It was a week before my Karate examination for Shodan and I made sure that I did everything I could to take my black belt on the day of my exam. I trained harder than ever before. I did over 300 katas in the two months before the exam, studied my Japanese terms, did stance training and pushed myself harder in my classes than I ever did in the past. I walked into that exam more than ready to take my rank and earn my black belt.

Two days after my exam, I learned that I had passed. After almost six years of training, taking up to five classes a week at one point, reading every Karate book that I could get my hands on, assisting with Karate classes for over three years and living, breathing and sleeping Karate, I had reached the top of the mountain. I was a Shodan and the thing that I wanted most, my black belt, was wrapped tightly around my waist. I am pretty sure that I was walking two inches taller than I was before I came to class that day.

That same day, I was in the parking lot talking with Sensei Noia and Sensei Plocharczyk after class and they both mentioned that now the fun begins and I will really start to learn what Karate is about. Sensei Plocharczyk also mentioned, that at this point, I will learn how little I actually know about Karate. I was still living in the moment and even though I heard what my Sensei’s said, it didn’t really sink in.

Fast forward a few days…

I was taking my Thursday class and realized that some of the same things that I was doing wrong for the last weeks, months or years, I was still doing wrong that day too. In my Friday class, Sensei Brien mentioned something that made me think even more about what I do not know. We were all doing kata and started with Heian Shodan and continued up to Heian Godan. After about Heian Sandan, Sensei mentioned something that I don’t remember him saying before. He said that many of us are doing our katas the same way we did them when we first learned them. His point was, even though most of us in the class are brown and black belts, we are still doing our katas like we did when we were lower belts. When we did Heian Nidan, we did it like an orange or yellow belt where as we should look like a brown or black belt doing a lower rank kata. Sensei Cieplik has also mentioned many times, do lower belt kata with higher belt knowledge.

So what does this mean…

Maybe others have found out different than me but I now know that I really am starting over again. I have to take the fundamentals that I have learned over the years and now apply them to all areas of my Karate. I need to do all of the lower belt katas that way I do the higher belts katas.

I have to admit, these are exciting times for me because my Karate journey is not ending, instead it has just begun.

Uke – Blocks:

Gedan Barai – Downward block
Age Uke – Rising block
Soto Uke – Inward block
Uchi Uke – Outward block
Shoto uke – Knife hand block

Geri – Kicks:

Mae Geri – Front Snap Kick
Mawashi Geri – Roundhouse kick
Yoko Kekomi Geri – Side thrust kick
Yoko Keage Geri – Side snap kick
Ushiro Geri – Back kick
Uda Mawashi Geri – Hook kick
Tobi Geri – Jumping Kick (normally this is jumping front snap kick)

Zuki – Punches:

Oi Zuki – Front punch
Gyaku Zuki – Reverse punch
Keage Zuki – Hook punch
Kizami Zuki – Jab

Dachi – Stances:

Kiba Dachi – Horse stance
Zenkutsu Dachi – Front stance
Kokutsu Dachi – Back stance
Kosa Dachi – Cross leg stance
Neko ashi Dachi – Cat stance

Other:

Nukite – Spear hand
Uracken – Back fist
Tettsui – Hammer fist
Haito – Ridge Hand

Numbers:

Ichi – 1
ni – 2
San – 3
Shi – 4
Go – 5
Roku – 6
Shichi – 7
Hachi – 8
Kyu – 9
Ju – 10

For the longest time, I have struggled to move from my hips. I have been told many times to tuck my tailbone or push the knot of my belt forward but for some reason, I was not able to do it. No matter how hard I tried or how large of an arch I had in my lower back, moving from my hips seemed to always evade me.

Here is where the light bulb turned on above my head. My Sensei had all of us get into a short front stance. From here he said tuck your tailbone under and do not let your hips face the floor, instead let your hips face forward. If the front stance is too long or longer than your flexibility will allow, you can see the hips pointing toward the floor not forward. Also, if the stance is too long for you, the tailbone just won’t tuck under and moving from your hips is impossible.

Once I got into a short stance, I could easily tuck my tailbone and move forward using my hips not my shoulders and chest. When I added a punch for my forward movement, it felt like my hands moved almost automatically. This also changed my timing for the better. When my front foot reached the end of it’s range of motion, my hand flew out and my entire stopped without any extra movements. There was no wiggle or adjustments, it just stopped and the movement was complete.

