Temporary Archive: Suzanne Brockmann's Message Board

When I started working in NYC, my brother started talking about me joining the dojo. He didn’t talking about going for my safety but for fitness. (Later, it dawned on me he was worried about my safety) I was going to a gym at the time. I was like , no, I like the gym. (I can’t do karate, I not fit enough.) Well, over the next year and a half, Daryle talked about it every few months. I became interest, I finally said “I can’t do pushups. I can’t have some guy standing over me like a drill sgt yelling what are you a girl? You can’t do a single pushup.” He told me its not like that there’s only positive things said. I joined and LOVED it.

One year later, when I chambered my leg for a hoping kick, the knee twisted and popped. I had torn the lateral meniscus (cartilage) in my knee. OH, THE PAIN!!!!! I was scoped but don’t have full range of motion. I haven’t return to karate because I can’t kneel. Oh, how I miss it.

In that 1 year, I learned how to punch, block, break holds and think how to protect myself. Also, I took weapons classes. (Normally, you don’t learn weapons until green but sensei had special classes for us lower belts.) I know the basics of staff, nunchucks and how to get a knife away. I practice with my brother so I don’t forget the techniques.

I am confident in my ability to defend myself. If a man wants to rape me, he’s going to have to KILL me first because I’m not going down with a fight!!!!!