Shorinryu Sensei Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Often times, people find their first karate experience quite amusing. In retrospect, mine was anyway, and I was wondering if anybody else had something amusing to share with us about their first class? I went along to my first karate class way back in January of 1975 with a friend of mine that had been taking classes for about 2 months. I had planned on just observing the class, but the sensei told me (memorable words) "If you're interested enough to watch, you're interested enough to try it". This sensei was a 6'4", 240lb cowboy (all muscle) fresh out of the Navy and a tour of duty on Okinawa where he had trained with the head of the system. The man was all business, but really a nice guy. As with anybody in their first class, I was pretty much lost and in awe of the sensei's movements most of the time, but I gave it my all. Towards the end of the class, the sensei said we were going to do some light sparring. He showed me what we were going to do, and he was the one I had to spar. I wasn't afraid actually, but sure was nervous, as I had no idea what to do. He was very nice about it, sort of slapping me in the chest with an open hand, or on top of the head to show where I was open and where he could pretty much hit at will if he'd wanted to. As we sparred, the sensei kept coaching me to punch or kick. I pretty much kept my hands up close to my head like a boxer to protect my face, then he would slap me in the stomach. Well, after a bit, the sensei started saying "Try some kicks". He kept at that saying "Kick! Kick me!"...so I did. Right in the groin...HARD! Well, he did say kick! Well, to make a short story shorter, he wasn't wearing a cup (we rarely do in class) and he went down. I stood there for a minute thinking "This guy is going to get up and kill me!" and I started moving towards the door to grab my shoes and coat, and run barefoot out through the January snow of Montana before he could get up and tear me to bits, when he said "Wait..don't worry about it, it was my mistake." Sensei and I became good friends and had many laughs about that incident over the years. Whenever I have a new student, I always keep that night in mind when I spar with them the first time. My nightly prayer..."Please, just let me win that PowerBall Jackpot just once. I'll prove to you that it won't change me!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelaG Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 LOL good story! Tokonkai Karate-do Instructorhttp://www.karateresource.com Kata, Bunkai, Articles, Reviews, History, Uncovering the Myths, Discussion Forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
granmasterchen Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 i have another story.,....that was kinda embarrassing...but hey i grew and got better.... when i was first joining the martial arts we had some drill where we were to yell a loud kia and kick the pad as hard as we could...it was suppossed to be a fun little event...well at the time (just starting) i was about 16 and a good 300 lbs...yep i was a BIG kid...(thankfully i lost that weight thru rigorous training) anyway....i went up and screamed this huge and loud KIIIIIIAAAAAA and managed to kick the elderly man holding the pad right in the face..!!!!!! he had a strap on goggles to protect his glasses and both went flying across the room....i felt sooooo bad for quite awhile....like i said i am glad that i eventually got some skill and learned how to control and all that....but still an embarassing yet humorous story....nobody got permanently injured ...yet that man proceeded to beat into me for several months during sparring matches.....lol That which does not destroy me will only make me stronger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 Hahaha! Ill be sure to keep that in mind when sparring white belts, Shorinryu Sensei! And wow, you were 300lbs and you managed to kick someone in the head?! Thats some nice flexebility for a guy that size, and the funny thing is that the old guy beat you up in sparring matches!! Hahaha(Oh wait, thats not funny!) Anyways, nice stories! Shito Ryu (3rd kyu) RETIRED - 2002-2003Now studying BJJ(2006) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torris Posted August 14, 2004 Share Posted August 14, 2004 Being twice as tall as everyone in my class. Literally. I am this n00b in a room full of little Karate Kids. LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CloudDragon Posted August 14, 2004 Share Posted August 14, 2004 Great story, like I have found, the most dangerous people to spar are the white belts because as in the words of Forrest Gump "You never know what you gonna get" A Black Belt is just a white belt that don't know when to quit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kicks Posted August 14, 2004 Share Posted August 14, 2004 Shorinryu Sensei, LOL..that sounds more like my first date! when you create the world's largest trailer park, you're going to have tornadoes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotten Head Fok Posted August 15, 2004 Share Posted August 15, 2004 Becareful what you ask for...... Good story! My Niece told me one day she could drop me to the floor with a hankerchief, being a teenager I was not about to let that happen. She asked me to hold the hankerchief in front of me with both hands. (a word of advice, when you hold a hankerchief in front of yourself with both hands, you cannot see) Front snap kick.. ...and down I went You must be stable and balanced in your foot work, if you have to use your martial knowledge in combat, your intent should be to win. If you do strike, you must release great power! The martial arts are easy to learn, but difficult to correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krunchyfrogg Posted August 15, 2004 Share Posted August 15, 2004 Great story, you literally had me laughing out loud! "A life is not important, except in the impact it has on other lives."-- Jackie Robinson"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."-- Edmund Burke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vito Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 hahahahaha, that was his mistake, and damn i bet he regretted it. "If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared." -Machiavelli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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