Bruises fromt the East
I just had the opportunity to accomplish a life goal that I set for myself about 16 years ago. I just got back from my first Karate class in Japan!!! We found a website in English with the help of a Japanese speaking coworker: http://www.d-karate.com/english/02_school/index.html
So we hopped on the subway for the Saturday trial class. The instructor saw my coworker and I. His English was just a bit better than my Japanese (which is probably about 20 words). At first, he said we couldn't train because he has a different class for high schoolers. I informed him with hand signs that I am 32 and my co-worker is 23. He then gestured at our jeans and said "no train". I pulled out my Kung Fu pants out of a backpack to show him, so he let us join the class. It was a good 80 minute workout. Very cool. It was neat how after years of training, I could follow his entire class just by studying his actions and not understanding one word he said. He was very complimentary and it was a fun class. Stretches/warm-up, punching/kicking drills, footwork, then bagwork with a partner.
I believe it was only an intermediate class, but it was great! Definitely an experience I'll always remember.
So we hopped on the subway for the Saturday trial class. The instructor saw my coworker and I. His English was just a bit better than my Japanese (which is probably about 20 words). At first, he said we couldn't train because he has a different class for high schoolers. I informed him with hand signs that I am 32 and my co-worker is 23. He then gestured at our jeans and said "no train". I pulled out my Kung Fu pants out of a backpack to show him, so he let us join the class. It was a good 80 minute workout. Very cool. It was neat how after years of training, I could follow his entire class just by studying his actions and not understanding one word he said. He was very complimentary and it was a fun class. Stretches/warm-up, punching/kicking drills, footwork, then bagwork with a partner.
I believe it was only an intermediate class, but it was great! Definitely an experience I'll always remember.