Personal View of Karate by Harvey
Explain in your own words why Karate is important to you!
( By Harvey )
Karate is important in many ways as it provides a healthy lifestyle choice to myself and my son. This initially began 35 years ago for a couple of years but as officework commitments increased I had to put this on hold, the passion stayed with me. The interest for karate was rekindled when about seven and a half years ago my son Noah joined the dojo as a white belt and progressed with enthusiasm and developed through the katas. I had watched him exercise and train with his fellow students, it was inspiring, and when Ylli Sensei allowed adults to join in I had the opportunity to resume my training again by starting as a white belt.
I believe that karate helps develop a stronger bond with my son by allowing me to take an active role as possible in my son’s development without feeling out of place. A pivotal moment was as a brown belt my son questioned his ability and I was able to provide him with support to gain his black belt.
Ylli Sensei’s class is unique in that it is open to all ages and family friendly within a safe environment.
What Karate does for you, how it benefits you!
There are many benefits to be gained from Karate. As a father I have already revealed that being actively involved with my son sets a good example and has increased my level of enjoyment and by showing interest in him through participation in the class is an indication of support. Thus my involvement has created a stronger bond with my son and increased his self esteem.
In tandem to supporting my son, I physically benefit as a 63 year old karateka from improved health through hard work, exercise and fitness.
Karate is one of the few sports that can be enjoyed as part of a group or in an individual activity.
I find that gym work is solitary with little stimulation, and often I become bored. Through training in the dojo I have found that my cardiovascular fitness has improved along with strength, flexibility and reflexes.
An example of a person of my age who benefits from exercise and fitness is that I no longer get out of breath running for a bus! Maintaining regular physical fitness is a challenge as I have to be more cautious at my age as I am not as agile as my fellow teenagers or adults.
During training I’ve had to endure periods of pain resulting from a fractured forefinger, a snapped hamstring, and pulled calf muscles, often weeks needed to recover.
My physical fitness has resulted in improved health and weight loss, important as my family has a bad history of diabetes.
Part of regular karate training is helping to strengthen my mental skills, and resilience.
As a result my patience, self-discipline, control and self confidence has helped me to become better and stronger as karate is physically and mentally demanding.
Often before each class I get nervous, I question my ability in being able to compete with my fellow students and keep up, it would be so easy to miss a class or two when I am having a bad day in the office or when I am not in the mood when it is a sunny day everyone is in the park.
No matter how I feel I still return and train, making the best of my time as I know it is a way of improving my resilience to better myself.
Resilience is a measure of my emotional strength and endurance, the stronger it is the more able my ability to cope with any setback or obstacle.
I know I enjoy karate because at the end of each training lesson I come out feeling calm, relaxed and happy as I return home.
Karate to me is about embodying the principles and values of martial arts every day.
It's a reminder that the journey is endless and that there is always room for improvement, and that the reward lies in the journey itself, not the destination.
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