Here is the point that my Sensei made. Learn the technique first, then make it better. I had been fighting my body for over five years trying to do a low stance while tucking my tailbone and I never felt the correct technique. By raising my stance, I now have felt how the technique feels and now I can work on lowering my stance, increasing my flexibility and range of motion while keeping the correct technique.

It just goes to show, no matter how much you think you know or how long you have been doing it, there is always something that can be learned or improved.

On October 25th my club, the ISKC, is sponsoring an event to help sick and needy families called Kick for Cures. The way it works, is we go to one of four locations and do 1000 kicks and punches. People sponsor us, either with a per kick donation or a flat amount.

I know that money is tight for everyone and my being out of work for over two years hasn’t left a lot of extra money for me to donate but I am giving as much as I can afford. If you sponsor a single $1.00 that would help these people in need and I am sure it would be greatly appreciated by them.

If you would like to sponsor me you can do so online at: Kick for Cures at events.org.

Below is more information about where your donation goes.

Where does the money go?

The money is allocated to 3 funds and 10 Charities that provide support and cure research:

+ Make A Wish
+ Cystic Fibrosis
+ Augie’s Quest
+ American Brain Tumor Association
+ Michael J. Fox Foundation
+ ISKC’s stricken families in need
+ Jennifer Malloy Scholarship Fund
+ Relay for Life
+ Autism Speaks
+ Bear Necessities

If you are in my club, I would like to personally ask you to come out and do this event and show your support not only for our club itself but for our instructors that share and teach us so many good things.

Information about the locations and times of the Kick for Cures event can be found at: Kick for Cures Info.

If you can show up to the event or donate, I would like to thank you in advance for doing so. Again, any little bit helps and even a $1.00 would be appreciated.

Thanks again.

Doug

This is one area that I haven’t given as much attention as I should have over the last few years. After my last rank examination, I spent a lot of time evaluating my training and what I need in order to improve my weaknesses.

I have been taking advanced classes for at least two years now if not longer but I feel that somewhere along the line, I missed or never got a solid grasp of kihon fundamentals. How could I have gone through five plus years of hard Karate training without doing such simple things as tightening my core when I punch or block and not focusing on pushing from my back heel when punching. I found out, just recently, that I was doing a front snap kick like a front thrust kick for well over a year even though one of my Sensei’s corrected me almost weekly. I was kicking from the floor instead of bringing my knee up and extending my leg. The worse part is that I have mentioned that a front snap kick is just an extended knee strike in my training blog but it never sunk in until just the other day.

It’s the simple, beginner movements that are starting to haunt because I think I have gotten too complacent. The battle is fixing those simple mistakes by unlearning the many thousands of wrong movements that I have been doing. One thing that makes me feel that I am not alone is something that one of my Sensei’s said today. He said that even though he has been doing Karate for many years now, he spent over two hours working on moving forward in a front stance because one of our senior Sensei’s corrected him the week before. Moving forward in front stance is something that many Karate students learned in our first Karate class yet it goes to show that there is always something that we can fix or improve no matter how long or hard we train.

Could it be true…

After moving past all of the other color belts, the hard working brown belt is only one belt color away from Karate nirvana. I have even heard that the brown belt student is considered the black belt apprentice by some. At this point, the Karate student has learned all of the basics and can execute them with some proficiency.

I never understood many of the comments about this being the time when many students leave Karate even though they are so close to black belt. A few Karate exams ago, I finally started to understand why so many people find this time the hardest. When I passed my first part of my brown belt test to 3rd kyu, I thought that I really had a handle on my Karate skills and that I was on the fast track to black belt.

On my test for 2nd kyu, I received a keri, which is the equivalent of a half rank. I accepted the result and vowed to train even harder for my next exam. I took five classes a week, trained at home and helped instruct for eight to 10 hours each week, thinking that it would improve my skills and prepare me for my next exam.

After six months of what felt like constant Karate training, I was ready for my exam and felt so good in my mind, that I was ready to take my black belt and not just move up a single rank. I really thought that this was my time and I was there to show my examiners that I was ready to be a black belt and this exam was just a formality.

I started my exam breathing fire and spitting bullets. I put everything I had out on the floor that day and when the test was over I felt that I did really well. I wasn’t sure if I would get a black belt but I felt that I would be a full 1st kyu at least. A few close, experienced Karate friends of mine, who watched the exam, felt that I did well too. I was sure that 20 to 30 minutes of exam time would show all of the hard work that I put in over the past six months.

