Thursday 30 November 2017

He is human and so am i

'He is human and so am I' 

The phrase comes from Nagamine Sensei.

While in Taiwan and doing awesome things, like climbing mountains and Mantis Kung Fu, I noticed this time culture and life differences.
Maybe it's because we were free to explore and communicate on our own this time, or maybe I've just begun to open my eyes to the world around me. 

It opened my mind too. 


We all live such different lives, England is vastly different to Okinawa which is different to Taiwan. 

I'm comparing these three places because these are the countries in which i have been given the opportunity to either live in or visit multiple times. 
Ironically, it seems the most 'underdeveloped' place is the one that appealed to me the most-  i think there is beauty in a simple way of life. 


It goes back to yesterday's horse head lesson. 

The people in Taiwan and even parts of Okinawa are living a pretty self sufficient lifestyle- eating food that comes from their land and building their houses out of the materials they have around them.

Outside the cities there is less technology- more simplicity.


I guess this can be seen as a positive and a negative. Of course there are positives to the developments we have made in the world- less disease, longer life expectancy, better quality of life etc.

The thing i'm getting at is that the people of Taiwan (particularly in the rural areas) seem happy and to be living a good life even without a lot of the technological developments that we see in places like London or Tokyo. 

Just like everything,
you can see your glass as half full or half empty. 
I'm feeling incredibly lucky that i get to see and experience all these different places and cultures and people. 

It helps me to see, what i have is all i need. 

My way of life can be what makes me happy and suits me- i'm creating my own culture while trying to experience as many others as possible. 
Then, just as with karate, i can choose what works for me and create something practical and perfect for myself. 

Experience is far more valuable than things and i get to see and experience this incredible planet that we live. 
If you have to choose between material items or a trip to a new place with new people and new challenges, i highly recommend the latter. 

We're all human and we should all look out for each other, this was made especially clear in the mountain race that we did. I think that's why it was my favourite race- it had a air of safety to it, because you know somebody's got your back. 


Wednesday 29 November 2017

Coffee, Castles And Our Karate Adventures

There we are, sitting in the banana mobile. This bright yellow hire car, deciding where this year's adventures will take us.
it has to be more epic than earlier this year...

Saturday 29th April 2017
we were going to go on a waterfall hike but traffic, and martin deciding he would 'take a shortcut' meant we made it to Nago by midday. We didn't have much time because Martin has a plane to catch around 6pm. I suggested a quick trip to Matsumora Kosaku's secret Yashiki, because then i can check i can get back there alone, and also Martin likes Karate history places too so  off we went, into the mountains. Finding it again wasn't so hard because things like that i can remember really well.
After that though, i joked around and said i'd like to go up the highest mountain in the distance and become 'Queen of Okinawa' he took me literally and it became the start of a pretty epic adventure. We drove deeper and higher into the mountains. 
we reach a car park where there are a few cars and just one opening to the beginning of a hiking trail. So off we go, we've come this far, may as well see whats in the mountain. 

About an hour later, there we are 452m above sea level on this tiny little rocky ledge, with some pretty steep drops either side of us. 
 But we look around and it's probably one of the most beautiful things i've ever seen. 
After a bit of a rushed drive back to Naha and Martin heading off to the Airport, it got me thinking about how on earth are we gonna top this?


So back to November this year and having figured out that Martin hasn't yet been to any castle other than Shuri yet and me, having developed quite an obsession of them decide that the adventure should involve a castle- but which one and where?
Today we have a limit of around 4 hours before we have to be back for training. Martin is feeling the training and lack of sleep catching up to him and i'm feeling the afternoon nap time, but we can't stop today so caramel latte's all round and lets go explore.
Initially i was thinking Tamagusuku or Itoman-Jo but while we were at the convenience store getting the coffee, my phone gave me some nearby suggestions, one caught my eye- Nagamine-jo.
Now, being a Matsubayashi karateka, this name lights bulbs in my head.
Thats it, that is today's adventure.
We headed off down small alleys, past the houses and into a little forest. There were castle walls but the distinction of them with the overgrowth was hard to make out.

We came across a few small shrines which were really cool. And discovered that this is probably one of the oldest castle sites on Okinawa.
There was a cave, which with a bit more research we have found out was the water source for the castle and where the king feigned his own death.
It also had a pretty awesome view over the town.
It's the spontaneity and change of plans that makes these adventures so cool.  Take it as it comes and just go and do it.
Next year has got some high standards to live up to.






