For fitness (and fun), my family takes karate. I rejoined last year after a hiatus and immediately trained for the next belt, a most elusive color for me in martial arts: the Blue belt. One year later, to my surprise, the next belt test is a double-whammy!
Living with Tinnitus may not sound like a big deal. But if you could actually hear the inaudible sounds in someone’s head, you’d think silence is not so golden.
This post is a little outside my usual topics, but I felt like sharing it anyways. I just participated in a very special event and am happy with how it turned out. It was a mixed-style martial arts sparring session for a good cause - raising support for a fellow martial artist’s family.
Something has bugged me for a while. In American culture, men are basically allowed to express only one emotion - anger. It's like an unspoken rule. Other emotions men have are downplayed or hidden. Somehow being emotional is linked to weakness or vulnerability.
Anxiety is not my favorite subject to talk about. I kind of avoid it. If you've had anxiety or panic attacks and have been debilitated by them, then you know - anxiety is terrible.
My entire family of seven takes karate. We've been kickin' it Kyokushin style for a few years at the YMCA. The fitness is fun and challenging. To help with training, we bought a heavy bag! The first thing to notice is the color: in-your-face red! Not boring black. This heavy bag screams, "Alert, get fired... Continue Reading →
After all these years, and after all the training and discipline, even in various martial arts, you know what? I finally got a blue belt! Yeah! Do you know what this means? I got blue! Ok. I take chill-pill now. But really! I still can hardly believe it. I just rejoined my karate class in... Continue Reading →
Yesterday I passed the first part of my karate belt test. It was very hard at times; my body was getting tired and weak. The extra cardio and strength exercises pushed my body to its limit, causing me to dig deep, push myself, and keep going. After a lot of workouts, at one point we... Continue Reading →
Today begins my karate belt test. It's a two-day affair. First, the physical test. Second, the skills test. I'm excited and ready. For me, this test is a big deal. Because of the blue belt. It started a few years ago when my wife and I put our kids in karate at our local YMCA.... Continue Reading →
A week ago, I restarted my practice of martial arts - Kyokushin Karate. And of course, being winter and post-holiday season, I've gotta fight just to get fit...and be fit to fight. So I'm still in the "realizing-how-out-of-shape-I-am-phase." But at least I know what I need to work on: everything. And the older I get,... Continue Reading →
Something happened that I didn't expect. Looks like for 2019, I'm taking karate again! It happens to be January, a new year, so it's a good time to start a new thing. Or in this case, renew an old thing. Last week, my youngest son had his birthday and became old enough to join karate... Continue Reading →
It's been a challenging week so far. It started with my anxiety flaring up severely. My work at my job has been tough. And my family has been extra busy with Christmas festivities. But I think the week will slow down now. Sunday through half of Tuesday, I was really struggling with severe anxiety. It... Continue Reading →
You know how thoughts and feelings come and go. My general anxiety is like that. I have long stretches of 'normal' it seems, then a season of anxiety will settle in. For weeks or days at a time, my anxious nerves will buzz quieter or louder. I've had anxiety attacks that are acute and short... Continue Reading →
Alright, I've struggled with anxiety, and many others do too. It's no easy thing, and I don't think there are any quick fixes. But there are ways to get help, ways to cope or manage. One thing I've wondered is if a weighted blanket would be helpful. It may sound silly, like an adult security... Continue Reading →
Hey! I’m Jason, and this is my personal blog. You’ll find articles and notes about consumer tech, entertainment, photography, and more.
