Wham. Bright lights exploded inside my skull. Without warning, a wicked mawashi geri smashed the side of my head with all the force of a sledgehammer. Either I needed glasses or that was super fast because I never saw it coming. Minutes earlier we were advised this is just a friendly warm-up session, soft sparring with the Japan National Karate Team. It was March 1973, and we were preparing for the APUKO Championships in a hot and steamy Singapore. At the time the Japanese were legends with a reputation as the best of the best and invincible. Our instructions were to go slow, keep it gentle, easy and above all, don’t get injured. Pairing off with a Japanese team member, things began smoothly enough. We practised calm, controlled kumite until a more enthusiastic senior interrupted our friendly duel. Casually dismissing my partner, he shaped up. I will never forget that penetrating stare burning through me. Almost drooling, he pointed at my chest badge and grunted. That’s when things got real, very real.
It was clear the rules did not apply to him as he unleashed a withering avalanche of techniques with unerring precision. Smooth, fast, and powerful he was systematically working me over; smash, bang, boom. There was no mistaking, this was a man who enjoyed his work. All the time our Australian coach prowled the sideline, hounding me not to retaliate, don’t get injured. Swallowing my pride I struggled to stay calm, blocking as many missiles as I could manage. I was rattled and my mind was in overdrive, thinking, why me, who is this guy! Stay relaxed, keep moving I was thinking. What have I done to offend him? Ouch, that one hurt. How much longer before we stop? Why is he doing this? Oops, I didn’t see that one. The assault escalated into a merciless demolition job as more heavy blows hit their mark. Absorbing the physical punishment was no problem; pain is our constant companion in karate-do. By contrast, my ego was hurting badly and not being allowed to fight back, was humiliating....
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