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Michelle and I practice karate two or three times at week at Ujita Dojo about five minutes by bike from my house. Because it is pretty unusual for someone to start a new sport as an adult, there are no beginner adult karate classes. So, we attend the kiddie class. Needless to say, it is quite humbling to be in a class with five year olds who are higher ranked than Michelle and me!
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This is Yamamoto sensai and his two gaijin protégés. He volunteers to teach karate three times a week. Classes are pretty serious and he never lets the kids get away with anything, One of my Junior High School students is the highest ranked student at my dojo. It's pretty funny trying to "fight" with her, and we usually end up laughing rather than sparring!
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The crazy gaijin! There are four JETs in Wakayama Prefecture who practice karate, and needless to say, we were quite the spectacle at the last karate test. Parents hoisted their kids onto their shoulders to watch the gaijin. Talk about pressure!
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The young brown belts perform during their test.
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Watch out - serious karate women on the loose! Well, don't worry too much. After six months of karate, we're both still white belts. After our third test, perhaps we'll be awarded our
yellow
belt, if we're lucky!
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