The warm-up was more active and extended. Buhrs Sensei added some aerobics to yesterday’s warm-up, then had us do push-ups, and a large variety of core exercises. Once that was done we went through our kumites and some katas, then after the break we were divided into our respective ranks for further rank-specific instruction. I am not sure if I mentioned this before, but the classes are two hours long with a 2 minute break after the first hour. The 2 minute break usually ends up being more like 5 minutes though, depending on the class size that day. The smaller the class, the less formal it tends to be.
Shall I look back on how my perceptions of karate have changed since I began? At my age, and with my life experience, my perceptions don’t change as much as they did when I was younger. Nevertheless, they did change. When I began, I expected to get more fit with the bonus of knowing how to defend myself out of it. That has not changed, but what has changed is my understanding of just how deadly karate can be. The more I learn the less I want to use it. I hope I never have to use it because that would mean I would have to seriously injure someone, and I just don’t want to do that. I’m not talking about merely winning a fight here by punching or kicking someone. I’m saying that the karate techniques we are learning are designed to end a fight win a single blow, or as few as possible. That means broken limbs, ruptured internal organs, or death.
That is why we are taught (and I heartily agree) never to use the techniques without doing everything possible to run away or defuse a confrontation first. We are also taught never to teach anyone any of these techniques outside of the dojo. I now understand why. These are deadly techniques and to lackadaisically show someone a “karate move” without the guidance and understanding from a Sensei, will lead to not nice things happening. So we are told to keep it in the dojo. If someone were to learn that I was a karateka and they asked me to show them stuff, I would not, but I would invite them to visit the dojo if they were that interested.
I just realized that I have a difficult time remembering exactly the sequence of training in a class. The training is so intense and we are so focused that the lesson is all a blur and quite difficult to talk about. All I remember is what I have to “take home” to practice. And that would be the kihon kumites and the katas.