DOG 02: Karate

DOG 02:

Karate

I play a game. The thing is, it’s not a mere game.

I play karate. It’s a game that involves two people fighting. In fact, this game is both a sport and a martial art.

At a young age, my parents decided to enroll me in a karate class called “Kyokushin Karate-do.” It is one of the most famous and considered the strongest karate organization in the Philippines. Up until this moment, my memory of when I first entered the dojo (a Japanese term used to describe a training place) was still vivid. Back then, all I felt was an intense, rapid beating from my heart, as if telling me to step back. I was young and had no idea what to anticipate on the journey I was about to take.

Just like everyone else, it didn’t go well at my starting point. It took me months to adjust to my surroundings. I had a hard time dealing with other karatekas (a Japanese term used to describe a person who does karate), as I came a bit late when people my age were already karatekas before me. It didn’t much help that I am an introvert.

However, despite the lack of communication, I managed to improve my skills by always attending class with the sensei (a Japanese term used to describe a person who teaches karate). We have three aspects to learn in Karate: Kihon, Kata, and Kumite—all of which became the source of my blood, sweat, and even tears.

I would often go home with bruises either on both sides of my legs or on my arms, but I wouldn’t mind; I still have a very long way to go. One time, as I was getting down from our dojo, something happened that I couldn’t control my sudden burst of emotion and just let the tears stream down my face. I felt humiliated that, in my years of training, all I could see was that I was never good enough; that I was just trying too hard, but it was never really meant for me. I never want to think of that again because the feeling of having to remind myself of how reckless I was during those times still hunts me these days. In fact, while I was writing this, I gathered all of my strength to put my words in the right place, so as not to let it all scatter away.

But what is good about practicing karate?

Every time my friends or my classmates would ask me what’s good about karate, I always come up with the same answer I have always told them. Because it is a form of art. While others would say that it’s good because you’ll get to learn self-defense to protect yourself against harm, I’d have to say that through karate, we are able to interpret our thoughts into movements. We can feel the thoughts that we cannot utter directly because there is karate that allows us to project our emotions into solid punches and kicks. There are so many reasons to love karate and from those reasons I discovered, the more grateful I am to strive harder.

I have lost so many sparrings, went home full of wounds and bruises, and argued with different people several times. But because of my perseverance and determination, my hard work makes everything worthwhile. I may not be the best, but I will strive for continuous improvement.

Karate may take time to master, but it is in us all.