The White Family
By Jessica White
Karate means a lot to me in different ways. It’s impacted my life and how I
chose to be today.
I
joined karate when I was in 4th grade with my family. I didn’t continue
after the three month trial because it didn’t feel like my thing. I knew it
was going to be hard for me, which I look back on and realize that it was
immaturity that led me to discontinuing. However, that was the first sport I
tried out, and I was trying to find a sport I liked.
A
year later, I joined a class, at a dance company. I took a tumbling class in
the summer, then got into rhythmic gymnastics and found my passion; dance.
My dad and Cj would still go on with karate, as I went to gymnastics. I’d
come to the picnics, parties, etc. with them, I was glad they found
something to do together.
n
the middle of 7th grade, my parents were flooded with principal emails about
suspicious behavior around my school. My parents were worried, and so was I.
That’s when they suggested I should try karate again so I know how to defend
myself. I thought about the pros and cons of joining again. It was
inevitable that I was going to join because I was more mature. I knew that
if I stuck with it, I'd like it more since it’s been years since I tried so
why not try again? This would also mean I got to spend more time with my dad
and brother. The downside would be the balance between school, gymnastics,
and karate. That would be a lot for me, but I knew I could handle it.
Before
I knew it, I’m in the beginner’s class with Rynn, in my gei and white belt.
Three days a week for an hour, plus an hour and a half of gymnastics on the
same Saturday as karate. I’d go to both practices with some downtime in
between. Eventually, I got adjusted to everything. I did those two sports
for over a year, and it made me learn how to manage my time wisely. As time
went on, 8th grade came around and was the toughest school year I’ve
encountered. It was difficult because I would miss karate practices so I
could study or do homework. Part of the stress was also gymnastics so I
decided to quit. I had a couple months of (somewhat) peace with karate and
school, until the covid hit.
2020
comes around, and the pandemic comes. We’re doing karate on zoom and it kept
me going when I was depressed. I will admit, zoom was a lot of fun. It was
so easy to put on a gei, pull out a laptop, and sign on. We got bunnies
during the pandemic, so my mom and sister would come outside and have them
out. I loved taking “bunny breaks.” When we had a water break, I’d go to my
bunnies and pet them real quick then go back. It would be funny when one of
them would be eating food and looking right at us as we practice and we try
not to laugh.
We
also had a little entourage too when we practiced in the garage. Our
neighbor’s cat, Poyo, would come to each practice to sit by us and watch.
Sometimes he would meow at us and try to make conversation. Sometimes he
would block our way and lay down where we were. I definitely missed him
being there during practice.
After
zoom, we were back at the dojo and it was so exciting to be back. Before the
pandemic, I’d only really talk to my dad or cj. A couple months after zoom,
I became more friendly. I’m now close friends with my “chefs,” Lynn, Ciena,
Destiny, Emma, and of course, can’t forget about CJ.
Karate
makes me very focused and gives me intensity. I always thought and still do,
think I take karate very seriously, but I found fun in it too. Karate
also made me improve my asthma a lot. My conditioning is a lot better than
it was years ago, which also helps me in dance. Last year, I finally came
back to in-person school, and I found out that I love my dance class. I
found that the intensity I bring from karate to dance helped a lot. Both
karate and dance helped me improve my physical strength and ability.
Karate
led me to my gymnastics, but also taught me to have fun, friendships, and
improved my physical and mental capabilities.
Beginnings
6 years
ago me and the rest of my family (except dad) started going to a karate
club.I was the only one who continued for a while longer before I eventually
quit as well. Later on I came back the hsk along with my dad and started
over. “This will be the hardest thing you’ll ever do in your life”. Sensei
wasn’t kidding when he said that.
Dad’s
cancer
Later
when dad got hit with cancer, he was still going to hsk which also was
when Jessica started coming again. Dad got better and had his stomach
removed from his body. It’s pretty awesome that he survived and I’m glad
that he is.
Pandemic
A few
years later, Me, my father, and Jessie were all doing pretty good in karate
until Covid hit. But that didn’t stop us from doing karate. We started to do
zooms with some of our friends in karate and it continued to grow and evolve
into something more than just a zoom. It was like an online dojo with
everyone but my past self wasn’t that interested in the zoom meetings so I
quit for a while because it really wasn’t the same.
Aftermath of Covid
When
the pandemic died down, hsk had found a place to do training there. But we
had lost a lot of members from the pandemic so I had came back to try see if
I wanted to keep training. It was pretty easy to find out that I wanted to
keep going. I’m grateful that I have such great people that are kindhearted.