Beginning my training….. what did I get myself into too?!?

My first few months of training were both really fun and utterly terrifying. I was in class with people who range from only been doing this for a few months to black belts who have been training for years. My first few classes I just keep thinking what on god’s green earth am I doing here? I am 38 years old, I am overweight, I have not worked out seriously in years and I don’t know the difference between front kick and ax kick. I was scared, nervous and convinced I would break something important right away. Ms. Jacque arranged for my first class that I partner with another black belt to help me through (and perhaps to make sure I don’t injure myself or others with my total lack of coordination). Mr. Torrerri is a second degree black belt who is very friendly and really encouraging. He took the time to not only demonstrate every move we were working on, but explain how to complete the move but he made me feel comfortable and encouraged me to keep trying when I was not getting something right. Every class since then, I have always had someone there to work with me, support me and give me praise when I am doing something right even on some of my worst moves. For example, my roundhouse kicks still need A LOT of work, but I keep on trying!

I have been training for a while now at Action Karate and if there was just one overwhelming positive thing I was asked to say about Action, it would be that everyone there treats you with such kindness, support and respect (ok, that is more than one, but I just could not limit myself). I have never felt that any of the amazing people who have higher belts than me look down upon me. It is just the opposite. No matter what you are doing in class (a drill, self-defense technique or just stretching before class) there is always somewhere there who wants to help. I have lost count as to the number of times someone has taken the time out of their workout to help me with something I was not quite getting or having trouble understanding. What amazes me to this day is, they don’t have to do it. They are not getting paid to take the time to help me or anyone else. . They help this because they are generally warm, genuine people who have been like me, just starting out at Action, and remember that someone took the time to talk to them, make them feel welcome and they want to pay that forward. I have met SO MANY wonderful people just through taking classes at Action and working with so many people, it usually takes me about 20 minutes to leave after class because it takes time to say goodbye to all my new friends (I sometimes feel like Norm from Cheers, but without the beer gut, because someone always takes the time to great you as soon as you walk into the studio. How can you not love thatJ).

Another aspect of training at Action is you have a private instructor teacher who is a black belt. This person is almost like a personal trainer of sorts. Depending on the training plan you sign up for, you can have a private session once a week all the way to once every three months (as I do). My instructor is Mr. Benincasa, a second degree black belt who has not only become a friend, but one of my “go to” people when I begin to doubt myself and my training. He is like a personal trainer, therapist and friend wrapped into one. I have texted him so many times just doubting myself (Mr. Benincasa, my inside crescent kicks just plain suck); asking questions concerning the self-defense technique we are learning (how am I supposed to get my leg up and around someone’s shoulders WITHOUT dislocating my hip!?!) or he just texts me to make sure I am getting to class every week. He doesn’t have to do all these things (and goodness knows I would totally understand if he wanted to pass answering my texts where I am utterly convinced I am the worse karate student in the history of Action Karate) as all he is getting paid for is giving me a lesson every three months, but he does these things because he understands how I feel because he had been there once himself and reminds me that I have the power to do anything I put my mind too. All of the instructors (either private or ones who teach class) treat us with such support, respect and encouragement, that, by the end of class, I feel such a sense of accomplishment and joy (as well as sweat in places I never thought possible I could sweat and have muscle soreness in places I didn’t know I had muscles there) that I just want to bottle up that feeling and give it to everyone I know.

If you ever decide that you want to start training and you are looking for a great place to start, Action Karate is the place to go. I believe that the founder, Mr. Brenner, started his schools because of his love for karate and his desire to pass on the knowledge of how karate can lead you to have more self confidence in yourself and, most importantly, how to teach kids to be more disciplined, more confident and how to deal with the pressures that kids face today like bullying. They may not be super strict on how you should execute a roundhouse kick (gosh knows I would be in serious trouble if they were) or the proper stance for the Kata but they do use the praise correct praise method of teaching where they praise you for something they saw right, correct the item they saw wrong then praise you when you get it right (i.e. really great energy on that kick Nicole but how about you try pivoting your foot before you extend your leg for the kick. That was great Nicole, awesome effort!) Now if you want to start training to become a super ninja, then I would not recommend Action Karate, but, if you want to get onto a path of improved mental and physical health in a supportive and warm environment, then Action Karate is the place to be. You will find me on the matt either trying to stretch or working on my roundhouse kicks, trying to get them right without falling over!

Until next time, remember this, you will never know all that you can accomplish until you take that first step and try.

Ms. Nicole