It all happened pretty quickly. I had no knowledge of martial arts other than a dated book that I once read from the local library. Around my 20th Birthday I competed in a Canoe marathon, it went badly and I retired from the race. On returning home, feeling pretty pissed off, I encountered a friend who also did canoeing.
I had a vague idea that he did Karate or something like that, so I just asked, 'did he do Karate?' He said yes, and that he was going to class in ten minutes. And that was that. I dropped my Canoeing gear, jumped in his car and did my first session of Shotokai Karate, which I trained for the next four years.
It was a little bit surreal, as before that instant I had no intention of taking up a martial art, plus this was way out of character for me... diving into something new on the spur of the moment was just not something I did. It just seemed like the right thing to do at that moment.
Looking back 18 years later I'd say it was the right decision, a real now or never, path changing moment. Another few minutes and I'd have got over my crappy day and put my focus elsewhere.
I had a vague idea that he did Karate or something like that, so I just asked, 'did he do Karate?' He said yes, and that he was going to class in ten minutes. And that was that. I dropped my Canoeing gear, jumped in his car and did my first session of Shotokai Karate, which I trained for the next four years.
It was a little bit surreal, as before that instant I had no intention of taking up a martial art, plus this was way out of character for me... diving into something new on the spur of the moment was just not something I did. It just seemed like the right thing to do at that moment.
Looking back 18 years later I'd say it was the right decision, a real now or never, path changing moment. Another few minutes and I'd have got over my crappy day and put my focus elsewhere.
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