Diving Deep Into Something New

If you know anything about me you know fitness and exercise is a big part of my life and always has been. Throughout school I was involved in sports, especially soccer. Upon graduation working out in the gym has been a big part of my life. From lifting weights, to yoga, to cardio. Even throughout my pregnancy over 13 years ago I ran until I was 9 months pregnant.

I enjoy all types of exercise in the gm and at home. Group classes at gym, such as Zumba and yoga have been a great way to meet friends. And working out at home is a good way to relieve stress after work. While I never had a problem trying new classes or routines, everything I do is usual gym routines, classes, your home videos. Nothing that would require you to have prior experience or for you to sign a long term commitment.

For the past four to five years I've sat on the side lines at my sons karate classes scrolling my phone while he got his daily dose of exercise in. I'd chat to other moms. Making friends with them as they too had to sit there for over an hour, two to four times a week, every week all year long. After four years you become like family to some of these other families it seems.

Every February rolls around and parents have the chance to try karate themselves for the month complementary. And since I'm there anyhow, why not, I might as well get some type of physical activity in. Well, this year my arm was twisted, as well as several other parents, to join karate at the end of our free month.

Wouldn't you know, here we are nearing the end of August and I haven't dropped out yet. I'd like to say I'm surprised I made it this long! Karate, unlike any other form of exercise or workouts I've done before, takes a special form of commitment. It takes dedication, practice, focus.

When it comes to overall fitness, I enjoy it. When I started karate, learning the basics (which I'm still learning) but the basic basics, I thought I got this isn't going to be too bad. But yet I had very mixed emotions signing up for classes rather than doing just the one free month that comes around once a year. I was committing to something long term. Something that essentially has no end.

I look at my son, who's been in karate for over four years and is a black belt and see the hard work and dedication he has put forth. All the practice he has had to maintain in order to reach his black belt and it's not over. The end is not a black belt despite what many may believe. Next is his second degree black belt, eventually his third degree, and so on. As I said there is no end for the one who keeps training.

The struggle for me is the katas do not come easy. I'd like to blame COVID for it. Trying to wrap my head around repeatedly doing my kata over and over until I got it. It seems like since COVID there has been a brain fog if I like to admit it or not. But from working in medical you know that doing mind exercises is one of the best things you can do for this. I'd like to think doing my katas is a great brain exercise because it's definitely putting my brain to work in addition to my physical body!

Here we are seven months later and I am now an orange belt as of last night! Can you believe it?! I said I'd just be happy to make it orange. I mainly wanted to do karate for the self defense and sparring. I said I wouldn't be able to do the katas in order to belt rank. And here I am, I went from white to yellow to orange in seven months. Although, I know it's going to get more tough from here on out. But you can do anything when you set your mind to it with dedicated and practice. I also obtain my nunchuck patch since joining, and working on my bo patch. I came to enjoy going katas even if it does take me longer than most. But I will get there. O, and did I mention, I even had a major surgery thrown right in the middle of all that causing me to be out for over a month? I am actually still on light exercise and easing my way back in.

I missed my orange belt test because of my surgery. This week I was cleared to start light exercise but did not plan on having my belt test. When I took my son to class last night I didn not have my gi or take my yellow belt. So when I tested for my orange belt it was a very unofficial belt ceremony. And because I have not been in class for a month I felt a little rusty. Maybe a lot rusty. But it'll come back to me with time. As I continue on my karate journey and get back into full force when cleared to start working out without restrictions in another month hopefully I'll keep you all posted!