It’s a question I sometimes wonder about. The reality is that I don’t plan to train in martial arts at a dojo for my entire life. I don’t think that’s a secret to anyone around me. That doesn’t mean that I’ll stop studying karate though; there’s a big difference between the two. It’s just that, in a future that may include kids, more work responsibility, and shifting priorities, I often think about the role karate would play in that world.

Fair warning: today’s post is really more for me than for you. It’s a way for me to organize my thoughts and document what I believe to be most valuable from my training to date. To that end, I think it’s helpful to break it down into three categories: the katas, the applications and fighting, and the philosophies.

The Katas

If I were to stop training karate at a dojo, there’s no way I would be able to retain all of my katas. I’d have to carve out time just to practice, and I’d only be able to get through 10-15 in total. It would be a real shame, because as it stands today I know easily upwards of 40 kata across empty hand and weapons. Maybe that’s the blessing though; with fewer kata in memory, I could spend more time refining them. Just because I know the kata, doesn’t mean I have the kata.

Here are the ones I’d want to hold onto:

• Gekisai Ichi. This is a foundational kata, and one that makes good use of many basic techniques. It’s simple, but contains a number of interesting and effective applications.
• Sanchin & Tensho. These two katas together form the heart and soul of Goju karate; hard and soft, yin and yang. These kata are practices the world over, and no list would be complete without them.
• Saifa. I have a soft spot for this kata. Not only is it considered one of the core Goju karate katas, but it was the first complex kata I learned, back when I first earned my green belt. I was so excited to start working on this kata, and I’m transported back there every time I practice it. Besides, there are some really great applications tucked in there as well.
• Seiunchin. Beyond having effective applications, Seiunchin is great for conditioning. I also love the kata for its artistic value; it’s one I love demonstrating.
• Sanseiru. Ever since I was a white belt, this was the kata I looked forward to learning one day. Dynamic, complex, beautiful and practical; it’s the whole package. There are hard elements and soft, as well as unique techniques not found in any other kata on this list.
• Shishochin. My first black belt kata, Shishochin is a ton of fun to perform, and it has a ton of powerful applications ranging from arm breaks to throws.
• Seisan. Another core Goju kata that has a very different feel compared to Shishochin. Different energy for a different day.
• Tenshi. Last but definitely not least… the only non-goju kata on this list is, ironically, my favourite one. I love this kata more than all the others not for its application, but purely for its artistic value. When my sensei asks the black belts to choose a kata to demonstrate to the kyu belts, Tenshi is my go-to.

There are also three kobudo katas I would want to hang onto from my limited time studying the weapons art:

• Matsu Higa no kon. The bo is my favourite weapon to work with, especially since I use one that I made together with my grandpa. This kata makes excellent use of it, and features some strikes and rotational moves that are just plain fun to perform.
• Chatan Yara no kon. I’m still learning this one, but already I love this bo kata, and want to continue working with it.
• Tokumine no sai. The only sai kata on this list, Tokumine no sai is the most advanced sai kata I know. It’s great for working the arm and wrist muscles, and is generally a good kata to keep my sai skills serviceable.

The Application & Fighting

Applying the knowledge is every bit as important as having it in the first place. Without application, kata are reduced down to their artistic value, and that is such a disservice to their purpose. Retaining the applications will be harder than the movements themselves, because it requires a partner to practice on. That said, I know I’ll have willing participants 🙂

It’s not just the kata applications though; more than anything, I don’t want to give up the ability to spar well. The conditioning and the ability to hit, get hit, and keep calm under pressure and adrenaline are skills that can’t be underestimated when it comes to responding in a real-world situation. As my work with St. John Ambulance ramps up, these skills become more important, and so I see fighting as one way to continue to hone them.

The good news is that it’s a lot harder to lose your ability to spar well than to forget the complexities of a kata. I’ll get rusty, sure, but I can always step into a dojo, gym or octagon and shake the rust off again. And I plan on it.

The Philosophies

This is the one area that, no matter what happens, I will never lose nor continue refining. If I were paralyzed from the waist down tomorrow, I would still be able to focus on this area of my training. It is, in my view, the most valuable element of what I’ve taken away from my time training.

The philosophies of what it means to be a martial artist – the values, the discipline, the mindfulness, and the broadened definition of what it means to fight – these have shaped me into the person I am today. I don’t know where I’d be today, had I chosen a different path, but I’m glad I chose I one I did. I’m a more confident, well-rounded person than I’ve ever been thanks to my training.

The work isn’t done, though. When my sensei talks about what it means to be a lifelong student of the martial arts, this is what he’s referring to. I’ll continue to find ways of applying and refining my teachings in all areas of my life, be it work, personal relationships, raising a child, or trying to make the world a better place.

Wrapping it Up

Let me be clear to any dojo folks who may be reading this: I have no immediate plans to stop training karate at the dojo. But failing to plan is planning to fail, and I’m the kind of guy who likes to think things through in advance. So today’s post represents a written version of my plan for when that day eventually comes. The reality is that the training never really stops; it just takes on a different form. My goal in writing this post is to be mindful and deliberate about what that form looks like going into the future.