Wado Ryu Karate (A Journey for life)

People begin to learn Karate for a number of reasons. They may begin because they are weak or being picked on or maybe simply because they want to get fit. The reasons for those first steps into a Dojo are endless. But whatever the initial reason it soon changes once you begin to realise the subtleties of Wado Ryu.

I myself joined a club (age 17) largely due to peer pressure and I have to say that of all those who began at that time not one of them is still training! I think that is probably something that all of us can say, if we have been active in the Karate for any length of time. I have never been one for ball sports (I was always last to be picked for football at school). So Karate was ideal for me as you only ever have to rely on yourself “if you cheat you only cheat yourself”.

I had a number of instructors that influenced me but I think that Mike Sutcliffe who was my main instructor for most of my time in the run up to 1st Dan, and for a time after, was the greatest influence. His approach to training was such that he never gave up even when serious injury prevented him training fully.

For me when I first started training I was going because for first time I was enjoying a physical activity. I plodded through the grades as most of us do at a steady pace, until I took 1st Dan for the 1st time, and failed it. Despite being told I was robbed by other senior grades I was mortified. I set my mind to never fail again. The same year I passed with flying colours much to my relief.

It was a year later when I was selected to join the E.K.A. National Squad. And for 2 years competition fighting dominated my life to the exclusion of everything else even a private life. I was training every night of the week and if there wasn’t a competition that weekend I was away with the Squad training for at least one day of the weekend.

Then disaster at the age of 25 I got a serious knee injury during a friendly international with Wales, I felt my life was over and I nearly quit Karate at this time feeling that if I couldn’t do it all I shouldn’t do it at all.

That side of my Karate over I concentrated on my club (established when I passed my 1st Dan). I found myself concentrating my own training on the Kata and partner work side of karate, it was only then that I began to develop a deeper understanding of karate. This in turn has made my sparring more intuitive.

Now 3rd Dan, I find it difficult to put into words why I do Wado Ryu Karate and what it gives me. I also find it difficult to describe how it almost gives you a 6th sense and how it makes you more in tune with your own mind and body. All I can say is that when you achieve that level when it all clicks into place, you will say to your self ……………… so that’s what he meant.