Karate, karate, karate. Kata, kata, kata. Practice, practice, practice. Yesterday I had my first 'promotion' at my karate school. I didn't really have a choice about whether I wanted to do it or not... They say it's time, and then you do it. We've been practicing for the big day for the last 6 weeks. Extra sit-ups, extra push-ups, extra squats, and extra practice on Kata, which are sort of like short dance routines, but for karate moves. Step, block, strike, turn, block, kick, etc. It's been very tiring and I'm getting really strong.
Yesterday, I had to wear my recently acquired Gi (pronounced G-ee), which fits and feels a lot like my dad's pajamas. Or someone's dad's pajamas. Baggy, wide, floppy and distinctly not for a woman's shape. This was also prescribed for me, to be able to comply with the official rules and stand for the promotion. There were judges and a video camera and family members watching. We had to step through the paces of several drills that we had been working on, including two kata. It was kinda scary, but also not at all considering what was at stake (my honor, my place in the samurai squad...?) I made several silly mistakes, but apparently not too many because I passed. I'll get a green stripe or two on my white belt.
Afterward there was pizza and beer and shots of sake, which I had never had. They toasted to our success, to our hard work, and to having some new people (3 new people including myself) join the Dojo. Apparently in it's heyday, there were over 50 people a night at class, now there are 10 if we are lucky. Everyone was chatting and talking and telling me that I had done well. They said, "We have this party in the summer." "We have this event in the fall." "Let us know it's your birthday and we'll quit early and have some cake." For the first time, I was treated like I was a part of their group. It was as though I hadn't just passed the kata test, but I passed their commitment test and they were now open to being my friend. I'll have to say it felt really good. I have a few new friends up here (and by a few I mean 3), but it's been hard. After throwing back a shot of sake with my black belt instructors, I thought maybe someday I'll have a life full of friends here too.
