So, here it is. I want to tell you a story. But, first, let me introduce myself. My name is Kalia and I am a 30 year old woman who absolutely loves martial arts and the way of life that it promotes. I began practicing Soryu Karate about two and a half years ago, in January of 2010, in the gymnasium at Rosedale School on 49th and Burnet, in Austin, TX. I trained under four different Soryu karate instructors over a span of two years. Each of them had a unique approach to their practice of this style and I did my best to absorb everything I could from each of these men. Some of these relationships, however, could not last. Personalities differed, misunderstandings and disappointments occurred, and at times I became hungry for something more. I constantly yearned for a challenge. I developed an addiction to the bare fist and I longed for the stability of a unified organization. But perhaps, most of all, I yearned for a more powerful connection with the Japanese way of karate. I give many thanks to Sensei Joe Alvarado, the man who brought Soryu to Texas, for inspiring me to push the boundaries, follow in his footsteps, and seek training in Japan.
In January of this year, I began training in Enshin Karate with Sensei Andrew Budd. I could not be more fortunate. The first thing anyone ever told me about Sensei Budd was, "If you don't train with this man, you're crazy."
It's true.
Sensei Budd, at one point, lived and trained with Kancho Joko Ninomiya, winner of the 1978 All-Japan Tournament and founder of Enshin Karate. In 1999 and 2002, Sensei Budd competed in the Sabaki Challenge, a full-contact karate tournament held annually in Denver, CO, and won the Spirit Award. To learn more about the Sabaki Challenge, click here. It does not disappoint:
http://sabaki.enshin.com/rules.html
Sensei trains hard and does not waste much time talking. I like this. We stay focused and get a lot done this way. Classes have a set format and there are very clear expectations. We follow a specific etiquette when we are in the dojo and maintain the integrity of our training space by giving our full attention to our time here. Our warm-up is always the same and we have a curriculum with each technique building on the one before. This is what I know so far, but I have so much to learn. This is our Dojo Kun:
1. We will always be courteous and show respect to others.
2. We will strive to be our best and pursue it with patience.
3. We will develop the mind and body to enhance the spirit.
4. We will always keep an open heart and mind.
5. We will accept the spirit of challenge. (My favorite)
6. We will follow the meaning of Enshin in both our training and our daily lives.
I leave for Okinawa, Japan on July 28th, 2012. The hardest thing to leave behind will be the Enshin Dojo, as I believe I have found what I had been searching for, for quite some time. I can only hope that I will be lucky enough to find a new dojo that will bring about a similar experience.
My relationship with karate has marked the beginning of a new era of self-discovery and strength for me. In a nutshell, karate has significantly changed the way I think and has helped define the kind of person I strive to be. It is within this practice that I find a vital part of what I can define as a life truly worth living.
I want to tell you what it was like for me these past two years, and I want to share my new Japanese training experience with you, too. I think you will relate. I may say some things that you don't think I should say, but I will say them anyway. Not because I want to make anyone angry, but because I believe in looking at things honestly and evolving. I believe that deep within each of us, there is a voice that longs to speak the truth. Maybe you'll find yours here. Or, best of all, maybe you will be inspired to begin the journey of uncovering your ultimate truth.
OSU!
Osu! How are you?
ReplyDelete