Training as Therapy

After being on the road for a couple of weeks, I am now back home and getting back into karate classes. I can't follow my normal schedule because of some family obligations, but I take classes as often as I can. Sometimes plans get altered at the last minute, which can be very frustrating - like the other day when I thought I had a morning appointment that would keep me from taking a morning class, only to find, too late, that the appointment had been postponed until the next day. Waaah!

My friend Jenny has been very frustrated in her training too, but in her case the problem is a knee injury. She can't train the way she wants to; her fear of re-injuring the knee makes her very stiff and tense, and her range of motion is definitely limited. So she hasn't been able to relax and enjoy class lately.

When I arrived for the adult class, Jenny was there, and so was Annie, a new White Belt who is the same age now as I was when I started. Jenny is quite a bit younger than either Annie or me, but she is a mature woman. Looking at the three of us who comprised the group, Annie remarked that "This must be the geriatric class." But, noticing that Annie wore a brace on her wrist, Jenny wore a brace on her knee, and I wore a brace on my ankle, I suggested that we should be called the Rehab Class. This was especially appropriate since our instructor for that class has come through her own issues with injury and recovery.

We started with a nice long warm-up and stretch-out at the beginning of class, followed by endurance drills that didn't stress any of our aging or damaged joints. Jenny seemed less anxious as we moved into forms, and by the time we got to Ho Sin Sul (Self-Defense) she seemed more relaxed than I have seen her in weeks. Annie seemed more confident too. By the end of class we were all feeling pretty good.

Hard training of the "drill & kill" type can certainly give you an endorphin high, but there is also something to be said for gentle, low-impact training with an emphasis on technique and philosophy. Similarly, while there is great energy to be found in a large group, sometimes a small, informal class is needed to foster interpersonal bonds and a sense of peace.

Either way, training is good for you.