Raise your hand if you’ve ever given up a hobby! *Row of virtual hands*

Most of us did something in our childhood – football, dance, gymnastics, martial arts – and many of us have given it up since.

Let’s have a look at Katie:



Katie used to do gymnastics, and received a number of medals throughout years of training and competitions. But then she grew up, it was time to go to university, and there were no gymnastic societies (Let’s say she chose that university for its academics). Katie gave up gymnastics, but tried to keep fit in the gym. Years go by, and she starts to miss gymnastics and wonder: what if she was still into it in her mid-20s? She could still be more flexible than any other girl in the group, and would probably be a legend in the gymnastics circle. But she gave it up, and now it’s too late to get back into it – or so she thinks.

And here is Bob:

Bob used to be amazing at football – he was the best centre forward player in his entire county, and [back in the days] scored more than 100 goals in one academic year! He remembers the ‘what’ but not sure if he still can do the ‘how’. It feels safer not to go back, to keep his legend alive.

I have no idea who Katie or Bob are, and these pictures are free stock images – but I hope I got my point across?

Many of us who want to go back just don’t have the courage to start fresh. It might feel like a step back, we might be worried that now, that our times of teenage cockiness are over, we weren’t actually as good as we thought we were.

And I can relate to these two made-up people so much!

And here is why:

Drumroll…….

I decided to get back into karate. There are many reasons why I decided to go back, and there are also many reasons why it took me so long to go back – 10 years (!). The point is that to reach this aspiration and then decision, I had to muster some courage.

Who cares that:

I’m not as flexible anymore?

I can’t help but flinch if someone throwing me a punch?

My technique is rusty (I’m being kind here)?

ME. Just me. So I stopped caring, and instead turned these into my goals:

I want to be:

More flexible

More confident

Proud of my technique

I’ve grown up, my body has changed, my mind has matured, so it was time to do a grown up thing, and change my mindset.

I’m not scared of failing, because I only account to myself. And I won’t fail – I will try my best, and if it isn’t the right thing for me, I’ll move on to my next adventure.

But this adventure is about to start, and I will be sharing my journey on this blog.

I will tell you all about my history with karate, my reasons for coming back, and how I make sure that I have the motivation to commit to it on top of so many other life commitments.

I will also share with you the history, culture and social side of karate – as I’m re-learning it all myself.

Thanks in advance for your support – I know that I’m surrounded by most inspiring people and couldn’t be more grateful ❤

Love,

Po