Here came reality…

We do not receive our exam results until our next class and I was ready to hear the good news. My Sensei announced our test results and when he got to my name, he said, good job, you cleared your keri and you are know a full 2nd kyu. I took the news like a good sport with a smile but my insides felt like jelly and about six million unhappy thoughts went through my mind. I could not stop thinking about all the time that I spent preparing for this exam and for all that hard work and effort, I only received a half of a rank again.

I went through my exam and my results in my head about a thousand times and really started to question if all the time, effort and money that I spent on Karate was really worth it. I have always been the type of person that never quits but for the first time in over four years of Karate training, I was asking myself why I keep doing this. I was looking for any and every reason to blame someone or something for my poor test result.

I spent close to two months dwelling on my results even though I was still training in class and working harder than ever I couldn’t come to grips with my test result. I spent a lot of time thinking about what I did wrong and then on day, I realized that maybe I didn’t do anything wrong, I maybe just didn’t do right.

Maybe this was my test…

After all of the mental time I spent reviewing my results and beating myself up, I realized that maybe this was my test. The Karate exam itself was not my test but dealing with the results was my test. After looking at some of the accomplishments I have had such as helping instruct classes and judging at tournaments, I realized that I have gone a long way, in short time, even though my test results didn’t reflect it.

When I went to my next exam, I had a totally different attitude and just did it. I felt that I did better than ever before, I didn’t pressure myself and I went through the test with an almost relaxed attitude. I ended up getting another keri and am now a 1st kyu keri but that doesn’t bother me. I was training because I want to train not because I have to train and it really changed my outlook on Karate.

I could have just hung up my brown belt and quit but instead I realized that I have come a long way and quitting because of less than 30 minutes of exam time would be a huge mistake. If I had quit over something like an exam result, it would have proved that I never deserved to move up.

Now I train for me…

After coming to grips with what seemed like my biggest Karate challenges thus far, I can now train for me and not for some exam result or a belt color. I am still taking three to four classes a week depending upon the session and my finances , training outside of class, instructing, judging at tournaments and learning everything I can about Karate. If anything, I enjoy my training more now that ever. Instead of focusing on moving up the ranks and belt levels, I can now enjoy what I am learning and just train. When the time comes for me to get my black belt, I know that I will deserve it.

I will get there when I get there…

If it takes one year, five years or 20 years for me to get my black belt, I am planning on enjoying every step of the journey instead of just worrying about when I get there.

I am sure that many others have gone through similar situations like mine and those that have kept at it are or will be black belts and those who didn’t probably regret quitting something that they already invested so much time and effort in. I don’t want to be the latter.

So much pain but so much relief…

My hips and legs were extra sore from a hard Karate class the day before, and if you read my training blog at shotokanplanet.org you can see how I abuse my body in Karate class, so I turned on the hot water and poured about two cups of Epsom Salts in the tub. After just a few minutes of getting into the tub the pain in my hips and legs started to subside. It was almost like magic. I had soaked in the tub before without the Epsom salts but I never noticed much, if any, pain reduction while soaking. This must be some magic powder so I went to internet to see what it was all about.

Who would have thought, there is an Epsom Salt Council…

After a quick Google, I found an interesting website called epsomsaltcouncil.org. After a quick read, Epsom salt is magnesium and sulfate. Per the website, “magnesium is the second most abundant element and the forth most important positively charged ion in the body. It also helps regulate enzymes in the body that are important to bodily functions such as muscle control, impulses to the nervous system, energy production and it can even eliminate harmful toxins.” Per the website, The National Academy of Sciences says that most Americans get just 80% of the needed amount of magnesium for good health and I would guess that hard training Karate students and athletes get even less.

What all this means is that a deficiency in this element can cause poor heath and I would guess, poor or less than optimal performance. Some of the following health issues can be related to magnesium deficiency:

heart disease
stroke
osteoporosis
arthritis and joint pain
digestive maladies
stress-related illnesses
chronic fatigue

The major illness or aliment that I am most concerned with is arthritis and joint pain along with stress-related illness and chronic fatigue. Since my hips are often very sore after class and my ankles hurt because of arthritis, I am always interested in natural remedies. Anything that lessens my aches and pains and helps reduce stress and fatigue is always good when I push my body to the extreme in my training.

Don’t forget about the sulfates…

Epsom salt also contains sulfates. Per the website, sulfates are hard to get through food but are easily absorbed through the skin. They can help the body with the formation of brain tissue, joint tissue and can help detoxify the body.

