FUN ?

 I've heard many times that learning Karate is 'Fun.

If this is the case then it would explain that what you find in the average high street club is very much diluted from what Karate really is.

I've never in 25 years looked upon my Martial art training as Fun.

Standing in the rain facing a Makiwara is not fun, a necessity, but not fun. The cold rain beating hard against the skin quickly chills the muscles and bone, and all there is for a little warmth is the repetitive blows and relentless thudding of the Makiwara. 

Its a challenge. If Karate the original way wasn't then I guess that then, it would be fun. 

This Makiwara is the thicker of the two I have of this configuration. Its actually quite the beast in so much as there is very little flex within its trunk. The feed back it gives is very different from the more flexible one. Fun it isn't. 

The same goes for the other tools in the Dojo. Used correctly they are certainly a challenge. Not fun.

Knuckle push-ups aren't either. 

Neither is striking Groot.

Groot the Gum tree log....very unforgiving.

Then, back in my Judo days as a lowly yellow belt I had to face a line up of my peers. Fighting first the Dan ranks, and then making my way down all the other ranks to white belt, I won one match of 13.....not fun and very humbling.

Just where the idea of Karate being fun emerged from, I'm not too sure. Probably due to advertising a club to get little kids through the door, this Karateka can only speculate.

Best go and not have some fun now ...  later readers.