Page 190 - A Life - my Live - my path

My hobbies

19.2 Martial arts
During my engineering studies, I decided to enrol in a
martial arts school. In this school, several disciplines were
taught: judo, aikido and karate. I chose karate.
I can safely say that, of all the different sports I've practised
(soccer, tennis, volleyball, table tennis), karate is the one that
certainly represents very good gymnastics, but above all a
way of thinking: the DO (the way).
Because of its defensive techniques, and if need be its
offensive ones, once you've reached a certain level, you feel
reassured and can live more peacefully.
After 3 years of practice, I was a blue belt and was about to
become a brown belt. For the record, the belt colours are:
white, yellow, green, blue, brown and black. It's the 'dan'

that differentiates the black belts. The greatest masters can
reach 6th or even 7th dan levels. To this day, I know
someone who has a 5th dan black belt in aikido. Watching
him practice his art is like watching a ballet. It's all finesse
and elegance, but frighteningly effective.

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