To do with karate - Nope. Something else - Yep. So there has been a new shrimp-eating centipede discovered in Okinawa. Check it out here --> https://fb.watch/57N4uzXByF/ Fascinating huh ?
And how is that connected to karate? Sorry, not related at all. The more I hear about COVID news and the jump in cases in Japan, the more unlikely it seems we will get to go back to Okinawa anytime soon. Oh, that nasty ever-increasing itch to go back to our paradise is getting stronger by the day... And the cancellation of our training trip to Perth last week too was a big kick up the nads. COVID this, COVID that, maybe I should make a COVID kata dai ichi and dai ni?
So how can we all deal with Okinawa withdrawal? Simple, just follow my rules.
1. Crank up the heater, close your eyes, imagine you are in the dojo after a long hard sweat dropping session, and down an ORION beer or two. An alternative would be to consume a glass of Awamori - and should none be present, simply fill your glass with turps or petrol.
2. Go to a Japanese restaurant and make your bogan mate (similar to redneck for my North American readers) order in Japanese. Make sure you laugh loud and hard at their gaijin pronunciation showing absolutely no mercy.
3. Go to a karaoke bar, make ya mate sing anything, and as above, a good long hard laugh at him or her will instantly bring you back to Okinawa. And again - Strike First, Strike Hard - Show No Mercy!
In the meantime, enjoy your training, keep asking questions, and get a good night's sleep....which is something I really should be doing now....