BECAUSE KARATE

Hello, sprained finger!

In class tonight, The Child and I were paired up for kumite (sparring). The Child didn't like that I was using my leg to "knee jam" since I was only supposed to be blocking but The Child thought I was kicking. Anyway, The Child was getting frustrated and I taunted a bit. The Child sent a roundhouse kick my way and I blocked with a downward block. Mawashi geri, meet gedan barai!

I felt it immediately, but I could still move the finger and it didn't hurt too bad. Ten minutes later, I took an accidental punch to the groin (below the belt) from another opponent in another sparring match that sent me to the floor for a bit. That hurt a lot more than my hand. Until later...

At the end of class, I noticed that I had a nice "ring" of purple around my PIP (proximal interphalangeal) joint on my left index finger. So, into a finger splint it went. No numbness, no coldness, and not too much pain, plus I could move it most of the way, even though I couldn't bend that finger all the way into a fist.

Now it's a time of rest, ice, immobility, and physical therapy (so I regain full movement). It can take three to six weeks for full recovery.

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Even with this minor injury, I am truly living my best life. (No irony. No sarcasm.)

THE NORTHMAN

I finally was able to watch The Northman (2022), directed by Robert Eggers. What a wild, weird, and wonderful film, even amidst all of the tragedy. Considering how much inspiration and enjoyment I've derived from his two prior films—The VVitch (2015) and The Lighthouse (2019)—I was really hoping to see this film on the big screen, but that didn't happen.

This movie is everything I needed: myth, madness, family betrayal, and a screenplay co-written with Icelandic writer Sjón. Is it historically accurate? Who know. And who cares. It's an absolute blast!

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Pictured is Björk as the Seeress, channelling the Norns and speaking/spinning the hero's fate.

舌 / SHITA

Meet 舌 (shita / tongue), my iaitō, which is an unsharpened metal sword for practicing iaido. It replaces The Child's wooden bokken I've been using each day in the backyard dojo.

LAVENDER

We went camping near Sequim, Washington, so we set a day aside to visit various lavender farms. (It was interesting to explore the different emphases that each farm placed upon the same crop.)

Hidcote Blue and Dwarf White varieties of lavender from Victor's Lavender of Sequim, Washington found their way home with me.

GREEN BELT

I tested for my green belt and passed.

 
Relief. Comfort. Calm. After a stressful two weeks of constant practice, trying to get my kata stripe, I did get it, which made it possible for me to test for the belt.

 

But, strangely, I felt as though I didn't deserve the stripe. I felt like an impostor, a fraud.

 

Why could I not trust that my instructors were right in giving me that kata stripe? Why could I not believe that I had worked hard and finally earned it? Trust? Faith? In karate?

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I helped out with the belt tests for the kids of our dojo. I had the opportunity to help kids in the Early, Basic, Core, and Extreme SKILLZ classes test for their next belts. I found that many of the kids were struggling with the same doubts, yet I knew that they were ready. They had earned their eight stripes in various abilities and skills for their belt levels to test for the next one. I believed in them when they doubted themselves. (There was a lesson to be learned!) Just as my instructors believe in me when I doubted myself.

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Helping out with all of the tests for the kid classes, prior to my own, relieved my own anxiety and nervousness. And, once I had my first mistake "under my belt" during my own test, I relaxed into the process and just did what I've been training to do.

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My tester was generous. He also provided great feedback and criticism. Did he rate me too high? I would tell you yes, but then the comments he included with the scores were on target. They were all things I've heard from other instructors, including our Shihan. So I'm leaning into it. Letting it be what it is. Enjoying the (brief) respite that will follow before it all begins anew and I begin the pursuit of my blue belt. 

DOWN for the COUNT

Down for the count!

The Child and I were working on kumite (sparring) in the backyard dojo, trying to get some extra practice in order that The Child could test for a kumite stripe. On our last round, I inadvertently moved into a reverse punch to my solar plexus, which took the wind out of me.

(I'm just going to lie here a while and gather myself back together.)

I also realized by looking at photos after our kumite rounds that I tend to (a) overuse my knees to block; (b) need to move my hands less, as well as keep them up and ready to block (I leave myself open way too often, especially against someone who favors the reverse punch!); and (c) need to lean in less.

(It's a learning process.)

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Update: the next day, I had a nice healthy bruise on my chest, which is impressive since we were both wearing padded gloves.