Author: Joelle White

One of the Senseis who works with me on a regular basis has told me he would like to see me be more patient when sparring.  I need to either create or wait for opportunities.  Another Sensei put it this way – I’m often so intent on nailing my opponent that I miss the big picture.  I’ve improved some, but there’s still room for more growth.

 

One day, the first Sensei I mentioned called me up to the front of a class to help him illustrate his points about sparring.  I listened to and watched him for cues on what to do.  This is well within my comfort zone and I love helping this way.  It’s a challenge to keep up with the expectations on the fly, and sometimes – surprise!  I end up on the mats twisted up in a pretzel.  All in good fun and for the benefit of us students.  I get to experience the techniques firsthand, which is a good lesson for me in trust, in the importance of control, and in what these movements are supposed to do.

At one point Sensei backed off a bit and I paused in response, but I maintained my fighting stance.  Sensei finished his point and then said, “Now, in the old, old days – sparring was this,” and he suddenly “froze” in fighting stance, guard up.  Not really frozen as in stiff – more like a coiled spring.  I copied him.  I had no clue what to do next, but during a demonstration, one cues off of Sensei.  After an uncomfortable few seconds of us staring at each other, watching each other for signs of attack, I raised a questioning eyebrow.

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BAM!  Next thing I knew, Sensei had covered the distance between us, coming at me like a spring-loaded freight train.

Sensei explained to all of us that in that style of fighting, one waits for a flinch, a submissive lowering of the eyes, a shifting of the gaze in response to a sound in the room, or whatever other cue that shows one’s opponent is vulnerable and/or distracted.  In my case, it was that raised eyebrow.  Yep, I was too busy communicating and wasn’t spending any brain power observing.

About a month later, this Sensei faced off with another black belt for sparring.  Both men went into fighting stance…  And they just waited.  I grinned, recognizing what they were up to.  I don’t know who broke first, but they both exploded at almost the same time.  A heartbeat later the corner judges’ flags went up, so obviously one was faster.

Patience works.  Impatience and haste doesn’t.  I think that’s one of the things I was supposed to learn, and I’m glad I had this firsthand experience with an “old school” method of fighting.

What do soy sauce, my new job, and my Karate have in common?

My new job is at the community college.  I work in the building next door to where the college Karate class meets.  My hours are flexed so I can work out with that class.   It’s pretty exciting to have something to look forward to when I go to work on Monday mornings.  Don’t get me wrong, I like my new job, but you know – Monday mornings are still Monday mornings.   Monday mornings are a lot more exciting now that the first thing I do when I arrive on campus is stash my gi in a locker.

The man who founded the college’s Karate program came from Japan with the clothes on his back and a little bit of cash.  At one point he lived in his car and did yard work for people.  He came to the community college and in exchange for English lessons, he taught Karate.   He started making soy sauce to give away as gifts, and with the encouragement and help of his Karate students, eventually went commercial.  He’s now quite wealthy and a great philanthropist.  You might know him as Mr.  Yoshida.  I know him as Yoshida Sensei.  Read the full story about Yoshida Sensei here if you’d like to.

Yoshida Sensei kept working on his Karate.  Nowadays he is the head of the organization of dojos I belong to.   This organization includes my “home” dojo, the “college dojo,” and other local dojos I’ve written about before.  So there’s the connection between soy sauce and my karate.  But what about my new job?  How’s that connected to soy sauce and Karate?

I work in the International Student Programs office.  We help with just about every aspect of a foreign student’s life.  If we can’t help directly we point the students to the right people.  This office didn’t exist until maybe 8-10 years ago, so obviously the college has taken huge strides since Yoshida Sensei got his start.

So…  What about the title of this blog post?  “Full Circle,” what’s up with that?

My job enables me to pay all my Karate expenses.   Tournament entry fees, belt test fees, Gasshuku, motel room for after Godo Renshu, and contact lenses.  Plus whatever else might come up (hopefully never a hospital bill).  Once I reach 3rd kyu in 6-7 years I’ll have to drive three hours on a monthly basis for training at the hombu dojo, so I’m saving up for food and fuel.  I’m also saving up for my Shodan test.  The college dojo will gain another Sensei.

Full circle.

You bet I have incentive to learn how to do my job and to do it well.   It’s a busy office, there’s a lot to learn, and the work is never ever done.  My job at the front desk can get insanely busy around the start of each new quarter, but I’m a mother so I know how to roll with the times when I barely get a couple of minutes to use the restroom.  Karate has given me what it takes to listen to feedback, learn from mistakes, and grow especially when growing is hard to do.  This is easily the most challenging office I’ve ever worked in.  I’m up for the challenges thanks to my Karate.   I’m helping students who, like Yoshida Sensei, are coming to America to learn and grow, maybe even establish new lives here.

Full circle again.

Remember the Id and the Ego from my post, “Inner Dialogue?”  Let’s bring them out again.  (Images by yurike – yurike_go@hotmail.com)

“Why am I doing this?”  I ask myself as I drive to class, “I could be home napping or reading a book.  Ya know, I’m feeling a bit off today – maybe I should turn around and go home.  Recovery days are important, right?  Especially at my age…”

“Ignore your age – you always forget your age once you’re immersed and engaged in Karate.  Besides, you had your recovery day – Sunday – two days ago.”

“Ugh, I’m not gonna make it through warmups.  I hope the rest of class is easy.  I’m not sweating yet and I feel lousy.”

“Are you kidding?  You’re not nearly as tired as you were after Gasshuku!  Stick it out – you’ll be doing something interesting pretty soon, then you’ll feel happy!”

“I’ve been practicing and tutoring kata for 90 minutes and Sensei wants me to spend the next half hour sparring someone who is younger and who outranks me?!?  I’m not gonna make it!”

In the case of that last thought, I had to give myself a severe scolding.  I was a guest at a sister dojo during the time they have a room reserved for practice.  The sensei didn’t have to teach me squat – he had things to work on himself.  So did the sempai.  The sensei was honoring me by having the sempai work with me on some very specific things that will boost my sparring skills.  You bet I found the energy to keep going and I thoroughly enjoyed the time.

There must be something deep within us that says that if the saber toothed tiger isn’t chasing us and we’re well fed, we really ought to hide and rest.  As enthusiastic as I am about Karate, I do have to fight sometimes to keep going.  I have to remind myself that I can do it.  I know I can keep going because I’ve done it so many times before.

The darkest motivation I can think of to persevere is simply that it’s entirely possible I’ll be attacked in the parking lot after class.  My life might one day depend on me overcoming fatigue, maybe even injury.  This thought first came to me on the drive home from my first Gasshuku.  I stopped at a rest stop and, as is my habit whenever I get out of a car, I surveyed the other people – noting where they were, where they were going, how they were dressed, and their emotional states.  No creeps.  I was barely able to drive safely home because I was very sore and tired, but I realized if it came to a fight for my life, no doubt I would find the energy.

In contrast, the best motivation for me to overcome fatigue is simply this:  Karate is fun, awesome, challenging, empowering, and a whole slew of other positive adjectives.  Yes, I know – proper hydration and nutrition count for a lot when it comes to preventing and overcoming fatigue.  I submit that one’s mental outlook is just as important if not more important.  The instant I lose sight of how lucky I am to be engaged in a physical activity that I enjoy, I start listening to that little voice that tells me I’m too tired.

I’m not tired.  Not really.