With age comes great wisdom (according to Oscar Wilde) or a realisation of reckless youth. Back in the 70’s when I started karate the training was somewhat raw, great Sensei leading the students along perilous paths without consideration of correct body dynamics. Stances where long with back foot turned out putting strain on knees, ankles and hips. Kicking methods where often dependant on youthful flexibility but not necessarily with support leg/hip positioned correctly causing adverse long term damage to hip joints. I was fortunate my first Sensei, Frank Cope was a technician and strived for correct structure however not sure I really appreciated his details. When I joined the FSK with Sensei Trimble it was a revelation, his understanding of correct body position in relation to stance and kicking methods was beyond measure and certainly helped me maintain my karate into early 60’s. However time had taken it’s toll and both my hips had started to fail which brought a lot difficulty and pain when training so had to make the decision to go for replacement, remarkably I had them both done six months apart and during a Covid lockdown break in 2021. The non-cemented option has given back a lot of movement, certainly not the big kicks of youth but my stances have actually improved, with care now still train and run my club on the Wirral. To paraphrase…Karate is for Life, Not just for Jodan Mawashi-Geri…Now have modified my training with more attention to transitional stances and connective techniques, still for instance practice Unsu which was one of my favourite kata and has a lot of stance transitions, I still do the jump but is more in the mind and memory than the physical performance. A near lifetime of training is instilled in my mind and body, just can’t let that go, so train for life.

@Francesca Charlton Time heals and we adapt, when it's right you should continue the journey and modify with a new passion.

@Hayden Meredith thank you Hayden, I always enjoy you blogs and YouTube demos, look forward to our continued friendship

@Andy Patton Hi Andy, I think Fran already has in mind, yes the idea could work and could illustrate with various karate-ka photography

Thank you, good to be part of this community. Have been practicing karate since 1973 when I joined Birkenhead Karate Club, my Sensei then was the late Frank Cope, a true pioneer of Shotokan Karate, back then it was a KUGB affiliated club. Attended regular courses in the 70's at Crystal Palace and passed shodan with Enoeda Sensei there in 1977. As a newly qualified photographer an opportunity came about when Terry O,Neill commissioned me to do a Studio shoot of Enoeda Sensei during 1978 for FAI magazine, two of the images where displayed as posters in Marshall Street dojo. Have since photographed numerous karate-ka over the years. Have always continued karate training, from 1993 joined the FSK with Sensei Aidan Trimble, the time with him has developed my karate to another level, I am graded to 4th dan with the FSK.