It was a nice feeling tonight donning my gi and my black belt that I earned nearly 10 years ago (and hoorah, they both can still get round my post lockdown waist!). Last time I put them both on was 18 months ago before the world ended. Of course I’ve been training as much as one can over that period, with the support of my brilliant and wonderful club #bearsdenmartialarts , but the practices have always been on Zoom, then outdoors, then back on Zoom again with the next wave and then back outdoors, where casual shirt and shorts were more sensible. The club is still semi-homeless but we’ve found a few spaces to practice indoors now the nights are drawing in. I don’t think any of us will ever take the hobbies we love for granted ever again after this time. Whether it’s swimming, going to restaurants, literally any indoor exercise or just consensually hitting your friends and rolling about on the floor. I don’t think I’d have made it through this time without my club, whatever limitations we had on our practice, but it’s wonderful to have that bit more feeedom to play in the sport you love. #shotobudo #gettingbacktonormal #blackbelt #karate #karatefamily (at Bearsden) https://www.instagram.com/p/CT23v54KlxD/?utm_medium=tumblr