24th Febuary

So I'm having to change the format because I have forgotten what day I am on! 

Today was one of the most difficult mornings physically I've had since I got here- or at least it certianly felt that way!! 

I stepped right out of my comfort zones, I had made myself quite happy in (in fact I was kicked right out of them today) 

I wake up at 5.30am and get ready for our 6.30am workouts at James' house, I dress, brush my teeth and have recently started drinking smoothies I make the days before with fruit and natural yoghurt. I need something to get me started!  

I then leave at 5.50am and cycle the 30 minute trek to James'. Then we have herb tea (sometimes milk tea!) and at 6.30 exactly we begin. 

We alternate days of running and skipping (jump rope) and today was a running day. I HATE running (ski janai!!) 

So we start running and I don't run up hills, it's hard enough to haul myself along at a faster than walking pace on a relatively flat surface but to then ask me to do more than crawl my way to the top of the hill is a bit much! 

Today though, James was having none of it, I was running up the hill basically whether I liked it or not, with him right next to me the entire way up. This hill is a beast, in fact all the hills around his house are but this is the lesser of them all as it has a more gradual downward decline than the rest! Still- I made it up more of the hill than I ever have before- In fact I was about 10 meters off making it up the entire thing. You then have to remember we carry on running the circuit back round to this hill- and again James was right there waiting for me :/ 

We did this FOUR times. I didn't run the entire way once but cumulatively I ran more of the hills than I've ever ran in my life. I thought my legs were going to drop off and my lungs were burning. I didn't die- but it felt that way! 

(We all have to remember also that it's 6.30am and I've already cycled a 30 minute - not flat!! Bike ride to get to James' - including another beast hill to actually get there)

So we finished running and then we start doing reps of squats and push ups. Again, my legs don't really understand what they've done to be abused so badly at this time of day. 

We then move onto the weight training which is lifting the 40kg barbell, clean and press style- then putting it on your shoulders and doing squats- today though- jumping squats. Yea. There's a 40kg weight on my shoulders and I'm attempting to jump with it. 

Then you lift until your arms lift no more and then do more squats ('normal' ones this time) and then you have the final (controlled!) lift over the head and back to the floor. Then we do pull ups and hamdstands and then another weight lifting rep. My arms and shoulders have then entirely gone like jelly and I'm feeling rather lightheaded! 

We then stretch and finish. Finally. 

Then it's breakfast time. My favourite little buddy (Kari) and her papa made pancakes, we had homemade pancakes and natural yoghurt, followed by a Mikan melon fruit (we weren't sure what it was - Higa Sensei gave it to James- it was the size of a melon but it tasted like a Mikan and was the colour of a grapefruit!) it was tasty though, and some strawberries too. 

Then I had a coffee and got back on my bike for the 20 minute ride from James' to Sensei's house. 

It was just Miltos, Sensei and me today and we had a proper dripping sweat class. I thought I was going to faint at one point during the let's repeat that kata again, and again and again. I mean, it's great because I'm learning a new, very difficult kata (Chinto) but there's a flying front kick, lots of deep stances and moves that need power and snap! That which I struggled with but gambaru! (I did the very best I could!)

Then home to shower and rehydrate because I think I'd lost a LOT of my body weight in sweating this morning. 

Shower and water later and I'm off to the bar, I stopped by the best little Oni giri (rice wrapped in seaweed) place and got a chicken one. Oisheeee!!

Stopped by the supermarket and got bananas, Mikan and yoghurt and have made the nicest banana smoothie and Mikans to snack on. 

I can't waste all that hard work this morning by eating crap now.

It was far too painful to go and do that!!

Currently everything hurts. A lot. But in a good way. A really good, worked hard, satisfied way. 

it's all happening again tomorrow. 

Catch up

So I haven't done my blog in far too long. I have a LOT of catching up to do! 

It's been really busy here, I've been doing some fun stuff, but also been going through a difficult time with struggling with the language, food, karate seems to become more challenging every lesson! 

So the past couple of weeks I've been working more at the bar too because I want to save to buy a moped because cycling everywhere is becoming far too much hard work and I can't go as far as I would like because it takes longer and its a lot of effort! 

So, in the past month I've been to Tomashiki Island, my first time to another island and my first time off okinawa since I arrived! 

I ran the 10k road (mountain!) course and did it in 1.09 hours! I was 77th out of 169 runners and was 24th of the 79 ladies that ran! 

I was SO happy with that! 

Got the most beautiful medal too! 

I've been spending time with my best buds here, 

Lots of laughing... 

Fitting In sleep wherever we can!

I've been introducing the okinawans to fudge... 

(Probably giving half the population diabetes!) 

I've been part of an amazing karate demonstration as part of the Matsubayashi ryu Crew here!! :D 

I also got to watch some incredible karate, literally in awe of these 5 Sensei. They are fantastic. 

We spend the mornings running in beautiful places and lifting heavy weights...

