That means more crime than Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and any of the other biggies. To me, that's daunting. I have no idea if Reading still holds that distinction or not, but either way it's not a place I want to be in the dark. Well hell, not in the daylight either.
I found myself wondering if the self defense skills I had learned during all those years on the judo and jujitsu mats would come back to me if needed.
And from there, my mind just took itself on a trip of reminiscing. I was remembering. I was missing. And I was hoping.
Hoping that I can someday get back to the sport I learned to love. I've never shared many of the photos that you will see here of some of the judo events I attended. Some of my kids haven't even seen them. So today I'm putting them out for all the world to see.
I got a late start (about age 50) at a sport that most begin at a very young age. Not only that, but I found myself to be the only female on a mat containing young, strong and experienced male judokas. It took a while for some of them to take me seriously, but I think once they realized I wasn't going away, they embraced me into the sport, and taught and encouraged (and bruised) me.
I slowly worked my way through the belt testing system, starting with a white belt, then moving from white to yellow to orange to green to brown. The last test I took awarded me the privelege of wearing the 3rd degree brown belt. One of my good black belt friends was my partner for that test.
And that is where I stalled, due to an injury and some surgery. To acquire a black belt, I would still have to test for 2nd degree brown, then 1st degree brown, then black.
One of the last major judo/jujitsu events that I attended was held at Rutgers University, in New Jersey. Most of the photos you will see here were taken at that convention. I had not yet earned my brown belt at this event. You may also notice that I am one of the few female geezers in attendance.
After being thrown |
Hopefully someday I'll step back onto those mats. Right now though, Sensei Lanny, Deb, Tim, James, and Tom - I miss you.
And I did make it out of Reading safely.
You are one adventurous lady!
ReplyDeleteI can hardly keep up with your inspiring crafts.
ReplyDeleteNow I want to try judo. You go Lady!
[Squirrel is a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do. She does it for the defense skills. She loves it. She has a belt test later this month. fingers crossed!]
Oh, and when you DO make it back on the mat I am sending you a cake. :) [Heck, if I could figure out how to mail a cake I would send you one just because. hee]
I bet those skills come in handy when raising a family (grin).
ReplyDelete