Seven Quick Takes on Karate

Why I still like karate:

1.     1.   I Have to.  The boys look up to me (I believe) and if they see me get lazy or skip class then they will feel the need to do so also.

2.      2.  I have a feeling of accomplishment.  Most classes.  It is one thing to sit in the lobby on the cushy couches watching my son’s do futocada di-eichy [Japanese for The First Cada] for the two hundredth time.  It is quite another to be out on the mat doing it yourself.  It is not as easy as it looks.  So when I get out there and follow the count of the sensei and not mess one move up, I feel great.  It is not the best.  It is not perfect.  But I did it without making a mistake.

3.      3. I focused my thoughts away from the laundry and dust for at least 90 minutes.  I have a hard time keeping still.  This is partly due to the fact that once still, I sleep.  DadOfAllTrades can attest to this.  I have been known to doze off during the climax of a movie’s plot.  So, I keep moving and “doing” all day.  My mind does not rest on one thing for too long, kinda like ADD for adults but not really.  So the fact that I am not fretting about how the boys did at bed time or wondering what I am going to make for dinner tomorrow is a huge accomplishment on my part.

4.       4. It is really cool to participate in something with the boys; something at which they are better at then myself.  They find it entertaining to help me with my practice.  Eye rolls and all, they seem to love being the teacher sometimes.

5.       5. At least one night a week, someone else is putting the boys to bed.  ‘Nuf said.

6.       6.I do it with a bunch of very disciplined adults.  It makes me want to be a better person.

7.      7.  I have learned that once a cada is over, it is over.  Don’t focus on how wrong (or right) it was.  This is something I have had to work on all my adult life.  I ruminate about mistakes I make.  But karate does not.  No matter how many times you did the wrong block; no matter how many walking steps were indistinguishable; the cada is over.  Move on.  You can be better next time as long as you focus on the task at hand and not let the past task take your focus away.  Really a good life lesson.