enjoy what I do?
I was sore and exhausted, but satisfied when I arrived home Sunday night. I spent the weekend in Kelowna at a Karate seminar. It was a thorough workout with lots of new things to practice. I have been training in some form of martial art since 1989 when Kevin and I were mugged in New Westminster. It scared me enough to consider taking a beginners course in Shotokan Karate. I have found martial arts training to be the most complete physical and mental workout I have ever had. The style I am currently learning is Chito-Ryu. When I think ahead, I can't imagine a time when I won't be training. It becomes a lifestyle choice more than anything. At 41, I have excellent flexibility, good cardiovascular and fabulous blood pressure, why would I quit? Well, as a person learns more, it takes more discipline and more time to maintain what you know. Martial art is a jealous master for whom you cannot work part-time. At my level, (and my age), I should be training 2 hours, 3 times a week with an hour of practice on alternate days, not to mention daily stretching to maintain flexibility. I should be attending several weekend-long seminars, and learning the Japanese terms and history for my style. There are times when I am not able to train due to work or illness and it sure hurts (physically) when I return. I don't want to do that too many times! There seems to be a compromise to every good thing, and being physically and mentally fit is no exception. Still, I enjoy what I do.
posted by Kim at 5:11 PM
2 Comments:
That is awsome that you keep fit the way you do. I really should do something similar as I am not physically fit. I was working out last year until I hurt myself and then never got back to it. I really enjoyed the challenge of pushing myself to do more. I now have been told to start working the areas in my arm and chest that may be altered for life. I am not supposed to push it too hard but to build the muscles to hopefully compensate for the wasting muscles. Keep it up as being a little older than you I can tell you I notice my lack of fitness.
We've been training in karate too, as a family. We're currently at orange belt (7th Kyu), and we're currently on a bit of a hiatus from training as the girls finish off their school year. We'll go back in September (at least, I will and I hope some of my girls will too!) and train for purple belt by December and possibly blue belt by this time next year.
I find that, in addition to all the benefits you mentioned, I'm just more aware of my body, and somehow more 'centred' within it. That's partly about things like having much better balance for standing up on the bus and the like, and being much less likely to fall over if I slip on ice, but also about feeling a oneness between body and mind. In a time when I spend so much of my time on the net, with my attention somehow stretched out across the world, getting back in touch with my own body - even if it's via aching muscles - is a good thing.
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