The Bombur of Bassai Dai

Today I did the so-called "brown belt katas," including tekki shodan. During Bassai Dai I think of Bombur the fat dwarf stuck in a barrel fighting orcs in the river battle in Peter Jackson's film version of "The Desolation of Smaug." Big core, swinging techniques, breaking through defenses.

During Empi I think of alternating between high and low attacks. Strike high to the head, then drive in, unbalance foe and strike again. During Jion I think of power, lots of power.
While doing Tekki Shodan I think of being able to fight from the side, turning sharply and sending strikes from odd angles.

Do I love my karate, warts and all? Yes, I do. Funakoshi Sensei in the 20 Principles of Karate tells the Hagakure story of the Master Swordsman who said the point of training is to get better than you were yesterday, and tomorrow to be better than you were today. Another Sensei said only two things matter in karate; beginning and continuing.