Just so we can bake pie and not feel bad for eating it... 

We hit hard things and we bleed, but that just makes us stronger, we are becoming warriors... 

We spend afternoons playing Robin Hood... 

And we find strange creatures under the sofas... 

Finally, we both eat ampanman, and be brave just like him... 

Even when it feels hard, this is still the most incredible thing I've ever done. 

Everyday I'm here, I am falling in love with the island more and more. 

I never want to leave. 

Karate Masters Portraits Project

So as some of you know, recently my own project has begun with Chris and James' book. I've made it my mission to get as many of the Sensei to sign it as possible. 

At the beginning of the month, James went to London so I had to find something karate related to amuse myself with while I'm by myself. 

So this is the book- it's quite expensive but it's fantastic quality and the pictures are incredible, these guys are my inspiration and my heroes. I think this book will become a piece of invaluable karate history one day. 

So far I have asked each Sensei to sign the book and give me some life advice. 

Below are the signatures I have so far: 

Number 1- Taira Sensei. He is the WMKA world president and is 10th dan. He is the head of Matsubayashi Ryu karate (the style I study) this makes him one I simply had to get asap! Sensei's favourite kata is Chinto and it is amazing, it is incredibly powerful and precise and 'when I grow up I want to be just like him'!! 

Number 2- Arakaki Sensei: this is my Sensei in Okinawa. He has taken me under his wing and welcomed me into his dojo. Sensei is incredible- he has done more for me than I could ever explain, he has treated me like family since I arrived in okinawa and has given me memories I will treasure for a lifetime.  I will be forever in his debt- I am training hard, consistently and learning all I can from him. To be able to train with the best in the world is a chance not many people get. I get more than to just be able to train with him, I get to be a part of his karate family and I couldn't wish for anything better. 

Sensei advised- 'work hard, play hard and always be one step ahead' 

Number 3- Goju Ryu Taira Sensei: I met Taira Sensei in the Dojo bar. He has the most incredible Makiwara hands I've ever seen. 

Sensei advised: 'if the attack is strong -defend softly, if the attack is soft- defend strongly'. 

Number 4- Goju Ryu Yogi Sensei: this guy is SO funny. He came into the bar and made me laugh a LOT. 

Sensei advised: 'strongly and decisively know which path you want to take and then do it and stick to it'. 

Number 5- Hokama Sensei: I love this sensei, he has the coolest (and only) karate museum. Sensei speaks good english and I can just pop in and see him whenever I'm about the shuri area, he always has green tea in a pot somewhere!  Sensei saw my Tattoo and insisted on giving me my own advice- 'kesshite akiramenai- never give up' 

Number 6- Gaja Sensei. James and I went to visit Gaja Sensei together. He had some really really cool hojo undo equipment and gave us a whole bunch of rope so we can wrap our tree up as a makiwara. 

Number 7- Akamine Sensei: he is SO nice. He signed my book with a really cool brush pen! Sensei advised: 'Fudoshin' it means to have a im moveable/ unbreakable heart and mind. 

Number 8- Yogi Sensei: so this sensei is amazing at kobudo. He is SO kind too! 

I got roped into a 3 hour kobudo lesson when he signed my book. It was fun. 

Sensei advised: 'always have good heartfelt intentions'. 

Number 9- Kyuna Sensei: the next few Sensei I didn't manage to get advice from yet because I couldn't explain it in japanese!! But I got their signatures by gate crashing a advanced training camp at the budokan. 

Number 10- Uezato Sensei. 

Number 11- Sakugawa Sensei. 

Number 12- Ikemiyagi Sensei. 

Number 13- Nakamoto Sensei. For this signature and the next one (Sensei's son) I visited Sensei's kobudo museum in Shuri. I got my book signed and got a private tour of his kobudo museum and dojo. It was amazing and definately a signature I'll remember getting. 

Number 14- Nakamoto Mamoru Sensei. 

So far this has been a incredible experience- I will remember every single signature and the story behind each one. This book is fast becoming priceless. 

I am learning the Okinawan culture of kindness as well as learning some very valuable life lessons on the way. 

Just another 42 signatures to go! (There is 56 of the 58 Sensei available to sign the book)

This book could be the making of my own book. 

Taira Sensei, Arakaki Sensei and Makishi sensei invited me for coffee. 

Hokama Sensei gave me my own advice- smart guy!! 

Yogi Sensei insisted I take part in his 3 hour kobudo session!

Akamine Sensei has a BEAUTIFUL dojo. 

I got a private tour of the kobudo museum! Learned a lot!! 

This is the coolness of living right by the budokan. 

I love how all the Sensei admire how handsome they are!! They're all really cool guys!! (And incredible karateka/ kobudoka. I SO wanna be just like them. 

We did some serious karate master poses at the bar. Given a couple of years I might have the look down!! :D 

Let the quest continue!!!!