The Need for Karate

The Need for Karate

 

 

 

I love Karate. I mean I really REALLY love Karate, but it's a good thing I do because I need it. My doctor told me 3 things that would greatly assist in dealing with Multiple Sclerosis: 1. Avoid stress like the plague, even good stress is stress and it is hard on your body. 2. Get lots of sleep. If your body feels tired, then sleep. And finally 3. Exercise a lot. Your muscles will atrophy more rapidly than an regular person if you don't use them.

A few years back I became unable to work and it sent my body and my mind into a downward spiral. I had a stationary job at a call centre and I remember waking up mid call my mouth was moving, but I had no recollection of the last few minutes or what I had said. I was unable to work any longer and unable to train for another job considering a call centre is about as stationary as you can get. I wrestled with the pain of losing such a huge part of my life. In my adult life I had worked 2 and 3 jobs to support myself and my family, but now I could no longer even do that. How would society treat me? I knew my family would understand, but what about the rest of the world. Would I be labelled as lazy?

I took up Karate, and didn't practise as much as I should however as time progressed I realized I felt better after doing Karate and slowly little things changed. When I started I was unable to sit in a position called seiza (kneeling on one's knees resting your buttocks on your calfs). I was unable to bend my knees as I lost my balance. I couldn't stand on one leg, hop, or even jump. My brain couldn't comprehend the little movements I had to make and I was constantly tripping over myself or other students. I felt hopeless and I considered giving up. It's not like I am Bruce Lee now. But I can sit in seiza for greater and greater lengths of time, I can stand on one leg (either leg) I can hop and even jump. These may seem like little accomplishments, but to me they are miraculous.

One of my friends asked me the other day why if I could spend so much time at the dojo couldn't I find a part time job? The simple answer is No. If I stop training my body will become weak and I'll loose my ability to walk. Even part time jobs require the employee's to come in when they are scheduled. I'm exhausted and need a nap will not fly well with them. I am grateful to Karate and especially to my instructors for helping my body become stronger. Not only that, my instructors and my dojo mates take joy in the little accomplishments that I achieve. It is my dojo mates and my Instructors who give me the strength some days to come in and train on days I can barely get out of bed. On days that I am bedridden it is they who encourage me to get better, rest up and join in. I hope they realize what a constant source of encouragement they are.