You’re Never Too Old

Introduction
In May 2006 David Owen passed his 4th Kyu (yellow belt) grading. Not an unremarkable feat for someone who has been training for around 6 months, except that David was 62 when he joined us and was our oldest beginner. He is a prime example of how age is no barrier to learning Shorinji Kempo and is an inspiration to us all. There is no such thing as as being to old.

David’s story

David’s Story
My name is David, I’m now 62 – 63 on 19th September 2006.

In 2004 I had a heart attack, you think ‘that’s it I’m finished!’. For good measure my heart attack was on my birthday and I was working in a funeral parlour in the chapel of rest, you couldn’t make it up, unreal. On top of this my marriage had broken up after 20 years and I was suffering a lot of stress, heart ache and depression.

The hospital people said I must exercise, so I go to the hospital heart club gym for organised training. But it gets boring doing the same thing over and over again.

So I looked for something different, but I didn’t think of martial arts. I play a little golf and David (the club barman, 1st Dan in Kung fu) said he’d heard of Shorinji Kempo, a thinking mans martial art. So I went down to the Littledown Centre to get some information. My luck was in, it was Monday Shorinji Kempo night.

I introduced myself to Sensei Russ Jenkins and asked if I may watch. I was welcomed with open arms and the atmosphere was wonderful and so friendly. Just about everyone came and spoke to me, I felt like a member already, I was smitten.

Without the fellowship and spirit of these people I don’t think I would still be here, they have helped me through a very difficult time. And low and behold, I’ve passed my first grade.
Update November 2007

About a year ago (November 2006) I achieved my Green Belt (5th Kyu). For me it was a big hurdle, I often wondered if was possible for someone with my level of fitness. But as always the encouragement from the rest of the club members was wonderful and spurred me on. So it was with pride that I got my new belt.

This year (2007) my next grading was supposed to be in August. I had trained hard and had lots of help, especially form James Maddock (a very talented young man). Of course everyone else helps as we all help each other, but being an old boy it feels so special to me!

To cut a long story short, I didn’t grade in August as I had a ‘slight’ illness that kept me out for a while. On returning Sensei Russ told me that I could try for blue bely in November.

Guess what folks, I PASSED!. To say I’m amazed to reach this level would be an understatement. Off course I had to get a long belt, the Kempo stomach gets in the way a bit.

I thank everyone at the club for all the encouragement and friendship bestowed on me. You are a wonderful crowed. (Please don’t let it go to your heads!!).

Next year brown belt?? look back in 2008 to find out.

Thank you Shorinji Kempo

David Owen
[taken from: http://www.shorinji.co.uk]

Mudah2an dari cerita diatas dapat kita ambil hikmahnya bahwa tidak ada terlalu tua untuk berlatih beladiri. Selagi ada kemauan, disitu pasti ada jalan.

Mensiasati Latihan di Bulan Puasa

Puasa itu wajib hukumnya, tapi bukan berarti bermalas-malasan dan menghilangkan aktivitas rutin kita.Seperti halnya, latihan di dojo.
Berikut ada beberapa tips yang mungkin berguna bagi rekan2 yang tetap ingin melakukan latihan sembari menunaikan kewajiban berpuasa.

1 Di hari pertama berolahraga di bulan puasa, porsi latihan sebaiknya dimulai dari porsi yang ringan, sedikit demi sedikit. Jangan langsung digenjot dengan aktivitas fisik yang berat (Untuk hal ini sebaiknya dikomunikasikan dengan sempai). Misal, kalo selama ini stretching-nya lari 5 kali keliling lapangan, bisa diganti dengan berlari2 kecil aja satu kali keliling. Selanjutnya dilanjutkan dengan stretching ringan lainnya. Namun jika memang anda kuat dan merasa mampu, boleh saja porsi ditambah terus. Ingat, jangan dipaksakan! Disamping tak baik buat tubuh Anda sendiri, bisa2 puasa Anda jebol!

2. Gak usah ngotot sewaktu melakukan kihon. Perlahan-lahan saja. Mulai dengan tenaga 25% dulu, baru dilanjutin sampai 50%. Gak usah ngeluarin tenaga sampe 100% seperti biasanya. Ingat, Anda sedang berpuasa!

3. Ki-ai. Waaahh…, biasanya kalo gak ki-ai bisa2 kita di cuki ma sempai. Tapi selama puasa, kek nya sempai pasti ngerti dengan kondisi kita. Ki-ai sih tetap, cuman sesuaikan dengan kondisi tubuh

4. Speed? Yah, rem2 sedikit lah! Wong puasa. Tapi tidak berarti dengan mengendorkan tenaga dan speed, kihon ma waza-nya jadi gak semangat.
Semangat sih tetap, tapi sesuaikan dengan kondisi tubuh. Yang penting adalah tetap latihan agar bisa terus memperbaiki gerakan2 kita selama ini.

5. Jangan lupa setiap latihan bawa air minum. Bukan buat batalin puasa sebelum berbuka. Tapi untuk antisipasi kalo2 dojo jauh dari rumah, dan pulang latihannya agak telat. Nah, Anda bisa berbuka puasa di jalan tanpa harus menunggu sampe di rumah. (Tapi jangan sampe ketinggalan solat magrib, yak!)

6. Untuk mensiasati kekurangan mineral selama beraktifitas, minum segelas teh hangat sebagai menu berbuka puasa. Kalo bisa ditambah sedikit garam. Gak banyak2! Dikit aja. Kalo dikira-kira se-ujung kuku lah. Garam tersebut akan membantu pemulihan kondisi tubuh setelah berlatih.
Silahkan dicoba. Ini tips yang diajarkan oleh guru olahraga saya sewaktu mengikuti lomba lari 10KM antar sekolah menengah dulu.

7. Istirahat secukupnya menjelang latihan. Pastikan dengan beristirahat kita mempunyai tenaga yang cukup buat melakukan geri dan cuki.

8. Mandi sebelum berangkat latihan.
Kalo badan rasa2nya gerah dan gak semangat, bawa mandi dulu. Dengan mandi biasanya badan akan segar dan semangat akan pulih kembali. (Eits…, asal jangan ampe diminum aja airnya! Hehe…).
Mandi sebelum dan sesudah latihan akan menyegarkan kembali badan kita.

Intinya adalah: tetap latihan tanpa meninggalkan kewajiban.
Demikian, mudah2an bermanfaat. Jikalau ada yang punya tips tambahan, sekiranya dapat berbagi disini.