Why I practice Karate – a memoir
I used to be a very shy and reserved child, barely speaking out loud or introducing myself at birthday parties, rather choosing to sit in a corner with a copy of R.L.Stine’s Goosebumps or playing with my Funskool G.I.Joes. It was only natural that my extroverted mother thought the best way to boost my morale and get me out of the shell is by engaging me in combat sports, that would not only make me strong physically, but would also build character and discipline, and maybe, just maybe make me more outgoing and confident.
Guess what? It worked.
As a 9-year-old as I walked into the Karate dojo, I was greeted by the quiet setting and smell of perspiration, pierced by the occasional kiai (気合), the sharp shout or yell that people generally term as the needless sound made popular by Bruce Lee. Towering around me were black belts with golden stripes (known as Dan, 1st stripe or Dan is 1st Degree Black Belt and so forth), brown and green belts and a few handful beginners with white belts like me. As the sensei started with the warmup, followed by Kihon (basic kicks and punch training), I slowly realised that I was enjoying it. Coming home from school, doing my homework and then heading to the dojo became my regular routine. But alas, I had to quit due to the mounting study pressure.
Fast forward 23 years, I found myself receiving an advertising campaign brief for a Karate school, and who do I find on the other side of the table? Shihan Abdullah, who was one of the most coveted and decorated black belt students from my old Dojo, is now the President of World Karate Organisation Bangladesh. He recognised and invited me for a class, and my 32-year-old body creaked at the mere idea. Overweight by at least 20 kilograms, with a frozen shoulder and lower back pain from the regular 10-hour work shift, I was in no shape to even consider going for test class let alone delve into combat sports again. He managed to convince me, and one fine Friday morning, I found myself wearing a karate dogi and standing in a class of 15 people.
This was the start of a three year journey that I am still on today. With the unhealthy work-life balance, the adulterated food and air we are consuming daily, my three days a week Karate training is something I look forward to after a hectic week. These are 5-hours of pure physical exertion that I proudly label as “Me Time.”
I get asked a lot, “Why take your body through such rigorous training, even pay to fight and get beaten up?” It makes me smile, because the answer is not exactly a straightforward one. Among the many reasons I practice karate, probably the first one is that the hours that I train are solely the only time that I get for myself. I train, I sweat, I accomplish physical feats that I would not even have dared to attempt 5-years back – these are feelings of fulfillment that I rarely receive from the daily chores that I do.
I believe we all should indulge in activities that give us a break from the day-to-day routine we follow. For some, it’s reading, collecting stamps or coins, watching makeup tutorials. Karate, for me, cultivates patience, discipline and perseverance — the never give up mindset, that not only helps me achieve physical feats, but also helps me in my professional life and personal development. Progress, be it career-wise or in terms of karate belts, requires effort and consistency in training, which are core components of a strong character. It also offers a safe outlet for stress and emotional buildups. Physical and creative activities help manage anxiety, improve focus and help attain the much-needed balance.
At 35-years of age, I attempted the brown belt (next would be Black Belt) – this test was not only about a belt promotion, this was about courage, perseverance and heart, attempting a challenge that anyone else would say, “Are you crazy?” Minus a few bruises and swellings, I came out as a better person, both mentally and physically. A gentle reminder, that if we do shoot for the moon, even if we miss, at least we have had a good stretch.