But I put these limiting beliefs aside and decided to give it a try anyway. After all, Mr. Miyagi wouldn’t accept this kind of negative self-talk, would he?
I did it! I’m so glad I was brave enough to give it a go because, not only have I just achieved my black belt, but I have found a sport that I love too!
Getting here has built my fitness, my agility, my mental capacity and my determination. But, it has been so much fun. The best bit of all, though, is that I get to share something special with my little boy every week. Learning karate alongside him is a real leveller as we are both learning a new skill together. We both make mistakes and find ways to get better and overcome them. We also celebrate each other’s successes and, to be honest, he is the only other person who knows what it has taken to get to this point.
I also know that, in achieving this, I have shown my daughter that women can do anything, even if it is in something that is traditionally seen as a male sport.
We have seen this internationally over the past year too, with many female sports teams achieving great things. It was fantastic to watch the Lionesses rise to victory in the UEFA Women’s Championship last summer. Then, of course, the Red Roses and the England Women’s rugby league team have also shown that women and girls do have a place in what is perceived as a traditionally male sport. This is so inspiring for young girls and I hope we continue to see these changes.
Final thoughts…
So, take my story as a reminder to never give up on your dreams! You are never too old, or the wrong sex to go after what you want in life and find a sport you love!
Lisa Waterman helps women to win at life by sharing time management, self-care and lifestyle tips on her blog. The content is aimed at busy Mums to make Mum life a little bit easier!