Saturday 19th September 2015

Today we trained this morning, one of those cant do anything days. I remember having those a LOT back in England. Lack of coordination, lack of concentration, lack of well, anything. 

The further on the class went the slightest improvement occurred but I seriously need to fix up, look sharp (as Dave would say) by the time Sensei comes back. 

Went to see Hokama Sensei today- got the coolest new book!! 

Karate manga!!!!! 

And it's English too, so I won't try reading it and have no idea what half of it means! This is so Very cool. 

I got it signed too ;)  

At home tonight, laundry for the week ahead in progress and cleaning the apartment. Not quite the Saturday nights I imagined at 23 but this isn't the life I ever dreamed I would be living at 23 and I absolutely love it. 

It's not easy, it's not always sunshine and roses but the good outweighs the bad and that's a pretty good balance to have now. 

Friday 18th September 2015

Spent the day making new videos today, it was fun. The boys got up and exercised and videoed some clips I can use for making some training videos for the Ryukyu rampage race James is organising. 

Check out more here- I think we will put the videos I make here too: 

www.ryukyurampage.com 

And, well it seems I will have no choice but to participate in the race (simply because James has already said I have no option) so, I'll be keeping the blog updated with how well I'm dating in training and on the race! 

Then I had a lesson with Rambo Sensei, I wish Japanese wasn't so hard!! I've a newfound respect for people that can speak more than one language!! 

Then work, it's been a late night!! 

Thursday 17th September 2015

Still on a high from karate yesterday. 

It was great. In fact, every karate lesson is great. Whether I feel it at the time or not. There's Never been a time I didn't learn something new which is amazing. 

It's like I'm a tree and every single lesson gives me a new leaf. 

The dojo is my most favourite place to be in the world, i go when I'm happy, sad, tired, angry and frustrated and it's always there. It's a safe place to be. Nothing else matters, it's a world of its own, a world I'm happy in. 

Sensei is having a good time in Europe, I'm having fabulous picture updates from my Sensei each day and I got to talk to both of my Sensei together on FaceTime too. That was something I won't forget. Made me so emotional talking to my entire dojo in England. They're still family too. It seems karate world really follows icheriba chodei - once we meet we are family. I can't think of anything better in this life. 

Wednesday 16th September 2015

Today I visited Okawa sensei's Uechi Ryu 

It was amazing- they showed me all 8 of their kata- SO good! 

Then they did the body conditioning. It was a really really good experience and they were SO welcoming. 

Made some new friends! 

Their kata was amazing, but then it is going to be when you spend over half your life (and they're all younger than me!!) training!! 

I have a LOT to keep up with here. 

Standards are amazing. 

This place is incredible and karate simple lights me up. It makes me happy. 

Tuesday 15th September 2015

Today I cleaned the house and did laundry. 

Then went to the bar, working again but had to study a bit beforehand. 

Sanae got all happy that I can write better now. She insisted on taking a picture. 

Lots to learn this week. 

Monday 14th September

Working again today. 

May as well while Sensei isn't here. 

Got my new gi today too. I SO want to try it out, but no one wants to do karate except me. 

I Cannot wait for Sensei to come back. 

Re- did the board at work tonight. Special pizza this week. 

Long night, really not enjoying the bike ride after work, not a huge amount I can do about it right now. Unless I just sleep at the bar. 

Sunday 13th September 2015

Happy birthday Sanae. Love you buddy!!! <3 

We went for lunch at our favourite buffet place, soba, salad and lots of mikan and pineapples! 

We've got a new pizza at the bar this week and I am the artist of this masterpiece: 

All by myself!! 

Special ne. ;) 

Saturday 12th September 2015

Today I had to bake a cake. 

No break after all. Woke up kinda early, watched some TV and wandered around the apartment eating yoghurt in my pyjamas. Purely because I can and because it is Saturday. 

Yukata party at the bar tonight. Well I'm wearin a jinbe but at least I have a costume! 

We made (I) a peach and banana cake for Sanae and Peachy's birthday. 

Not sure if it was the best mix but they both seem happy. Banana is Sanaes favourite and peachy is well, peachy so got peach cake! 

I didn't feel great after baking the cake so went to sleep in the office for a while. Ended up missing most of the party, I don't mind though. I was totally out of battery! So needed a good sleep and it seems there is a nice cosy space upstairs that I like! 

Friday 11th September 2015

Last night at work for a day. Lol that sounds so crap! But it will be good to have a break tomorrow. 

I've ridden my bike over 100km this week and my poor legs are not accustomed to this!! 

Finally starting to feel a bit happier today. 

I'm in the best place in the world. 

It's all gonna be good. 

Thursday 10th September 2015

Today I'm working with Sanae. 

She's like my best buddy here. 

We had a good time, only a few customers tonight so we closed a little early so I could get home, the glow in the dark caterpillars I see on the way home are starting to freak me out a little. 

Finally got wifi in the apartment today. Spent the whole day watching the Great British Bake off. I want to bake as well as some of them can! 

I'm loving the picture updates of my sensei in England. It's great to see them all having such a incredible time. 

I'm so glad they are all getting to experience what I get to experience every day here. 

I'm a lucky girl. 

Wednesday 9th September

Working again today. 

I'm halfway through the week! 

Going through another cleaning episode and felt the need to clean the entire oven and sort out all the fridges and freezers at work. Shouldn't be a issue- in fact I think it's a good thing! 

Spent all afternoon making pie. It's been a long long day today. 

Tuesday 8th September

Working every night this week except Saturday. I think it will kill me, not the work but the trek. It's difficult, got to work to buy a bike but getting to work is a complete killer. 

