Shodan test – Day 1

In the beginning we study the Art of Karate because of a need for power, because we are afraid. If we are intelligent, this stage passes and we find that we study because we want to understand what the deeper meaning is. This is when we come to see that Karate means “empty self”, and this is where practice takes on real significance.
Terrence Webcter-Doyle, Karate, the art of empty self

The test:
7 Mile run;
30 minute conditioning;
Perform 24 kata that represent kata requirements for orange, purple, green, blue and brown belts. Tomorrow will be the tough day.

Karate

Karata-do is an empty handed art of self defense… [It] is a martial art for the development of character through training, so the katate-ka can surmount any obstacle, tangible or intangible.
-Masatoshi Nakayama

I have reached a milestone in my training. I am testing today and tomorrow for promotion to shodan (black belt status).

It’s a Blue day

Without a word of warning,
the blues walked in this morning
and circled round my lonely room.

Oh it must be written for me,
that I would be the one to always lose.

Yesterday I was singin’ a love song,
but today I’m singin’ the blues.

-(adapted from a song by) Aretha Franklin