone grabs us in some way, we can break from it and counter-strike.
I am kind of shopping for a form of exercise I can do indoors in the winter, but I think I’m going to look into Pilates. Thanks for the offer though.
Congrats to you and Katherine.
Woooo!
Dave, I think “self-defense” miiiiiight stretch enough that if anybody tells you “All you need to do is relax” in that “gosh you’re so stupid” tone of voice, you can drop them.
Dave – Well, karate certainly qualifies as that, but it’s not intended as an exercise regimen per se (though it serves as one pretty well). Let me know if you’ve interest in the future.
Mary – Thanks!