Mr. Miyagi

[Lisa Clark]

But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a person and the life they lead.
~ Albert Camus

Karate has been an interest since childhood. It was in the cool movies like Karate Kid and Bruce Lee films. I wanted to have a Mr. Miyagi... instead, my mother enrolled me in just about every other sport. They were never as cool as karate though.

I first met Mr. Oliver when he bought stamps from me at Bel Air for the Auburn dojo. He stuck out from the other customers since he came in his gi. More importantly, when others gave a grumpy complaint to "How are you?" Mr. Oliver was bright and positive. It made a distinct impression.

Fast forward a bit.

I met up with Mr. Oliver at random last July. He invited me to try out karate with him at his school. The simplest answer is it stuck.

Karate is the outlet I needed to find balance in my life. It is both exercise and mental training. I have had both exercise and mental training before, but never effectively together. Kata has been my favorite expression of this unison.

I look forward to training further.

[Mike Oliver]

I had a similar outlook when I saw the Karate Kid for the first time. I wanted a mentor just like Mr. Miyagi. I think that film shaped a lot of kids' perceptions of just what the martial arts is really about. I hope the upcoming remake does the same for a new generation. I didn't find my way into a dojo until much later in life, much like you.

Some people say that kata is a form of meditation while moving. I think kata is a perfect opportunity to practice the Zen in the martial arts. I'm glad that you are enjoying it.

[Holly ODonnell]

I'm SO angry about the new Karate Kid remake. Mr. Miyagi is Jackie Chan!?!?!? One word. No.

[Holly ODonnell]

Hey Ms. Clark, Nice to talk to you again!

Lol, I went to Walmart the other day. I only had my pants on but I think people could tell. Janae went in her full uniform. Who cares =) We rock.

Yeah, same here. I was always interested in karate. I've never been interested in any other sport. I never joined any other sport. My father wasn't around and didn't influence sports on me that much. Football and basketball games were never on in my house. It was only my mother and two sisters, Janae and Meghan. I still, to this day, cannot play any other sport. I don't know how basketball or football works. I'm pretty ignorant of any other sport besides the martial arts. Karate is my love. And I like to romance it.

Kata is fun. One time I had a friend in Tae-Kwon-Do at a tournament. I saw their "kata" and I felt bad. It wasn't really.. Kata. I didn't see any tradition, It looks like they were just doing basics. It was a smaller tournament and there was a lot of time. So my friend asked if I could show them my kata. I thought "Yeah, I'm going to show you some real Isshin-ryu." I showed them and their mouth dropped. One of the men said, "It's pretty." In a way to not put down his own art. I mean, ever one is different, but Isshinryu really does have some beautiful, traditional kata compared to many of the Americanized arts in the area.

[Mike Oliver]

Yikes Ms. O'Donnell, I read, "I only had my pants on but I think people could tell," and wondered what kind of black-belt we have on our hands. ;)

We are very lucky to have practical kata when compared to other systems out there. One of the things I love about Isshinryu is that it is a system that builds on itself. When you practice basics, you are also practicing your kata and you are also practicing your kumite. They are all related. I have heard from others that come from a different martial arts background that this isn't always the case in other systems.

We are also fortunate to have teachers in our lineage that have a solid understanding of the kata and what the moves actually are--we aren't just dancing.