Waking Dragons by Goran Powell

Author:Goran Powell
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Summersdale Publisher

Sensei, Sempai

My second child was born in the summer; a girl this time. I would bring her into the garden in her little seat, so she could watch her brother and me trimming the bushes and watering the grass. When the two of them were tucked up in bed, I would practise my kata for an hour or so in the yard. At weekends we’d go shopping, visit friends, or walk around the nearby park. Sometimes I would go for a run or train at the gym, and it caused friction. My wife wanted me to stay and help with the kids.

I took a chance and gave up my full-time job to become a freelance writer. The risk paid off. I got work at several top agencies and was happier than before. If one went quiet, I would get work from another that was busy. The lifestyle really suited me. I enjoyed the lack of office politics and I liked moving around between places in fashionable Soho and Covent Garden. I still do.

My search for a new karate club took me to a dojo near Oxford Circus, an easy walk after work. I checked their website. They trained on Mondays and Thursdays. They practised Okinawan Goju, which was different from my Japanese version. I was intrigued. Okinawa was the home of karate. How would it feel to go back to the very roots of the art?

I decided to turn up unannounced. I went early and asked at reception for the karate club. They pointed me down a flight of stairs to the gym. Here they pointed me down another set of stairs. I descended into the very bowels of the building.

I found the training room and was surprised to see mats on the floor. I guessed the karate club shared the room with judo or jujitsu, who normally use mats. I popped my head around the door. There was a black belt inside, rearranging the mats. His belt was tattered and worn almost white. He’d been a black belt for a long time.

I guessed he was the instructor and asked if he was Gavin Mulholland. He said he was. I introduced myself and asked if I could train that evening. He said I’d be welcome and showed me where to get changed. Almost as an afterthought, he asked me what grade I was. I told him third dan.

He raised his eyebrows and told me in that case, I would be standing at the head of the line. I was a little surprised. I’d never been the highest grade before. I wasn’t keen to join a brand new class in such a conspicuous position. I told him, modestly, that I’d be happy to stand anywhere. He insisted I should stand at the front. I was flattered, but I knew this courtesy was a double-edged sword. All eyes would be on me from the very beginning. I wondered whether a few noses would be out of joint too.

I got changed and rejoined him in the dojo.

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