ABSOLUTE ASCENDANCY

Commencing operation . . .

Overview

It’s been about a month since I have been able to recommence my training at TheDojo Woking, following the relaxing of some of lockdown restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. Not too much has changed with regards to training, thankfully. Apart from getting a temperature scan, using hand sanitiser before sessions, and keeping appropriate distancing, things are as they were before the world got turned upside down.

The dojo has undergone plenty of changes during its absence of use – both internally and externally. Due to the dojo becoming re-branded, I decided to write a testimonial attributing to my experience training there and some of the benefits I have gained.

My Testimonial

I have been training under Shihan Ciaran Mitchell for the past eight years (2012). I started my training in Shorinjiryu Kenkokan Karate and Koshiki Karate under his guidance. After three years (2015), I also decided to take up kickboxing to improve my overall fighting ability. I have been training in some form of karate since I was seven years old, but I had never done kickboxing before.

The punching form was very different from karate – the hooks, and uppercuts in particular. Initially, I could never quite feel satisfied when performing those techniques. The movement just didn’t feel right. I thought I would never adjust to the body mechanics required to throw close-quarter strikes. Not to mention as a martial artist, I had always preferred fighting on the outside at mid to long range, rather than on the inside at close range.

I think after a year of kickboxing training, I had developed the body movement to throw a solid hook and uppercut comfortably. A couple of years after, I became more comfortable fighting on the inside, though my preference will always be to strike from the outside. In 2019 I won my first amateur kickboxing fight against a formidable opponent.

Going back to the karate side of things, I started competing for the UK Koshiki Karate team since 2012, under Shihan Ciaran Mitchell’s wing. I have been able to travel all over the world, competing in countries including Canada, Russia, Lithuania, Poland, Australia, and of course around the United Kingdom. The opportunity to compete has developed me as a person in a way very few things could have done. I learned many things over the years through competing.

• Success doesn’t come easy
• Learning from failure
• Striving to improve

Competing has also bolstered my confidence. Martial arts will do that to a person, but the competitive side of things has increased my self-assurance to a whole new height. In 2019, I won my first international Koshiki Karatedo fight, proving that unyielding persistence pays dividends.

I have a lot to be thankful for. TheDojo Woking has given me so much. Intangible, priceless things that no amount of money can buy. Come on down and give it a try. Maybe it will change your life as much as it did mine.

Conclusion

I have written about the numerous benefits of martial arts training in the past, but I wanted to bring it up as a reminder in this post here. Health and fitness will be ever more prevalent as the world shifts in response to the pandemic. Regardless of your stance, getting fit and healthy will only you do good, so I would suggest finding somewhere to train or alternatively, consider checking out my book Home Workout which details the training regime I do at home.

Mission complete – Overlord Drakow signing out.