This, that, and the other was dragging me down today (4/23/16), and I found myself sinking deeper as I drove to Affiliate YMCA. The instant I started moving in Zumba, I started feeling better. Later, during the Affilate YMCA Dojo’s Saturday practice time, something beautiful happened. One of my “some days” was today.
It took me several weeks to learn Bassai Dai, my first advanced kata after some thirty years. I was fully expecting to take several weeks to learn Nijushiho. Today, all I needed was a bit of reminding of what comes next. Suddenly, I realized I had Nijushiho memorized. I then spent at least an hour hammering that kata into my brain. Now I can begin refining it.
Learning any kata is a triumph for me because I have directional dyslexia. So this felt really good, especially as the process of learning Nijushiho was one of the things I was discouraged about as I drove to Affilate Y. Once I had that kata solidly memorized, I realized 24 movements (the translation of the kata’s name) makes for a short kata. So Nijushiho isn’t quite the bear I’d imagined it to be after all.
Some day… Two words that give hope. Some day I’ll be rid of the shoulder tension. Some day I’ll be consistent with throwing from my core. Some day I’ll learn Rohai Shodan (the second kata I’ll be tested on for my next rank). Some day I’ll be a black belt.
How do I know that one day I’ll find a “some day” has turned into “today?” I have faith in my “some days” because I’ve reached so many milestones already. Some of these milestones are belt ranks. Some are tournament medals. Some milestones involve learning something I’ve only read or heard about. The most precious milestones of all involve my instructors trusting me with their safety.
The trick to countering discouragement is to remember all the days when a “some day” became “today.” Many of those milestones were reached in spite of numerous challenges. I ran into someone’s car in the parking lot before my last belt test. I am dyslexic. Last year, I won first place medals in a tournament despite an injury. I had 22 pounds of fat the day I started my first Karate class in 27 years. And let’s face it, I’m not exactly a spring chicken. In spite of it all, I’ve had many, many “some days” come true. That should give me hope next time I’m bummed about some aspect of my Karate or my life.
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Love……:) I got a new kata today too…..can not say I have nailed even the pattern yet but can say it felt easier learning it. Someday I will nail it. I have faith. I need it to happen in the next 6.5 months…..but I know it will so I am not stressing. Osu.
Thanks, Rach! Yep, you already know your “some day” is coming 🙂 I’ll bet you’ll have it down long before your deadline 🙂
Congrats on all of your “some days” that have come to pass — I know there will be many more!
You’re learning Rohai for your next belt? That was one of our black belt katas in a previous school I was in. It never really “grabbed” me, so I haven’t done it since I left there, but maybe I’ll pick it back up again… some day. 😉
Congrats again!
Thanks for your encouragement, Mr. Bullard! Yep, Rohai Shodan. I’ve done a couple of run-throughs of it, and what I like about it is there’s at least a couple of sagi ashi dachis in there (I’m gonna be thinking a lot about my online friend whose screen name is the name of that stance, LOL). I like it not just because of the connection to my online friend, but I actually have pretty good balance and am looking forward to getting better balance and showing it off – possibly even in tournaments next season.