Moving forward.

 It's been a few months again since a post...  I thought I was back, then bam! Another tear another setback and more rehab. Fortunately I didn't lose any time from work. 

The Dojo beckoned this morning. We were in the minuses a 5:20 am in my part of the World, so being very cautious I started with a good half an hour of Junbi Undo. (Preparation exercises) Exercises that involve bodyweight, body resistance and stretching. 

I only used the Dojo tools today. No Kata at this point as sudden stops in movement aren't good for injury recover or so an expert in sports med tells me. Couldn't get stuck in to a Makiwara either due to the shock generated through the body, but all in good time.

I'm the wrong side of 55 now, considered old by some. 

I prefer to look at it that I'm just getting going. With more than 3 decades training behind me, I see it that I've easily got 3 left in me, but now with more knowledge and experience under my belt, so to speak. 

What I do know is that I don't want to be limited in moving around like I see a lot of my peers. At this point in my life Karate is more about maintaining good health and being able to enjoy a good future and continuing to move forward. It's not about living on past glories and stories or being stuck in an arm chair reading a news paper or watching Netflix every day..  

Stay strong and healthy out there... 

Until next time. Jony.

Life hits hard.

 It's been a while that I have written on the blog... life gets in the way sometimes and hits hard. But this being said, I'm now back.

And what of life? Well, it's easier with Karate in it. This is something I have come to appreciate more and more as my existence on this large rotating globe moves on. 

I'm not talking here of the Karate that the likes of little kids practice or that of which is found on the high street of any large town or City. No, it's the Karate that is practiced in a similar way of anybody who has a home Gym. It's easy training in a group, all that is needed is to develop a habit of showing up and being told what to do. 

Isolated training requires a different mindset. Its a mindset of pure discipline, tenacity and Will. Boxers and Weight lifters of some years have this mindset. To go and train by themselves, going through the same routines and sets day on day rep by rep for slow gradual improvement .

I don't do Needy people. And heaven knows, there are lot of those around in our modern world. Look around and the future is not too bright with their Namby Pamby ways and ideas. 

But this said there is hope. As long as we have those who pursue a solitary life of self improvement through their actions of Discipline, Tenacity and Will, then there will always be a strong societal backbone when it is needed and called upon. 

I'll leave this post here with a quote from Sylvester Stallones fictional Character Rocky Balboa.