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. 

I'm going to Japan!

A temple located in Tokyo, Japan. Photo curtsy of www.wallpaperawesome.com

I'm going to Japan! And I can hardly hold it in I'm so excited. I'm going during February break, I'll be there for a total of 10 days. I'm going with my sister, my friend Danny and Danny's dad who is also a Karate coach at my dojo. Danny's dad is the one who organized the whole trip and invited my sister and I to go. It's actually a surprise for him, so don't tell. 

I've only been out of the country three times, twice to Mexico and once to Costa Rica. The only thing I'm not looking forward to is the flight. I hate flying, honestly if I could go the rest of my life without ever stepping onto a plane, I would. The annoying whiney kids, the crowded aisles, crappy food, uncomfortable seats it's all a pain. But that's a problem because I love to travel and see new places. The flight from here to Tokyo is about 14 hours... Yay. But it'll be worth it. In my previous blog I talked about a woman named Sakura Kokumai, the 1st place Kata Champion in the World. She's a local in Japan so she'll be able to show us around, show us the best restaurants, and get away from other tourists. Not to mention I'm getting the opportunity to train with her. 

As many of you may know, Karate originated in Japan. I can't wait to see how other people train and see new styles. One thing I know for sure is that they are much more intense than they are here in the US. I'm afraid that I'll sneeze during training and get my head cut off with a samurai sword. I'm totally kidding... I mean I hope I'm kidding. 

Black Belt

Me shaking my Sensei's hand after the test (I could barely walk)

As of December 12, 2015 I am an official black belt. After all these years it feels so good to be able to call myself a black belt and know that I earned it. Really I earned it, after performing eight katas, free sparring, and basics that make your muscles ache, and all that under immense pressure was far from easy. The test in total was four hours long. The pressure that we were all under was probably the worst thing. One of my friends almost passed out because she was so nervous, even though she'd done the drill hundreds of times before. And after we're all tired and hungry and ready to sleep for the rest of the year they have us do what's called a spirit test. Basically they try to make you break and see how far you can push yourself. Hardcore right? Well for ours we did five sets of one minute of push ups, sit ups, birpies, jumping jacks, and tons of other excersises  It was exhausting. But hey, now it's over and I never have to do it again.


A blackbelt in Karate to me represents the peak of my training, a checkpoint to realize that my hard work has payed off. I wanted to achieve a blackbelt for a few different reasons. For one, it’s a major accomplishment and the highest level you can reach in Karate. Also, you gain another level of respect and I feel that people and coaches take you more seriously. And lastly just because it’s pretty awesome to be a blackbelt. But the belt is more than just a piece of fabric that you tie around your waist, it’s much more. A blackbelt means that I have to set an example and I don’t get to slack off or be lazy. Also, now that I am a blackbelt I will have to make more of an effort to help other students achieve their goals and be a good role model for them to follow. 

I realize that getting a blackbelt isn’t the end of my training but only the beginning. Many people have asked me, "Well isn't Karate boring now that you have your black belt." And I say not even a little. Having the black belt doesn't mean you're a master it means that you have reached a certain level of Karate. A quote that I found explains this perfectly, it goes "From white belt to black belt you shape the tool, at black belt you start to learn how to use it." After almost seven years of training I'm still not to the best of my ability in Karate. There will always be new things to learn and perfect. Now that I have my black belt I will have new opportunities and many more roads to take than the journey I took to get to the blackbelt.

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

Why We Bow

We bow out of respect and to give thanks, you bow to your sensei to thank them for teaching you, you bow to your teammates to thank them for training with you, and you bow to your opponent to thank them for competing against you and making you a better fighter. Bowing is an ancient tradition that comes from Japan. Bows can range from shallow nods to kneeling bows where one's head touches the floor. 

A traditional Takushu Rei bow. Picture curtesy of Blogger

Bowing can also show that you respect the person you are bowing to. Obviously you would respect your sensei, but also your training parters. Before we do any drill in the dojo we must first bow to our partners, this means that you will not harm them and will practice within a safe and secure environment. This is why we bow.