I'm actually working a lot more recently so that I don't have to work when Sensei comes at the beginning of next month. Haven't had any time off since he left, I think a holiday and getting to spend some time with the guys I miss the most will be just what I need to get all refreshed for the next year. Been the longest I haven't seen my karate family for since I started the journey with them Over 4 years ago. They're a huge influence on my life, hence I miss them. 

Feeling stuck in my own world today, I can't speak to people they are literally speaking another language and well as we all know explaining feelings is not my strongpoint and I'm missing Sensei (Both of them) and karate. 

I think karate is the only thing that keeps me sane, that's not necessarily a bad thing though eh, as long as I keep doing it. 

26 days, Sensei :) <3 

Monday 7th September

Today I didn't wake up til around 10am, I fell asleep at 10 last night too, literally slept for the entire 12 hours. I so needed it though. 

Edited my videos from yesterday a bit, studied for my Japanese lesson later and then went off to my lesson and to work. 

Nothing too exciting today! 

Sunday 6th September

Today I got to watch some of the best karateka in the world perform some absolutely incredible kata and kumite. 

I went to the yomitan 2015 karate demonstration. 

There was a 82 year old Sensei who is just the most perfect example of what karate can do for longevity. He was just amazing. 

Habu Sensei is pure inspiration, his kata is immense, strong and fierce but when he is teaching and working with the children and with people he is just the softest, kindest, most friendly guy I've ever met. 

This event showed the true essence of karate, a mixture of ryu ha, a mixture of people all coming together to share their love of karate and kobudo. 

I got some brilliant videos, turns out a iPad is pretty good at recording! Dropbox is filling up fast! 

I've got a lot to try and keep up with on this little island! 

Saturday 5th September

I got home around 2am but had to shower (that beast of a hill nearly killed me!) needed a drink so took some time getting to bed. Probably was alsleep by 3. Woke up around 10, I was so hungry and I really fancied pineapple and yoghurt so off I went to the supermarket where there was no pineapples! Carried on the hunt along the river to agri house. Got pineapples and dragon fruits as well as broccoli and some salad stuff. I love agri house. The round trip back home turned out to be a 10km bike ride! 

By the time I got back I wasn't hungry, just thirsty and tired with a headache so I decided to sleep for another hour because I am working tonight. 

I carried on reading my book all about running, not too much to go and I'll be finished. It's a good book. 

Did the laundry and got ready for work. 

Not a really exciting day but me and my muscles are aching. 

Miltos has gone camping for the weekend so I have the apartment to myself.

Work is busier tonight than last night, it was dead last night but tonight there is a few customers at least. 

 Not working tomorrow night, should be going to see some karate tomorrow which should be fun. 

4th September 2015

Today was the first day that I was up at 6.15 to go and excersise, we didn't actually excersise until about 8am and then, we climbed the net a few times and hit the tyres with the hammers. 

The mosquitoes were out in force today! 

Drunk some coffee and climbed the beast of a hill back home again. 

Then rode my bike into town properly for the first time, went to spend the afternoon at the bar to make some pie and annoy James and use the Internet because ours still doesn't work- we have the box but no wireless router. 

Working tonight, 

Going to be my first late night cycle home, this could be fun/ scary/ exhausting/ all of the above plus a few more emotions. 

Still I've got my iPod and I've got a cool shower a cosy bed and Jeff waiting for me when I go home. 

Having a few problems today and feeling just in general a bit crap. 

Still could be worse and I'm strong eh. 

#kesshiteakiramenai 

 

3rd September

Day one of exercising together again, 

James was nice to us and turned up at the apartment at 8.30 after the girls went to school. 

We went for a run to the navy park which is really close by, spent some time playing on the huge adventure park thing there. Climbing the bars and ropes and nets. It's all 'training'!! 

Then came back home and showered, had some food (but way more drink, I like it, it's hot here but you gotta be careful to drink your body weights worth of water a day or you will feel like you are dying fast!) 

Then back to reading my book because I have to stay in today to wait for the internet guys to come. 

The best quote came right after our run today: 

"We say the 'rarajipari' (a running game) is the game of life, you never know how hard it will be. You never know when it will end. You can't control it, only adjust. And, no one gets through it on their own"

So true, the amount of times I would have given up had it not been for the boys (here and in England) pushing me to keep going and keep trying. 

Lets do it all again tomorrow. 

As Sensei says: 

"Small steps every day". 

2nd September

Today I began to catch up on our laundry and make sure all our bedsheets, dogi and workout clothes were clean ready for the craziness to begin again tomorrow. Finished putting everything away too. 

As the heat of the day subsided and the sun went down I decided to walk into town and get my bike from the guesthouse, took me a hour to walk from our house to the bar, not sure how many km it is but I'm guessing maybe 7, I'll measure it one day! 

Got my bike and my pineapple, and did my first cycle back to the new house, it took about 40 minutes, I could probably do it in 30 if I tried a bit harder and wasn't travelling leisurely! 

Because there has been no internet at the new apartment until tomorrow, I've been reading the books I've been given/ borrowed off James. Right now I'm reading born to run. Maybe it will inspire me over the next few weeks to get running again. 

Lots of exciting stuff coming up and I need to do tokashiki in February in under a hour. Better to start earlier than have to wait another year to do it again eh! 

1st September

Moving day! 

Yesterday turned out to be a really busy but good day! We moved everything in the morning and then went to get cleaning things. Spent the entire afternoon unpacking and cleaning things. 

Then off to karate where Toshimune told us the story of how Motobu Sensei learned Chatan Yara Kusanku. 

We went through kata and did some stretching- my legs are going to hurt in the morning!! 

Got some pics of our apartment- these don't really do it justice though! 

This is my room

This is the Lounge 

Kitchen... 

Spare room/ second lounge 

It's a good new step, let's hope no X-ray spiders come here!