As the winter break and holidays approach, I find my energy flagging and I often think, “Maybe I will skip karate or exercises today.” However, when my life is busy and my stress levels high, this is when I need my karate practice most. I know this. So, when the time comes, I put on my gi and log in to Zoom. My one concession to flagging energy levels: the kids and I straighten the living room and do our class indoors instead of outdoors.
It has been cold lately, and it is dark early. So setting up outside is more work: we setup a light in addition to the computer, so our instructors and students can see us. Usually, we warm fairly quickly–karate exercises certainly help you to stay warm–but the rustling of opossums, raccoons and mice in the yard or planes passing overhead can be a distraction.
Admittedly, seeing wildlife is fun, but if we are following a teacher, we do not want that teacher to note our lapsed attention. If I am teaching, I might mention the wild animal to my students. Then they will often share their own stories about wild visits: neighbors’ pets, raccoons, maybe a coyote for those living in the hills.
When the nights are a bit warmer, we’ll move back to the outdoors. This past week, however, it was nice to do karate indoors.
Weapons Instruction: Fun as Motivation
This past Friday night, Senpai SL, our resident weapons specialist, led class. This time, he taught kata for swords. After a quick kihon and stretches, he led us in the basic katas, but we used katana, or broom sticks, for striking and blocking. He had us do both the first three Taikyokus (basic punching katas) and the first three Sokugi Taikyokus (basic kicking katas) with katanas. It was a lot of fun, and my first time to do the kicking kata with a katana.
After going over the basic kata, Senpai SL decided we should try Yantsu and Pinan Sono Go. For these, he decided to figure out the moves on the fly. We first practiced the kata without katana, then watched as Senpai SL came up with katana equivalents of the strikes and blocks. Then we tried it with him. It was challenging! It was also impressive to watch his improvisational skills with the sword.
Occasionally he’d forget where he was at in the kata, but this was understandable. This past week was finals week! And he had agreed to teach us something fun, rather than take a rest. Like him, all of the kids, and adults, were tired and in need of a good distraction. We found it with our young weapons expert.
Karate and Kobudo Inspirations
I did some web searches and, though I did not find any IFK demonstrations with katana, I did come across a great Shotokan demonstration by by Sensei Cyril Guénet, Olivier Hentz & Jean-Christophe Bonjus. Here’s what I like about this demonstration: in the center, you see the basic karate moves for the kata. On either side, you see the modifications made for both bo staff and katana.
I admit that, seeing Senpai SL on the schedule for weapons was a good motivator for me and the other students to log into Zoom for karate after a long, stressful week!
Festival of Lights: Respite, Faith as Motivation
Last week was also Hanukkah, so on some nights, after dinner and homework, our family lit candles, said blessings and sang songs. Relatives and friends sent gifts for the kids, so we enjoyed these as well.
Recall that Mas Oyama linked karate to three goals for self-improvement: becoming a better person, family member and community member. True to his karate studies, my son volunteered to help assemble and distribute Hanukkah gift bags for his fellow religious school students. He and two other classmates, along with adult Temple volunteers, many of them elderly, set up tables in the Temple parking lot put candies, a box of candles, a couple dreidels and a prayer sheet together in a gift bag.
They were careful to wear masks and keep distance from one another. Families arrived to pick up their Hanukkah bags and drop off a new toy for the local toy drive at the Children’s Hospital. Families were also invited to light a hanukia on the front lawn of the Temple. When I arrived to pick up my son, the little table in the front blazed with lit hanukia. I took the photo above.
That night, we were glad to celebrate together. So many of the Temple volunteers were persons who live alone, or their own family cannot visit them due to the pandemic. My husband’s parents live with us, so we felt fortunate to celebrate together, as six.
Zoom Karate During Hanukkah
Over our karate Zoom last Tuesday, during Hanukkah, Sensei Robert wished us all happy holidays. We were a small class because of finals week, yet we still managed to have about eight households join the Zoom. Together we reviewed Kanku and Gecki Sai Dai. My son and I helped each other through part of Kanku, but we clearly needed more practice. Gecki Sai Dai gave us no trouble. He had exams the next morning but, like me, wanted to carve out time for karate.
I felt grateful that so many members of our karate family, despite the pandemic and financial hardships, had chosen to stick together. Also, I realized how fortunate I was to be able to study karate with my children. Karate inspires us together.
Motivation From Community
My karate community certainly inspires me. When my motivation flags, I think of my senpais and kohais. My kohais look to me as an example, so I strive to do my best. I aspire to be like my own senpais, who have set strong examples for me to follow. Finally, my karate family is also just a lot of fun to be around.
The greater community within Burbank inspires me, too. Neighbors are polite and inquire after each other’s health. My next door neighbor will text me if we’ve forgotten to move a car on street cleaning day. Last night, my husband and I went for a long walk along the bike path on Chandler. There were drawings and inspirational sayings on the sidewalk. This one stayed with me:
I thought 2020 would bring me everything I wanted. Instead, it has made me grateful for all I have.
Written on the sidewalk along the Chandler Bike Path, Burbank, CA
Inspiration in Unlikely Places
There is a dry cleaner in our neighborhood called Milt and Edie’s. Every few weeks, the owner updates the sign with a different inspirational saying. For years, I would read the sign out loud to my family when we drove past. I started to refer to that sign as “the Oracle.” Sometimes the sayings were pithy; other times humorous, and yes, sometimes a bit sentimental. Often the sayings felt relevant to something happening in our lives.
When Milt, the owner, became ill, the sign became an explicit encouragement for Milt and his loved ones. Then it displayed the sad announcement of his passing, followed by the heartfelt sentiments of family who missed him. That’s the only time I shed tears upon seeing a dry cleaner’s sign.
More recently, tonight, in fact, the Oracle’s sign is meditative:
Karate also teaches us to find our inner strength. Through trials like Sanchin, when our teachers and fellow students attempt to distract us through strikes and loud noises, we’re taught to focus on a single goal: completing the kata. Through meditation and kata, we strengthen our minds while kihon and exercises help us strengthen our bodies. Kumite helps us learn to control anger and stay calm in the face of conflict. Tameshiwari teaches us to recognize our own strength.
