Challenges

 Like many I've had some big challenges over the years. Challenges that mould you in to the person you become. 

Being bullied, (ha, try that now) both physical and emotional. A knee reconstruction, 3rd degree burns, losing family and Facing the Black Dog. 

Martial arts however, in my case Karate-do and Judo, have kept me grounded. A staple diet of challenges and being uncomfortable to help forge Integrity, Will and Spirit. A place of both familiarity and the unknown. 

For nearly 2 years the debilitating pain of hip necrosis was taking its toll. Opioids to help me keep working for my family, along with a tenacity of to not give up, despite how difficult a 12 hour shift was. The D.F.Q attitude, tried and tested over and over, Shift after shift, day after day, month after month.  Forged in the Dojo, an internal spirit i didn't really know i had. It's not until real hardship sets in that you realise just what it is that you're capable of. A Gasshuku would now be a piece of piss by any comparison.  And I have done some hard ones of those.

Coming through the other side of such a massive challenge, staying positive and having hope prepares one for any thing. 

The rehabilitation process is so much easier too. Taking hardships and lessons of the kind away from Karate-do, ensures steady and positive attitude, a can do attitude. Fighting pain and hardship, but of a different kind.  

Karate-do is a beautiful thing when you can use it to win the battles life throws at you. More than a bunch of moves in a gym, school hall or bonafied Dojo. When you can use its very essence, its core teachings and practical approach to problems, you really are blessed in life. 

Jony...

Been a Minute...

 I've not been on the blog for a while, for too long in fact. But this said, it still gets lots of views and interest, of which I hope goes some way to help, inspire or open the eyes (Kaimoku) to the world within which we Martial artists move. 

My absence has been caused by AVN otherwise known as Hip Necrosis. No blood flow to my right hip saw the femoral head die and subsequently in November 24 a total Hip replacement of Titanium, Ceramic and a special polyurethane was had. 

Just when I was cleared to return to training by my surgeon almost a year had gone by and my left Hip joint then presented itself with the same issue. Fast forward another 6 months and I had it replaced last week. So i'm currently in rehab again. 

The rehab process can be slow. Which is how i see it. But this said, I'm told my progress is exceptional, in both cases. For my latest one I was in hospital from admission to discharge for a total of 35 hours. Karate can be attributed to this. Shin, Gi, Tai. Body, mind, Spirit. 

The hardships undertaken in the Dojo can be applied to the process as a whole. 

So, there we have it. My Karate will never be the same again. And at this stage, I'm not too sure what it will actually look like. Titanium hips have a limitation in just how far the joint will articulate before dislocation occurs, so there are Interesting times ahead.

Thanks for stopping by the Blog. I'm now back in a sense, albeit in a different way. Time will reveal what that eventually looks like....

Jony.....