About four and a half years ago (summer 2003), I was watching my son in his karate class. My reaction was that while I liked the dojo, I didn't much like being a spectator. Four years later, I've earned a black belt.
This blog chronicles my odyssey into the martial arts world and how the martial arts affects (and is affected) by the other parts of my life. For instance sometimes in my office, I find myself sounding like a karate instructor. I heard myself in a meeting last week talking in rhymes and expecting my colleagues to answer on cue: "Habbits we train are habbits we....
My odyssey includes what you would expect from a 50 year old starting in karate (I have recommendations on ice packs). And some of those unexpected adventures that appear in my life. Since my kids read this, I'll be careful to watch my punctuation and grammar and to keep any innuendo buried in the boring parts. And my incredibly-sweet fiancee sometimes doesn't appreciate how much time I spend in the dojo. And she certainly has trouble with me arriving home and then blogging about it. So please excuse the fact that I post time permitting.
What else should I tell you? I've lived for nearly a decade in South Florida. Before here, I've lived on three continents and four countries (7 years in the UK, 2 years in France, 2 years in Cameroon, and the rest Stateside) and I recently got engaged (Thanksgiving 2007). I feel that I'm very lucky.
The dojo is the only place where I see my xwife (she doesn't' train but she brings the kids there on her days and we use it as hand-off place for clothes and barbs).
The Blog's Background: I started this blog initially to help me remember my katas. In the months before getting my black belt, the training got more intense and the blog became part of that effort: I wrote about each step in the process and posted a lot of pictures, a sort of yearbook for my black belt class.
After I got my black belt, the intensity dissipated. I thought about phasing out karate (I'd like to play some tennis) and mothballing the blog. Instead, I decided that this would be a new beginning for both. The black belt was the beginning of my new phase in the martial arts. And my blogging is also going into a new gear.
The Art of Blogging
I also read other people's blogs and have recently decided that I'm interested in the "art of blogging". In fact, I'm taking a course right now on How to Write a Blog that other People will Want to Read - Earn a Black Belt in Blogging (disclosure. I am affiliated with the company that offers it. If you want to learn to blog, it's a phenomenal course, sign up NOW . Recent update, we renamed the course to Blog Writing Course. It turns out the martial arts language, which Black Belt Mama and I liked so much, was a little baffling to the average punter.)
And my name is John Edelson. You can contact me commenting on the blog or emailing: BBat50 (at sign) gmail.com
18 comments:
It is not really two mile course. Check again. Good luck.
Way to go , I tested for my Black Belt in Kyukido shortly before I turned 50 .I started for exactly the same reasons
Good Luck
Hi, Amazing I started for the same reasons at 50. Just got my yellow belt, I,m still scared of Kumite and trying to get over it mentally. Strange cos i,m not a small bloke! Will my confidence grow?
Hi joel. Size has not that much to do with it. The people with fear over kumite tend to be those that haven't had experience with lots of high contact sports and those who didn't have brothers and sisters that they wrestled and faught with. It takes awhile to get comfortable with people hitting you. Soon, you'll learn, that it doesn't hurt and people are very restrained. But initially it is somewhat unnatural to be comfortable standing face to face with someone who is hitting and kicking you.
Welcome.
Hiya,
Started @ 51 myself. Same deal though, my 9-year-old son wanted to do Tae Kwon Do, so we did it together. Wasn't easy, but here we are four years later with our black belts and ready to continue!
Cheers,
Mark S.
Vashon, WA, USA
and Southampton, UK
Mark - Great, isn't it? I feel so lucky that I get to do this stuff. Heh, I was near Southhampton this summer...Hillhead. A village nearby. Small world.
Great story! I am taking a similar course in my life. My 18 yr old got interested in Shotokan, and started taking lessons. I had taken Tang Soo Do about 20 years ago, but was forced to stop due to a serious injury. His interest sparked mine again, and I just passed my test for 8th Kyu. My goal is to attain my black belt by the time I am 50 (I'm 44 now).
Hi , I am 48 and same situation with the ex-wife and my son . I go with my son to Jujitsu and hope to get my black belt at 52. ( 50 is now the new 30 )
lol
Peter
BBat50 - your story which you are so matter of fact about...so self-depracating...is inspirational. You make time for yourself...you find time for the kids....you work on developing shared interests....apparently successfully.....you and your kids are very lucky.
I do all of this to but not at your level. Reading your blog shows me how much more I can do and how rewarding it will be.
Great Job earning your Black Belt. I am 49 and have been training since 1983. If you would like a little history about Lavallee's take a look at My Myspace blog. ronsan60. I documented my journey in the "arts" as I remember it I trained in the "old days" and also knew people who trained at the old Tracy's school run by Lee Thompson (the school Steve Lavallee trained at and bought). In fact one of my best friends had Steve Lavallee as an instructor when Steve Lavallee was just a Blue belt under Lee Thompson. Good luck with your journey.
John: here is link to a face book page that has a lot of photo's from Lavallee's in the "old days". I never took any so I don't have any of my own but some of my friends do. This face book page as some great pictures. They don't indentify everyone. I can Identify almost all in every photo, even found myself in one standing in the background with the other instructors during what looks like a test night. If you want me to identify people not identified in the photo's copy the photo and email it to me.
Everyday above ground is a good day! (My Grandfather)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30146564&op=1&o=all&view=all&subj=44782953360&aid=-1&oid=44782953360&id=1364559310#/group.php?gid=44782953360
Ronsan60 - I love the history stuff. If someone sent me good old pics, I'd put them up on the blog. Thanks.
Hello BBAt50
Great Kata videos very helpful. 1 problem the Kama Set is not downloadable or playable > ?
Can you help me out . Thanks
Rick, Thanks for pointing out the problem with kama set. I've added a new version which always works. john
Hi!
I'm 46 and just started on the same path. However, I'm a brown I belt TKD from approx 25 years ago so I'm actually starting from scratch.
Kyu9 in April 2010 :-)
Regards
Jan
Norway
I really enjoy your website and the great videos. Stumbled across it purely by accident, but am glad I did so. Similar story....watched my kid for 5 years and finally decided I was tired of watching. Started at 43, obtained my black belt and now instruct with my daughter as my assistant.
Good luck with your future training!
CRW3
Greetings BB@50
I have trained off and on for many years. Seems an injury, family emergency or other setback has kept me from my black belt goal. I am 46 and want to get back into the dojo (Shotokan). Thanks for the inspiration. I can still do it at 46.
I have a somewhat similar story. My son started Kenpo at the age of 8, and after spending several classes watching I was drawn in. It had been 20 years since studying Tae Kwondo, with a smattering of Cuong Nhu and Goju Ryu in there for good measure. I'm currently at orange-belt level at the age of 47. My goal is also to become a black belt at (or possibly before) 50. Great to read the story of your journey.
Post a Comment