Mean Lean Karate Machine!
I actually used to do Karate. Yep, bona-fide martial arts, Goju-Ryu Karate, under the expert tuiton of my good friend Terry Lyon. I haven’t been to training for… I don’t know how long, more than two years for sure! Terry has been nagging me to come to training, and god knows, my lazy butt needs some exercise.
But… the Karate training is hard and involves countless sit-ups, push-ups, and black-n-blues-ups (I just made that one up!). My belly would just be in the way! I think I need to pace myself and wait a little bit longer before I continue my path of the warrior. The belly has to shrink at least a little bit before I show myself in my white pyjamas that are my Karate suit.
Needless to say, there is no break in the training and it is considered bad etiquette to have a drink during training. But I am always so thirsty, especially whenever I am on a quest to improve my fitness! So I guess my personal hydration needs have to take a backseat because of rigid gung-ho “oh we karate people we’re so damn tough we don’t need no friggin’ drink during training”. As I am a wuss who needs his water, I think I need to first train my camel skills somewhat before I tackle that one. I always used to get dehydration headaches from karate training and I know what I’m talking about. I’m tubby but I ain’t no camel!
May 31st, 2005 at 9:05 am
Dear Mr Tubby,
I trust you have again enjoyed your morning power walk and protein drink and the exhilaration of today maybe bench pressing 35kg while saggybutt is busy climbing the walls around you like some spiderwoman, it must be hard on the manicured finger nails.
I wish to inform you that well over a year ago I personally dragged the gung-ho world of karate into the new millennium by allowing a 2 minute break at the 1/2 time mark of my 1.5hr karate class, for a drink of water. An activity I also participate in, much to the disgust of some students.
The reasons are obvious and I am sure you are well aware of all of them. And why should karate be the only activity in the world where there is no break for refreshments?
My next step, which you may also be delighted with, is to copy boxing, a close relative to karate I believe in may ways. Yes, we will have a sexy bikini card girl walk around with a number 2 to signify the start of part 2 of the lesson.
Regards
Sensei Terry Lyon
Okinawan Goju Ryu 5th Dan