Since moving to Nagano, I’ve been practicing karate once a week. I spend most of my days at a desk, and living in the countryside means a lot of driving, so staying active is essential. Every week, I train for about two hours at the local community center. We focus on basics like punches, kata, and pre-arranged sparring, so I don’t have to worry about injuries.

At first, I struggled to grasp the concept of “lowering my center of gravity.” When I asked for an explanation, I was told that it’s better to learn through the body than through words. It’s true—sensory experiences often get lost in translation, and since everyone’s body is different, you have to find that feeling for yourself. Once I realized this, being mindful of my center of gravity became fun. Now, I can even stand on one leg without wobbling.

One reason I started was to help with my animation and drawing. Understanding body mechanics is vital for art. Karate is centered on sliding steps (suriashi) and weightless transitions (nukiashi)—moving smoothly like a ghost and striking without any tell-tale preliminary movements.

I’ve realized, however, that the ideal martial arts movement is one that defies the brain’s “internal physics engine” by being unpredictable. Animation, on the other hand, needs to satisfy that same internal physics to feel real. In that sense, karate might not be the most direct reference after all.

Anyways, there is a promotion test once a year, and that was today. I finally moved up from a brown belt to a black belt (1st Dan). I did it! I’ll keep going at my own pace next year, too.