Training Karate in Japan

Training in a traditional Japanese Dojo was a crazy experience. For one they didn't speak any english so trying to understand what they were saying was fun. Also, they are much more strict and formal. The first class we attended was full of 7-10 year olds. We bowed in, then warmed up. After we were warm we were told to get in groups of three, so I went with Daniel and Ari. They handed us three different sized pipes, a large, medium, and small. Then we put the pipes down and attempted to balance on them. After about 30 seconds we would switch. At first it seemed easy but after about three rotations our feet were aching. After we worked on balance, we started doing kata. It was amazing how accurate and sharp the young kids were. Unlike american kids that do karate that are sloppy and uncoordinated and can barley remember the moves (no offense american kids). I can just imagine how good they will be once they're adults. The next class we went to was for older kids ages 11-14. In that class I grouped with two girls they were both 12. As we did the drills they giggled at me because I couldn't understand what the teacher was saying. Some of the other kids spoke a little english but were too shy to talk to us. The third class we went to was for teenagers and adults. At the beginning everyone ran over and grabbed a helmet. In our dojo we don't wear helmets and my parents never made me wear one so wearing it for the first time was awful. It was hot and sweaty and itchy. I felt like I could barely breathe. Also the helmet threw my depth perception off majorly. I would try and kick and miss by two feet. So it took me awhile to adjust. After three classes in a row we were tired and starving. I'm grateful for the experience and that the Japanese people put up with us dumb americans. 

Japan

Japan was amazing! It is so different there, but still in many ways the same. Here are some of the things that I noticed while I was there. So first of all everyone is very friendly. Everywhere we went people would help us with directions and smile at us. And waving! Everyone waves it's the greatest thing. One time we tried to play the wave game (you wave at people and get a point if they wave back but loose a point if they don't). But it was pointless since everyone waved back. 

Sushi Bar in Japan

Also, the food there is amazing, my favorite was the ramen noodles. One night we went to a very traditional Japanese restaurant, they served us baby squid, bamboo, raw salmon, and neon pink rice cakes. It was... interesting. Another place we went that was very unique was the sushi bar. You go and sit down at the bar and sushi plates go by you on a moving conveyor belt. When you see something that looks tasty you simply grab it. The price is determined by the color of the plate it's on. After you've had your fill a waitress comes to your table and counts up your plates. It was way different from anything I've seen in the states. 

It's amazing how many people live there, 127.3 million to be exact. Everywhere you go there's people. Another thing I found really cool is the buildings. In the city everything is really compact and tall. The department stores have multiple floors with different products on each level. Level one is make up, level two shoes, level three dresses and so on. Many of the stores we went to were structured like this. 

Umbrella holder

Some things we saw on the street were interesting, like everywhere there's umbrella holders. You put in like 50 cents and lock your umbrella in place. It makes sense since it rains so much in Japan. The vending machines there are really different, they have tea vending machines, sandwich vending machines, honestly anything in a vending machine. 

The last thing that I really liked was all the bikers. People bike all over, moms even have a seat for their children on their bikes. There's bike parking everywhere too. 


So Japan is amazing and I hope that if you ever get the opportunity to go there you will because it is probably the coolest place I have ever been. 

Foundation of Karate

Did you know that Karate is Japanese for "open hand"? Probably not, but it makes sense seeing as how Karate uses no weapons. And there's a story behind that, but let's start from the beginning. Karate originated in a small island off the coast of Japan called Okinawa. A beautiful country with breathtaking beaches and landforms, the people who live here are simple humble farmers. In 1609, Okinawa was run by the Satsuma Clan from Japan and under their rule, weapons were banned. This caused a huge interest in Karate. Many of the locals began to practice in order to defend themselves against the Satsuma guards that would constantly harass citizens and abuse them. But they had to do it in secret if they were ever caught practicing they were executed. Anyways, after all the harshness and evil emperors things eventually did get better. In 1905 a man named Anko Itosu took Karate out of secrecy and managed to get the authorities to allow him to start a program teaching it in the local schools. This was one of the most significant acts in the history of Karate and brought in new era of growth for the art. Today there are over a million Karate school all over the world. 

Training at Shuri Castle c.1938. Photographed by Nakasone Genwa