The Horse's Head With A Big Life Lesson

You know what it's like, you work all week waiting for the weekend only for it to come and be gone before you know it and it's Monday again. 

Growing up i kind of learned to hate Mondays, because everyone seems to. No one wanted to go to work. Everyone around me seemed to hate their job. It was something you have to do to earn money to buy food and have a house etc. That is true, you must live, but why do you have to spend so much time doing something you really don't like and don't want to go to?

For some, i know there are circumstances that mean this is the case, but for most- why would you not choose something you enjoy doing and make it your job?
So, this is where today's horses head comes in... 


This horse head here is so symbolic of what seems to have become the 'normal' life nowadays. 
You see, the horse is tied to and attached to the work, he is missing an eye because he's working so hard it's sometimes at the detriment of his health. 

But then you look closer and you see that the rope is severed. it's been cut. 

This is what Gushiken Sensei did. 

He cut the rope and decided he would do something he enjoys. Which is creating beautiful pieces of art. 


The horse head was one of the first things he made after quitting his job to make Yachimun his full time work- he made it so that he would remember that life and quality of it is far more important than being tied to a job and what society tells you you should be doing. Why is it a rarity for people to make a living doing what they love? 


The Japanese call this fuki (不羈)- being unbridled and independent- free. 


 It's something i will remember and do my best to think about and apply when it comes to my own life. Can I take the risks and break the boundaries and be uncomfortable and uncertain to get to where I want to be doing what I really want to do? 


Do i choose to be stuck doing something i don't want to in a place i'm unhappy, or do i choose 'fuki' and take the risk to become happy and free?



Monday 27 November 2017

Make mountains see how much you've grown.

We've been in Taiwan for the last five days. We went because earlier this year I was looking for a challenge I could complete before the end of the year, after last years marathon fail I was looking for something a little different and more suited to me.
I came across the Formosa trail race and it just so happened that it was happening the same time as James' dad would be visiting from England and so we decided it would be a perfect opportunity to explore Taiwan more freely and take part in the race.

As is becoming pretty standard for me I didn't do much training, more than what I did for the marathon but definitely not enough. (You would think i'd learn my lesson, but clearly not yet). 

It turned out to be probably the most difficult physical challenge I've done so far. I think the height of the mountains made me a little altitude sick, lack of preparation in terms of eating and energy and not very cushioned shoes made it harder (I ran it in vibram five toes- good for roads and crossfit workouts- not so much for uneven trails)
Nevertheless it was incredibly beautiful. The other runners, the forests, the views and the general atmosphere made it probably my favourite race so far.

Of course i'd liked to have done it faster or better or differently- I could name a whole list of things I would change, and I know that James could have done a way better time if he had ran by himself and not waited for me ( I'm extremely grateful he did he helped me a lot) - overall though, I'm incredibly proud I actually completed it (and wasn't last- 97th of 138 total runners and 32nd of 58 women) 
I've come away from this trip feeling a lot stronger and more confident in myself, and so it was a success.

We also got to see some of the parts of Taiwan we haven't seen yet- the sun moon lake- which was so so much bigger than I was anticipating.
Sun Moon Lake

Tea Farms growing up the mountains
 We saw tea farms, and temples and had the opportunity to try so many different traditional Taiwanese foods.
Wenwu Temple

Guardians of Wenwu Temple
On the last day we did the drive back to Taipei which was another learning curve and confidence booster for me because i took the opportunity to drive some of the way. Anyone that's been in Taiwan will know it's not the most slow and rule orientated place when it comes to driving- plus it's on the right hand side as opposed to the UK and Japan which drives on the left. 
We went to see Yoshida sensei and got to go to the dojo with him to train- I really wasn't feeling too well after the race, probably just bad dehydration and joint and muscle pain but I'm so so pleased I did. We got to practice a really cool short mantis style kata and some bunkai that goes with it.


Yoshida sensei took us to lunch which was again some really delicious Taiwanese food- incredible dumplings and noodles and vegetables and soup- everything is steamed and fresh I haven't really seen many fried foods which totally explains why the Taiwanese people are so healthy and small.
After lunch with Yoshida sensei we had ran out of time and so it was time to take the car back and head to the airport. 
This was a trip of me beginning to realise how much I can do when I put my mind to it and have a little help from my friends. 
I can literally climb mountains.