Redding Shotokan Karate

This summer Special Training was different from previous Special Trainings for me (perhaps because I'm nearing 50 years old?). In some practices I felt stronger than before, in others worse; some other areas of the experience were more educational and enlightening, while others were merely an exercise in tolerance and survival.

For instance, in previous years I was able to attack Hamburger Hill much more energetically, being one of the first 10 karateka or so to make it to the top and over. True, this year on the first day I did so, and ran another 8 laps around the soccer field before we went into the gym (to run an unknown number of laps around it, too). Felt great. However, on each subsequent day I felt it more and more necessary to slow down on the steepest, last part. Somehow I knew that "the wall" was there and more powerful than before.

Conversely, I felt very strong in kiba-dachi practice. I breathed, felt the sweat run off me into the grass, focused on the Sandan in front of me (Stuart from Portland, who stands like a statue on Easter Island), and stayed down. Nice way to start the morning.

Interestingly, that day a new friend at the lunch table asked me if it was possible to train for Special Training. After some thought, I had to answer, "No." I explained that I cannot push myself that hard without extra motivation. Special Training provides an unique opportunity to push yourself (or allow yourself to be pushed) beyond not only what you would do otherwise, but I think far beyond what you believe you can do. However, don't get me wrong – if you don't train for Special Training, you will suffer.

Also, it was made quite evident that I can't eat immediately after a workout. No matter how I try, I just can't force myself to shovel fuel into my system – the gag reflex is just too powerful. Therefore, I had to wait a couple hours after a workout to try to force down an energy bar and/or recovery drink. Finally, on Saturday night and Sunday morning, I was just down to drinking plain water. Nothing else would have stayed down. I was several hours into the long drive home before I could even face stopping for a bite to eat! I really envy those folks who happily sit down with a heaping plate and finish it off with gusto.

I was much more introspective this time, too, weighing the benefits of even being involved in karate (yes, it gets THAT bad) and putting myself through such misery. However, thankfully, we humans are able to put such negative things away and focus on the positive. I know now that I can simply stand up and do more, even though I'd rather lie down and ignore the world for an hour or thirteen. I was surprised by that a couple times. The point where my body just quits and goes to sleep is farther away than I want, sometimes. Also, and I've mentioned this to our students many times, nobody else is quitting. I'll be damned if I'm the first!

It's a good feeling to be back to "kind of" normal. My endurance is sure not back up to the pre-Special Training level, but I feel kind of cleaned up, cleaned out. I'm sure I sweated any lingering toxins out of my body. I no longer really need that cup of coffee in the morning. I'm also happy to have a good appetite again. I have to accede to my cravings for a couple days after every Special Training, and this time it was Safeway's Stompin' Steakhouse Chili. That first spoonful was heavenly, truly reason to begin a meal by saying Grace. And the Samuel Adams at dinner Monday night was savored, every sip.

I have to mention the leadership of Godan Mark Kohagura. Having attended many of his Special Trainings (winter, at Stanford and Burnett Academy) and kumite and kicking practices, I have great respect for his karate level and character. This event was even better! I think he had a bit more freedom to express his leadership in the summer venue. Two good examples are the special practices and the lectures before, during, and after workouts.

The special practices (brown belt and black belt) were tuned for learning. It would be easy to merely beat on us a bit more as mindless practice to exhaustion, but he chose subjects for each division of black belt to help us advance our practice to the next level. Shodans practiced the basics they'd need to demonstrate for Nidan; Nidans practiced kneeling techniques and torite for their Sandan grading, and Sandans…well, I wasn't paying much attention to them. Sorry. And our second black belt practice was fantastic, dealing with go no sen and sen no sen. I love that stuff!

Mark also has an ability to speak concisely and powerfully. He shares this with other Godans who have led practices I've attended. Part of this must come from the environment. His audience is naturally receptive (or else for vacation they'd be off playing beach volleyball or something), but I also think the hard practices, group feeling, and lack of sleep make us naturally more impressible.

Indeed, one of the things I've noticed from each of these experiences is the dreams. I dream freaky dreams during (and after) Special Training. It's hard to explain, but I imagine it's like a bad LSD trip. The evening after a lecture by Mark on "Don't be late!!" I dreamed I'd left Special Training, driven home (the home in the dream wasn't even my home, but some mobile home in the desert), had a normal dinner, watched an awesome sunset (influenced no doubt by the smoke from the forest fire near Carpinteria this year), gone to bed normally, then awakened at 4:56AM by the clock radio.

Of course, in the dream, I was totally astounded by the horrible thing I'd done – left Special Training! Can't practice with SKA any more! Not only will I be late for morning lineup, I won't even be there! My seniors have no idea where I've gone! And what about Darrell, my junior whom I'm helping through his first Special Training??!!

Then BAM I woke up – for real. In the sleeping bag. In the dorm room. Feeling like run over, dehydrated dog...food. Whew! I've never been so happy to wake up at Special Training!

I found out I'm not the only one. At lunch on the second day, I asked a friend how he was doing – you know, just "How ya doin'." He replied that he was starting to dream about dinosaurs and little green men. Make of that what you will…anybody else have weird dreams at Special Training?

One last comment, paraphrasing Mark Kohagura:

"We don't make Special Training just to survive. We do it to elevate our practice."