Do You Like Podcasts?
- Dave Hedges
- Aug 8
- 3 min read
Do you like podcasts?
I've an on/off relationship with them, but do like a listen either in the car or when doing manual work in my shed or garden.
But, I have to tell you about a superb podcast episode I listened to just recently.
It features a really smart dude you may have heard of, goes by Dave, occasionally "The Dave" and from time to time "that prick!"
So, you may have guessed it, I was interviewed recently on a podcast, you can listen to it here:
We talk about my background, some of my philosophies and more.
Monica, the host, did a great job as I'm not known for being particularly chatty, but she drew me out.
There was a question she asked though that I maybe didn't answer too well, so lets have a pop here.
We talked about how in my early years I took on karate as an identity and how every task I undertook became Karate.
If I ran, it was to be better at karate
If I lifted weights, it was to be better at karate
Pretty much anything I did was karate.
It was my identity
And Monica asked a smart question, she asked if become so attached to something is a problem in itself.
This is precisely what happens with so many of the injured athletes that come to me.
They get big injury and all of a suddent they see their own mortality, the thing they love, the person they are is in danger of dying off!
So my job is to get them back into the game and do so while also getting and keeping their head right.
But what about my own personal journey?
Yes, the year I blew my back out, twice, and pretty much lost the use of my lower body, it took about 6 months to regain my squat, longerto be out of pain, was how I transitioned from a martial artist to a coach.
But, even as a coach and therpaist, in my head it is still karate.
How?
This is the part I missed in the interview. Traditional martial arts, unlike most sports, including modern competitive martial arts, has a deep philosophical side.
This is portrayed most famously by Mr Miyagi in the Karate Kid movie and TV series franchise.
But if you grew up in the 80's as I did, you also had Master Chiun from Remo, you had Pei Mei from Kill Bill, you had Splinter from TMNT, Xian Chow from Kickboxer and many more.
And this was the goal.
Yes, be an arse kicking physical specimin, but also to eveolve into the wise old master.
With this path, injuries may have meant you had to slow down as the physical specimin, the Vann Damme character, but instead you could become the wise old master.
Something that I am still working towards becoming. I'm closing in on 50 and my beard is ever greyer, so maybe I'll get there.....
I guess my point is, in traditional martial arts there is always something bigger. It's not just about the next medal, the next PR.
It's not the time on the stopwatch or the distance covered.
That stuff matters, but athleticism, even without injury, will burn out. But you don't have to.
It's why I like asking people to have "Blue Sky" goals
Goals that you may never achieve, but simply having them and reviewing them from time to time is what keeps you on the path.
It's your bearing, the "destination" on you google maps, so that when you get distracted, side tracked, you can simply work to get back on that bearing, and you keep heading in the right direction.
Now, here'sthat link again: https://open.spotify.com/show/3wtucc5DKzfUQN4GQM3SQM
Get over and have a listen, then let me know your thoughts.
Regards
Dave Hedges
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