The results are in... 3rd kyu for me

Yes. After much anticipation, and patience, the results of December's belt test have been announced. I am now a 3rd Kyu Kyokushin Karate student which means that I have entered into the more demanding ranks of the dojo. I've been keeping up with the challenge, but it means a deep dedication to attending each training opportunity possible.

Sorry that I have been absent from the internet lately, but I have been working almost full time hours in an effort to help support my family financially.

Karate helped me to get this job. I was asked to come in for an interview solely on the basis that I had written down that my last work was to be a Sensei of a dojo for 6 months. The interviewer told me that he knows how much discipline it takes to get a black belt in a Martial arts, and that this was the kind of worker that he wants in his company.

Now I work all day from 6 am to 2 pm, come home take care of my kids until near supper, and then I rush to the dojo to train all night. Weekends are dedicated towards laundry, housework, grocery shopping and setting up meals for the rest of the week.

Yes, it is a big change for me. I have had to adjust to things like practicing my karate on my breaks in the women's washroom. I know how long a kata takes to perform, so I do about 8 or 10 of them, and then I go back to work in plenty of time.

Internet time has come to a minimum. I rarely have any time, or energy, to do my usual visiting of various blog friends, forums, and internet resources. But I do hope that you all know that I keep you fondly in my thoughts.