In martial arts you hang around with a small group of like-minded souls. You work together and help each other. This goes on class after class, hour after hour, month after month.
It's funny how little you learn about one another in all that time. You learn if they are strong or fast, and who knows how to do which techniques. Nothing is learned about their background, or family, or their work.
This is fine, but very one-dimensional.
Once I'm one of the Blue Belts, I'm going to try and introduce the concept of "going for coffee," after the Saturday morning class.
The session ends at 11am, so there's time for maybe half an hour in a cafe without seriously denting the day.
It is nice to know the people one wrestles around with. Some won't be able to come, and some will choose not to, but some will.
It's the best way to make martial arts friends into real ones.
I am a 68 year old retired teacher living on the west coast of Canada. I spent over 30 years as a student of Karate until my knees stopped liking it. My current passionate activity is Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, which I've been at for about 13 years.
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