No one can doubt the upsurge in sports interest generated by
the 2016 Rio Olympics. And it’s easy to be seduced by the celebrity and
accolades bestowed upon successful medal winners. However not everyone can
become a sports megastar and, more importantly, not everyone wants to be one.
Despite karate being accepted as one of the new Olympic
disciplines, karate is unique in the sense that not all karate clubs would
classify themselves as a sport. For many groups the philosophy is quite
different. It’s all about the individual rising to challenges and enjoying
positive experiences, a place where the only competition is a personal one. As
a consequence anyone can potentially enjoy the physical challenges,
intellectual stimulation and personal development which come from regular
practice of this often misunderstood martial art.
Downend based mum of three Bev, and friends Laura and Gemma,
are typical of the growing number of people who have discovered the hidden
benefits of karate practice. Bev recalls, “we talked about different options
including netball, running, gym... but we wanted something different and the
idea of karate came up. My middle
daughter goes to karate and loves it. I hadn't previously thought about martial
arts being for me, but we decided to be open-minded and go for a trial
session. Best decision ever! The people were welcoming, the teaching
inspiring and I immediately knew I would relish the challenge of learning a new
skill.”
The perception of karate as an aggressive Asian fighting
system historically, in the main, attracted young men, but times are changing.
Today, the exhilaration of achievement can be experienced by anyone motivated
enough to leave their armchair behind, and enjoy the company of other like
minded gentle folk in pursuit of regular exercise in a relaxed non judgemental
environment.
This enjoyable alternative to tradition exercise is best summed up
by Bev, “I love being a Mum and I enjoy my job, but karate gives me something
different - it adds another dimension to my life - I couldn't imagine being
without it now!”
Bev, Gemma and Laura belong to the Zenshin dojo karate club with
venues in Staple Hill, Warmley, Keynsham and Bath.
