A Letter from the (Re)Start Line
Beginning again with old roots and new resolve
Dear Future Me,
One year ago, I sat and watched as the dojang pulsed with movement through the wide glass window. The instructor’s signal demanded attention as the sharp snap of kicks, soft shuffle of bare feet against mats, and synchronized exclamations ensued. I instinctively followed their motions, fingers curling into a fist before an ache shot through my wrist. Clad in a purple cast, my right arm sat heavy in my lap. A second fracture meant another forced pause from the activities I enjoyed most.
Now, the cast is gone, the fracture healed, but the hesitation lingers. Weak from inactivity, I fear how much my strength has regressed. How could such a small joint disrupt the decades of training I’ve dedicated to this craft? Not only is it the driving force behind a powerful punch, it anchors my push-ups, reinforces my blocks, and impacts the way I steady myself in a stance. Without it, everything else unravels.
The number of classes I miss increases. Time softens the muscles once firm with discipline, stiffens my flexible limbs, and shatters my motivation. Returning to martial arts now feels less like resuming a routine and more like starting all over again.
Despite the setbacks, I feel a strong pull to return. Beyond the physical training and the myriad of benefits that come with it, martial arts has shaped my character and the person I am today. Regaining my strength also means rediscovering the patience, discipline, and mindfulness woven into this practice. The multifaceted nature of martial arts requires me to restore more than just strength; flexibility, stamina, and coordination also need improvement.
Conquering the mountain of training ahead is daunting. The physicality, coupled with the mental load of balancing these goals with school, starts to feel overwhelming. Between juggling early mornings, late night study sessions, and all the deadlines, I question if I can truly dedicate myself to this journey. Still, a new term brings new goals and I must remind myself of what matters: progress not perfection.
This summer was my first step back into that mindset. I gave myself the chance to experiment and learned what works for me. From preferring quiet morning workouts to finding comfort in athletic spaces again. With this foundation in place, I’m eager to set goals that go beyond just “getting back into it.”
At the top of my list is rebuilding strength in my wrist. Physically, I aim to train in this area twice a week, focusing on light dumbbell work and mobility exercises. Mentally, I’m working to unlearn the fear that I might re-injure myself. My goal is not just to move without pain, but to move without hesitation.
My next goal is flexibility, a newer part of my training. Months of inactivity tightened my joints and limited my mobility to the point where a simple front kick has my limbs groaning in objection. I’ve set a goal to begin each training session with dynamic stretches and end with static stretches. I hope to regain a full range of motion in my shoulders and hips in order to sit comfortably in a deep front stance.
Finally, improving my cardio is a priority this year. Racing up the stairs in the Davis building to get to class in time leaves me winded – a clear indication of my dwindling stamina. With long drills and sparring rounds demanding endurance, I’ll begin with low-impact HIIT workouts and activities such as jogging and jump rope. While the goal is to do this twice a week, I plan to incorporate simpler methods into bettering my cardio; whether that be choosing to walk instead of drive, take the stairs, or play sports with friends.
To the version of me reading this at some point in the future, I hope you’ve returned to the sport we love. Not as the person sitting behind the glass window, but as someone confident in their ability to keep up with their peers. I promise to stick to these goals, and I hope by now they’ve paid off.
