Author: Joelle White

Let’s face it – Karate isn’t about arranging flowers.  We get hurt.  Now that I’m older, I’ve discovered I don’t heal in ten minutes like I used to when I was a kid.  More like ten days!  I’ve come to realize I have an obligation to heal myself.  When I’m sick or injured, I often feel I must keep bulling through my normal routine when in fact, it’s better to do the opposite and rest.

Awww! I know how he feels.

 If I truly love Karate, I mustn’t ruin my body by trying to be brave and work through the pain.  A little time off makes me even more eager to practice and learn!  Unseen hurts of the psychological variety need to be dealt with too so that I don’t drag emotional baggage into the dojo, where it doesn’t belong.  In the end, if I take time to heal myself, I’ll be more effective at healing others.

Huh?  Wait – Karate is about taking people apart, right?  Well, yeah, and accidents do happen.  I’ve just started training in CPR and First Aid as required by my new job.  If an emergency situation arises I am under obligation to start healing others.  Fortunately, emergency situations are rare even in Karate, so I won’t have to fulfill my obligation to help with physical healing very often.   But our obligation to heal isn’t limited to first aid.  There’s another kind of healing all karateka are obligated to participate in.

Karate is also about building people up.  This is a form of healing.  If you don’t believe me, just ask the kid who recently discovered she can pack a powerful punch.  She doesn’t fear being pushed around by the playground bully anymore, and indeed she’s gained so much self confidence that the schoolyard bully is backing off.  That is healing.  When we take the time to teach her, to spar with her, to tell her that her punch is amazing, we are healing her.  It’s our duty to heal where we can.

Our obligation to heal can be extended even further.  Pick up trash.  Smile.  Plant a tree.  Donate.  Say something kind.  Give someone the benefit of the doubt.  Volunteer.  Karate gives us the discipline we need to reach beyond ourselves.  Let’s use that ability to heal our world one small corner at a time.

So there you have it.  We are under obligation to heal ourselves, others, and our world.  Yes, we are learning to maim and kill.  But we’re also learning how to build and heal.  Let’s not lose sight of that.

With whom do I prefer to spar?  The people I can beat up easily?  Those who are roughly the same rank as I?  Surely I’m not so crazy that I prefer getting my tail thoroughly whipped by someone who vastly outranks me?

I have no preference.

Sparring with brand-new beginners is a chance for me to teach.  I’m careful to go at my opponent’s pace, then I look for opportunities to push a little – maybe two face jabs in a row, maybe a kick aimed four inches short of the head.  If I need to go slowly it is a chance for me to work on form and precision.  It’s encouraging to receive a great punch or kick in the gut when the beginner is good and confident about actually hitting me.

When I fight with those who are the same rank as I, it stands to reason I’ll win some and I’ll lose some.   At this stage clashing shins is the norm.  I can’t wait for my rank-mates and I to “outgrow” that.  Pain is an excellent teacher so I’m sure sooner or later I’ll learn.  It’s great that we’re all going through the same challenges and developing the same skills together.   I can compare myself to my peers and assure myself that I’m doing just fine for my rank.

Because I’m only a bit over 9 months into my training, most karateka outrank me.  Therefore any number of people can whip my tail with both hands behind their backs.  Some of them are shorter than I am, some are taller, a few are, well, pretty darned big and scary – especially if they also outrank me by two or more belts.  I learn a lot about my weaknesses.  Techniques and combinations of techniques that I’ve never dealt with before are thrown at me.  I find my skills are improved after a few sound thrashings.  I am more confident when facing those my same rank and I learn a little more about how to teach brand-new beginners.   The highest ranks usually instruct me on how I can improve, and that is priceless.

Let’s face it – some of us beginners are scared to death when faced with the prospect of sparring a black belt.   We might lose the fight even before it’s begun with thoughts like, “I doubt I’ll land even one punch,” or “even my fastest kick won’t be fast enough and she’ll sweep me for sure!”

Feel free to laugh at my expense.  The first time a Sensei chose to spar against me, I was scared spitless and had very few skills to draw on.  All he had to do was stick out a fist or whip a kick and I’d run straight onto it.  It wasn’t much of a sparring match at all because I asked for a halt and then asked what I was doing wrong – which led to some coaching.  That was about five months ago.  Fast forward to last month.  Another black belt chose to play cat and mouse with me (it’s pretty obvious who the mouse was).   I wasn’t terrified – maybe a teeny bit scared but mostly determined to do my best.   Yeah, I got my tail whipped, but…  I had lots to think about afterward, including something to try next time I see his signature move (I know, I should’ve thought of something to try long before he chose to spar with me).

So to all my fellow beginners out there – learn from everyone.  Be a good sport no matter who you’re up against.  And take heart – you will survive and you will thrive the more you get your tail whupped by those who are better than you.  Ask questions and get feedback, then practice.  You’ll be proud of your bruises.