I can't sleep so what did I do? Enter the dojo of course. A short 45 minute kata session in my pyjamas at 11:00pm.. Too late to train? Then again, is there really a best time to train? Anytime is a good time I say.
There is a notion in many, that karate training cannot be effectively done if the idyllic space, the idyllic time, or the idyllic whatever is not present. These people may also have the belief that in order to have the perfect training mind, things such as the chores will need to have been done first, or their gi must be ironed crisp and clean, their body must be free from injury, or maybe one can only train if the dojo has perfectly levelled floors or lighting, and all technology switched off. The list goes on and on..... Remember folks, nothing in life is perfect nor will it ever be. We must simply carry on.
For me personally, a daily dose of karate or kobudo is extremely healing and therapeutic. There may be new cracks and splinters in the dojo floors, it maybe raining cats and shihans, or we may be exhausted from dealing with pretentious people at work all day. Regardless of any challenges of daily life or imperfections in the surrounding environment, or however physically or mentally drained we are, it is this which we should embrace. One's personal time must be made, and training carried out.
The other night three students attended. One resembled a sleep walking zombie, the other still battered and bruised from two days prior through heavy body and leg conditioning (their choice by the way), and the grumpy third had stress written all over their face due to the day’s work. After the session, all three walked out of the dojo like they had just gone on a 24 hour bender with Steve-O. Energetic and full of beans after training. How does that work? Yes, serotonin and all that other scientific jibberish, but what seemed at first like a woeful day for all turned out to be the perfect day.
There may be a PERFECT after all....and that is simply by training!
