Where did I move to?

** NOTE: Once you start reading this blog, you might feel a little weirded out by the absence of bagging other people out or the general lack of irreverence… well, you’re right. I present to you our fearless leader’s thoughts - Thank you Master Bates.

About four years ago, I moved from Brisbane to Hervey Bay - the whale watching capital of the world. It’s also known as “Retirement Bay”, thanks to the number of people who come up here to retire (and the ever-ageing population).

Yes, I’ve received a lot of shite from everyone about this but it really is a nice part of the world to live.

I used to joke that I’d need to get my tourist visa stamped on entry, because I was too young to be living here. But now I’m in my early fifties and, of late, we’ve started having the retirement conversation.

WAIT!, WHAT? Is this thing contagious? Should I stop drinking the water?

Jokes aside, it’s not that far away. And living in a place nicknamed “Retirement Bay” has a way of making you ask: what does life look like in the years to come especially training?

I’m not exactly sure when it’ll happen, but it’s on the horizon. It’s got me thinking about what the Fraser Coast lifestyle has to offer and what my Karate (and my body) will need from me as the seasons change.

If I Retired Tomorrow…

A few months back, I was chatting with Sensei Allan (over a couple of quiet beers) and asked, “What would your day look like if you retired tomorrow?”

We both had a similar answer: train in the morning, study Japanese (or at least try), teach Karate in the evening. Travel when we could and probably spend more time in Okinawa. How good does that sound? Who’s in? Obviously, there’s more to it than that, but you get the idea. We’d train more, not less. It almost sounds like our current employment just gets in the way of our Karate training.

Time to Slow Down?

As a much younger man, Karate for me was about self-defence, how well I could fight, and the desire to test myself against others. How fit could I get? How much could I physically and mentally endure?

Over time, I learned to develop a better understanding, where the study itself became the driving force, a vehicle to better myself every day, in and out of the dojo.

Me 20 kgs lighter.....The good ole days

The Okinawa Nudge

Now, as I’m getting a little older, I find myself in the next transitional stage of training: health and wellbeing. In fact, on our most recent trip to Okinawa (just a couple of weeks back), our Sensei was quite adamant that it’s time to slow down.

The gist of the conversation was something like this:

●     Your Karate is good.

●     But you’re still trying to move like a younger man.

●     Now that you’re over 50, you need to shift your Karate to be softer.

●     That will teach you more of the “Ju”. This is your next challenge.

●     Karate this way, and it will last you a lifetime.

Karate for Health and Wellbeing

In the dojo, they’re talking about how hard we train and how, as we age, our focus should shift and adapt to our bodies, our knowledge, our experience and, if we have any, our wisdom. I can fully understand and appreciate this. Part of our Dojo Kun is to train to our physical attributes.

I’ll admit I’m struggling and I’m sure I’m not the only one. My heart is still young, and my mind knows no difference, but the body is starting to feel it more: knees, elbows and shoulders, for some reason.

I look at my peers and think, “What… you too?” We’re all around a similar age, and we all seem to suffer the same niggling aches and pains.

2026 Geri Group Training - Okinawa

Putting “Ju” Into Practice

So, I’m trying to integrate this idea of taking small steps backwards into my own training. It still feels foreign, but I’m trying, nonetheless. Don’t get me wrong I’m training just as often. The “step backwards” is really about a little less “Go” (hard) and a little more “Ju” (soft).

Somewhere in here lies another lesson yet to be learnt. I’ve experienced the effortless techniques applied by my Sensei - soft, direct and with purpose. I’ve stood there with a dumbfounded look on my face as he’s slipped in a block and a strike that I simply haven’t seen, felt, or even reacted to.

To this day, I use that as a mental benchmark of his mastery of Goju-Ryu Karate. If this is what slowing down looks like, I’m looking forward to it.

Closing Thoughts

That’s enough rambling from me. This is just a thought bubble about where I’m at, where I’m heading and an open invite to anyone who wants to join our so-called “geriatric brigade”. I’m looking forward to being a grumpy (or grumpier) old man wearing my angry white pyjamas, punching and kicking, and screaming “Haya” for many more years to come. More so, I look forward to sharing this journey with all the wonderful people in our dojo, both here and in Okinawa.