or 65 months and 28 days
or 286 weeks and 6 days
or 2008 days.
(I've been in Okinawa for 758 of those days)
No matter how I phrase it, it still feels as though it was only yesterday that i stepped into the Dojo in England having no idea that it would be the beginning of such a life changing journey.
26th October 2014 has become one of the most important days in my life because that was when i came to live here.
It was the hardest, scariest and yet the best thing I've ever done, i was immersed and immediately surrounded by the most inspirational Sensei and Senpai who have taken me in and are teaching me so much more than just world class karate, they're teaching me how to live a good life and be a good person with karate at the heart of it all.
When i was making the decision to come here, i had a lot of doubts and uncertainties- why me, now? i'm not good enough to do it, i haven't been training long enough, i'm not fit enough, i can't speak Japanese, i shouldn't leave my current dojo, i don't have enough money- all of this really didn't matter when i found that i couldn't stop thinking about it and 'what if i could do it, wouldn't that be the coolest thing in the world?'
I followed my heart and found a way to make karate more than just something i practice two or three times a week. I came to live in Okinawa and make karate my life- for the time being anyway.
If you want something enough you can find a way to make it work. I did, i stuck with it and it is paying off- although it is not easy- the work is so worth the rewards.
This Island, is to me, the most beautiful place in the world. The landscape, the atmosphere and the general island attitude is like nothing else I've ever been a part of. The Okinawan ethos is what i aspire to- peace, kindness and good health are fundamentals and it radiates around the island. There are no strangers, everyone is seen as a friend. It's unbelievably different to where i come from.
I know that i am still such a beginner in the karate world when surrounded by people that have been doing it far longer than i have even been alive, but i am here to learn from the very best in the world so that maybe one day i can pass on karate to the next generation.
I think it would be such a sad thing if traditional karate ends up being lost in a generation.
There's no magic or shortcut to it, which makes it more special. You get what you give.
it turns out it's true what they say when they tell you that grade becomes irrelevant.
I wont lie- when i was yellow belt- all i wanted was orange and when orange, all i wanted was green etc. Sensei has taken a lot of the 'belt restrictions' away here because every day he will teach me and help me to grow irrelevant of whether 'i'm the right grade to learn that kata'. Every day i'm learning something new and taking another step up the mountain that is karate. I hope that will continue forever.
The day before yesterday i graded and achieved my Nidan but i woke up in the morning feeling no different.
I'm no better at karate today than i was yesterday, or the day before that.
I did the best i could and i'm not unhappy with how i did- but i want to be better, i want to reach the Sensei's level, and no matter how much i want it and wish for it, nothing but time and a lot of hard training sweat and bruises will get me there.
They say you become like the five people you spend the most time with- I know my five and luckily for me they include some of the best karateka and nicest people in the world, if i can become even a little more like them i'll be a far better person for it. Do you know yours?
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| After Grading Party- November 2016 |
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| 5 Year Karate Anniversary- May 2016 |
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| Guinness World Record Attempt on Karate Day 2016- Most people performing Kata at the same time- We're in there somewhere!! |
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| Karate Masters' Portrait Shoot- January 2015 |
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| December 2014 |
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| Naha Karate Tournament September 2016 |
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| 100 Kata Challenge 2016 |
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| Christmas 2015; Santa, Good food, Best friends and Karate |
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| 100 Kata Challenge 2016 |
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| May 2016 Dojo Training with Miyagi Senpai |