Soak instead of swallow…

If we are low in magnesium then why don’t I just take a magnesium supplement from the local vitamin shop. Taking a magnesium supplement orally can reduce the effectiveness and uptake of the element. Others foods that we eat, medicines or the acids on our stomachs can reduce the uptake of magnesium where as soaking in it allows the magnesium to be absorbed through our skin. Who would have thought that relaxing in the tub for a little while with a couple of cups of Epsom salt could be so good for our bodies.

My real world testing…

In the name of science, I am willing to use my body as a test lab, within reason of course. After using Epsom salts, for just a couple weeks, I have noticed the following:

Reduced pain in my hips, ankles and other body parts that are sore from hard training following the bath.
No more muscle cramps.
Reduced swelling in my ankles.
Softer skin I am noticing a significant decrease in the eczema on my hands.
An unexpected decrease in my allergy symptoms even though I have been spending more time outside.

As far as lab controls, I haven’t changed my eating habits, I am not taking any new supplements and I am training just as hard, if not harder, than before.

Are you soaking yet…

If you are sore you should be soaking now. Go get some Epsom salts at the local drug store or even the grocery store. I am buying mine at the local grocery store for $1.00 for a 22 ounce package. I hope that this helps anyone who has joint pain from hard workouts or any other activity like it does me.

I need to call my mom and tell her that the advice she has been giving me about Epsom salts for many years is correct.

Let me know if any of you find the same or other benefits from using Epsom salts like I have.

For more information about this and other uses of Epsom salt be sure to visit www.epsomsaltcouncil.org.

*NOTE - If you have any health issues or are taking medication, be sure to contact your health provider or pharmacist before you use Epsom salt just in case.

• The back of your neck needs to touch the collar of your gi throughout the bow.
• Both heels are touching and the toes are pointed out about 45 degrees.
• Bend slowly at the waist and exhale until all the air is expelled from your lungs.
• When you bend at the waist, make sure to expel all of the air from your lungs for as long as it takes.
• While bent over, keep your eyes on whoever you are bowing to with an alert gaze.
• If you are bowing to someone who is a higher rank than yourself, bend over lower than them.
• After all the air is expelled from your lungs, straighten up while inhaling until you are upright again.

I had always thought that a quick upper body tilt at any level was a bow but instead, it was showing disrespect to those who I was bowing to. Doing a quick little bow is the same as pulling your hand away when you reach out to shake another persons hand.

I know that many Martial Artists and Karate-Ka have different opinions on bowing and some even suggest that bowing in the dojo outside of Japan is silly but for those of you who have never had it explained, I hope this gives you a little clearer picture.

This was explained to me by one of my Sensei’s as being aware of your surroundings and ready, both mentally and physically, to immediately defend or attack after finishing a previous attack or defense.

Another Sensei explained it as the remaining film and drops of water on a glass after the water has just been spilled out. Even though most of the water has been spilled out, some still remains.

After three years of taking Shotokan Karate and not being able to side thrust or roundhouse kick much higher than knee level, doing many stretching movements, reading many stretching articles and books and talking to other Karate students, I felt it was time to find out if there was some physical reason for my limited kicking ability. My Sensei, Sensei Noia, suggested that I see our team chiropractor, Dr. Pusateri. Sensei Noia assured me that he had been seeing him for years and that it would be a idea for me to at least let him evaluate me.

I made an appointment and ended up seeing Dr. Pusateri early one Friday morning. I was a little nervous but also anxious to see him to find out if there was any chance of me throwing a decent side kick or if I should just concentrate on sweeps and knee high kicks.

After close to two hours with Dr. Pusateri, he found that many of my muscles on my right side were not working properly and best of all, he was able to take my leg mobility from less than 45 degrees to near 90 degrees by the time I left his office.

I visited him twice since then and each time there has been an improvement in my side kick height, my balance and even my stances have improved. He also gave me very specific stretching exercises along with a couple of core exercises to help improve my kicks even more. Being that he is a sports doctor helped my ease my mind and him giving me exercises to do at home tells me that he is concerned about my improvement.

I am not saying that going to chiropractor will work for everyone but if you have an issue that is impacting your Karate training, the chiropractor might be the key to opening new doors for you. Just make sure that if you do go to see a chiropractor, try get some references or at least talk to others who have seen him or her and do not just pick some random doctor out of the phone book.

Below is the link to my workout blog that has a little more information about my visit to the chiropractor if anyone is interested.

More info at shotokanplanet.org