Hello, my name is Joshua Wheeler. I am 15 years of age and have been practicing the art of Shotokan for three months and am currently at the rank of 8th kyu, which was awarded April 5th. I train in a small dojo with only about 7 other members that attend regularly.

When I started Shotokan karate I did it mostly in order to get some exercise. I was running, jogging, swimming and doing push-ups regularly, but then one of my friends decided to join karate (he was also my age). So since it was only $30 for every 6 classes I figured, why not?

Although my friend only stayed there for 3weeks, I have been there ever since and also got one of my other friends to join. Her name is Jessica, she’s a pretty fun girl but she’s not the tough type of girl, so I really have to hold back when it comes to us training together.

One of the most difficult things about training karate in my situation is my surroundings.

Since each and every other member is a kid that is almost half my age and size, it is very difficult to actually push myself to become stronger and faster. Many of the kids play around and they don’t always give it 100%, but since this is the only Shotokan dojo there is in town I have no other choice. I love practicing the art so I eventually started getting the ability to ignore them and still further my own training, and ignoring them was not an easy thing to do. When it comes to kumite and other partner exercises I just get my Sensei to practice the exercises with me, although from time to time I do have to train with the little ones, which is not too much of an annoyance when they are not trying to goof off. Since they are little however, I have to greatly hold back.

Although the other members are a small annoyance I try not to let it phase me and give it 100% with each exercise. I love karate not only for the ability to further your physical self through a lot of training but the philosophy I read about it so far is pretty fun to think about. I would delve into this subject but I believe that would turn this article into a different story.

Shotokan karate is also a fun thing to practice in my free time. When I am bored instead of just sitting, staring at the ceiling I just go practice kata on my own or watch some shotokan videos on youtube. The training is also fun and it gives me a chance to zone out of day to day life and to just let my body flow into move after move with an empty mind.

My instructor’s name is Don Vito and has been practicing karate for over 30 years. He is a 3rd dan black belt and has probably trained with the best. He is a very helpful person when it comes to getting the moves down, and since he is my only source I can go to when I have a question in class, I pour question after question on him and he is always glad to answer each one.

The first test (and only one I’ve had so far) was very easy. When he gave it to me I did not even know I was being tested at first and he just made me go through the moves and do all the 5 basic blocks, the punches stances and kicks. The kata I had to do was Heian Shodan. Although I had a feeling I was being testing, since I was doing so many extra moves, it was extremely easy and I felt over prepared for it since all the stuff he had me doing I already had a decent grasp on at least a month before this test. I received my new and stiff yellow belt about a week and a half after the test and it felt good.

During my training I have had a few classes where I felt really bad about my performance during the training session. I have many many many flaws to work out such as getting both feet in alignment with my backstance, which seems very tough for me. I also have a problem doing some combo kihon. Which aren’t really kihon for me since I am so new to them. During kihon I sometimes go into blocks and punches in the wrong order. For example, one time we were practicing the knife-hand block with a reverse knife-hand strike right after the block and I executed it all correct except with the hand I retract back in the striking part, I have a bad habit of keeping open instead of closing, like I would with a punch.

There are way too many problems I have to list that I need to fix but throughout my entries I will bring up many of my troubles and fortunes I will have in the beginning road to becoming a good karateka and I hope you will all help me along the ride!