Written by Sparring and post-sparring coffee–the ultimate WAKE UP!
Dirk-san and I have a bit of a tradition whereas we go to our favorite local East Sacramento coffee shop after sparring and have some coffee (and often a pastry). After sparring for 20-30 minutes there’s not much better than sipping on a cup of joe and feeling awake and alive! Awake from the sparring and caffeine jolt and alive from the aches and pains from sparring and the cumulative impacts of our training overall.
This has also become our routine which is an important element of our training regimen. We train, work hard, focus and then have a bit of time to relax, enjoy the bustling of the neighborhood and take in all of the scenery. It is during these simple moments I feel blessed and grateful for the opportunities I’ve had, the things I have learned thus far in my karate training and the good and reliable friends I’ve made such as Dirk-san.
I cannot say I always look forward to our sparring time; mostly due to some lingering physical challenges and my body just needing a bit more time to recover between workouts. But I can say I DO always look forward to our post-sparring coffee and chillaxing feeling satisfaction in getting more of our sparring requirements behind us.