5 years.

On the 21st May 2011 we went to our first Matsubayashi Ryu Karate class. 

I had been doing aikido for 2 1/2 years before this and had given my brothers judo classes a go when I was younger. It seems though even from day 1 with the Okinawan karate it just clicked. It was the right thing for me. 

I love the kata, the kumite, the kihon, the people and the places it takes you. 

Everything about it is good. 

Sensei, Senpai, dojo mates and everyone else you meet along the way. We're all different yet all the same. 

I've just reached my 5 year mark and I wouldn't change it for the world. 

It's been the best and hardest thing I've ever done and I'm excited for the day that I reach my 50th year anniversary. 

Frank :)

This is Frank. He is a hamster. Our new little flatmate. 

As with most things in Okinawa we got him from makeman. He's just a baby so let's hope I can keep him healthy and happy for a long time yet. 

It's been a couple of weeks since I got him and he seems to be settling well. He loves sunflower seeds and he doesn't seem to be nervous or shy. 

He got a new chewstick that he seems to really like. I have a feeling he will need lots of time in his ball to run or he will become a chubby little Frank. 

Next is to try and start teaching him some tricks! 

Sensei's Birthday

We had a party for sensei's 73rd birthday earlier this month. 

We had it at James' house and the Canadian karate guys came and the Arakaki dojo. 

We had lots of food and cake, lots of drink. Foreworks and karate demonstrations. 

There was an archery off between Miyagi Senpai and James. 

It was a lot of fun and I think everyone had a really great time. 

I hope Sensei has many many more happy birthdays. 

Habu Sensei, Matsuda Sensei and Meobukan

Today was a good day, this cold is just starting to take hold but we were going to see habu Sensei and actually get to train with him tonight so nothing will stop that. 

We stopped by at the blue cave for snorkelling first- the ocean and the fish were incredible but the cave wasn't quite how the guide leaflets made it out to be! 

Got some oni giri and onto habu sensei's house. We had coffee together (he gave me another one of Soma sensei's mugs- now I have two very special cups!) 

Then we got to join in the kids class- there were so many of them! Habu Sensei is strict with the small ones but they all still love him. Matsuda Sensei was there too. We all swapped kata and got to try one of their own original ones that Matsuda Sensei made (I can't remember the name!) it's fast, snappy and very very cool. 

Then we all change and shower and go to the fish resturant. There was a LOT of beer and awamori plus lots of good food fish, sashimi, tempura, oni giri, Goya champuru and miso shiru. 

I really love to be around these Sensei, they're incredible people and karateka. 

The advice to heal my cold- take awamori and swish it around your mouth a bit- then blow it out your nose. 

Don't think I'll try that remedy yet!! 

We stayed at habu Senseis house and after dinner spent some time in the dojo drinking and chatting. 

Best part of the morning was that the boys clearly have a hangover and so habu Sensei gets the eggs from his ducks (they live on his little land next door where he grows veggies!) he cracks them raw into the cup and makes the boys drink it. I really really thought they were going to throw up. They didn't so we went to eat pancakes. 

I love bananas and I love pancakes, can't think of a better way to start the day. 

Then as a bonus we stopped at Yara castle ruins in chatan on the way to add another to my list. Don't think we saw it all though! It's a bit of a maze! 

I need to google earth the spot and go explore again when I'm feeling better. 

It's surprisingly close to Kyan Senseis memorial. 

Stopped at the supermarket on the way home, bought a giant box of Kleenex and some juice and went home to bed. 

You have to be ready.

I have a cold. Nothing majorly new or life threatening there. I have asthma too-  I've had lung issues ever since I was born  but as I've grown and got healthier (I.e less fat and fitter) it's become really well controlled - in a good month I take no medications at all- every now and again I forget I even have it. 

However, recently because of this  I have become complacent and am not as vigilant about ensuring I have a inhaler around should I ever need it. 

Well today I was reminded how incredibly scary it is to be unable to breathe, to feel your lungs closing and then to realise that the inhaler you need (and could literally save your life) is sitting at home on the desk. To have that panic that I can only imagine must be what drowning feels like. Feeling like a fish out of water. Keep doing karate, you'll be okay. Becoming lightheaded and feeling that the breaths you take are becoming shallower, feeling the mucous build up in your lungs but not having the strength or lung capacity to cough it out. You know trouble is coming when you stop coughing and wheezing- silence comes. 

Focus on getting home- get the inhaler and you will be okay. Don't be stupid next time, keep one everywhere just in case, traffic lights need to change, pins and needles in your hands, just breathe, a couple more minutes, relax, let your body take over it, it will keep you alive as long as possible, why did you get so complacent, don't be scared- it will be okay. 

Get home, key in the door, get the inhaler, take it- too fast, not enough breathed in, try again, hands shaking. It starts to work. Relax, take some more, feel safe now, you can breathe again. Within a few minutes everything feels okay again. Tired. 

Forgetting how potentially life threatening Asthma can be is a dangerous game to play.

The trigger, a cold I knew I had- therefore I should have been way more prepared for this. You live and learn, although I know some people that weren't as lucky to get another chance. 

I am healthier and fitter and have a LOT less issues than I did before which is great but clearly for me, this is one thing I'll have forever hence I'll need to be prepared for the worst forever, and so with the current cold and attack this morning I'll be spending the next month or two taking my steroid preventer inhaler, no doubt some more of my rescue inhaler and possibly some oral steroids in the next couple of days. 

Today has reminded me how far I've come- attacks like today's used to be a regular thing, I spent a long time on steroids and used that as a excuse for my weight, which made the asthma worse. A vicious circle. 

I'm lucky to be where I'm at but I still need to be careful. Just like karate I suppose- always be ready for worst outcome but do your best to never get into it. 

Kokoro, Greek food and Camping...

We went camping to ike jima again. We did this last year - I think around the same time. 

We went for the Little Greek Kitchen's Mayday/ Greek Easter party.

We had some incredible food, a beautiful beach (hammock to read in!) and great weather. 

The food was great- fresh Greek salad, lamb and rosemary and pitta bread with really good sauces. 

We had some food then went over to the beach to put the tents up. 

Pretty great view from the tent eh. 

The boys did archery while I finished reading my book in the hammock,  I got it recently and I was really enjoying it.  

It's called Kokoro. I was in the book shop and it caught me because it's a word I actually understand- it means heart. 

Not quite what I was expecting but nevertheless a brilliant book. 

 I went for a wander around the island- it's like what I imagine old Okinawa to be like. 

We have some more food - Pamela was incredible at looking after us (and everyone else) and we go to bed. 

I stayed up and watched the stars for a while- incredible what you can see when you're away from the light of the cities and houses. 

I didn't sleep much, lots of smoke from our fire (the wind kept changing) and being outside in general meant every sound woke me up.

On the plus side this happened at 6am. 

It felt as though the entire world was alsleep except me.

Everything was so quiet and peaceful and beautiful.  

We stayed at Pamela's for the morning and then we made our way home. 

Sunday was a good day. :)