DEFINITIONS PART 5

KARATE
When it became evident that basketball (NOTICE: basketball will be another "Definition") did more damage to my knees and body than good (after playing basketball I could hardly walk, my knees hurt so bad. Also, twisted ankles and dislocated fingers damped the joy of the game), I decided to stop playing the game. But my body and mind began to atrophy. I needed some form of exercise and something to keep my mind active and sharp. I knew of a Karate class where I worked (City of Bellevue) and decided to visit one of the training sessions. I was hooked. I bought a gi (the uniform of a martial arts student) and started attending training sessions 3 times a week. Karate has been a great discipline for me, helping me function physically and mentally. We spend time stretching, which helps keep me somewhat flexible, and then do some training, keeping me somewhat in shape.

Karate is great because it is a life long pursuit. You may move through the ranks from white to yellow, orange, green, purple, brown and finally to black, but you are always learning and improving your technique. To become a first level black belt simply means you have learned the basics. From that point on you are building on the basics and seeking to learn from and improve on what you have already learned. In April of 2007 I tested for and received my black belt.

It is a great privilege to train under Sensei Cathy Cline, who is the highest ranking woman in Shotokan Karate. Her teaching style is inspirational.

Trip to Bend, Oregon

On February 1 Jean and I set out for Bend, Oregon for a week long trip. This is the kind of trip where we basically unplug from life, take some books to read, some movies to watch, some projects to work on, and an expectancy to relax. All of those were accomplished. I didn't get to read through all the books I wanted, but did manage to spend some time with "The Black Box" by Michael Bene and "Can Man Live Without God" by Ravi Zacharias. I worked on my blogsite material, wrote a little for my book, and put together material for our 2008 newsletter. We went shopping and went for walks in the snow and along the river. You know you've had a great vacation when it is difficult to return home. We weren't ready to return but wanted to stay another week.

We did see some wildlife. We saw several deer and hawks and when returning from Sisters we saw a bald eagle tearing away at the flesh of a dead deer. Way cool.