Petra Karlova from Czech Republic "Karate life in Japan (2)" チェコ人ペトラさんの空手生活

0:03 Ro [Applause] H.

0:30 [Applause] Hello.

0:36 Hello.

0:36 How are you?

0:37 I am fine, thank you.

0:40 It's a fine day, right?

0:41 Yes.

0:43 Good weather today.

0:43 Yeah.

0:43 Uh, can I ask your name?

0:46 My name is Petra Carlova.

0:47 Why are you from?

0:49 I am from Czech Republic.

0:51 Czech Republic.

0:52 Uh, are in my university, Vasa University.

0:54 Oh, are you a student?

0:56 Uh, I am not student anymore.

0:59 I am working here.

1:00 We can go to the statue of Oku

1:03 Mashi Ganobu who is the founder of the university.

1:08 Oh, box.

1:10 So here I took my picture after graduation of course.

1:14 Oh yeah, everybody took here.

1:17 Well, when did you come to Japan?

1:20 At the first time.

1:23 It was in uh 1997.

1:24 I came just for 3 months for home stay

1:28 and to study Japanese language at the language school.

1:34 Yes.

1:34 Why did you come to Japan?

1:38 The first reason for a reason because I I love Japan.

1:44 That's the uh most important reason for me.

1:48 I I started being interested in Japan when I was around 14 15 years old.

1:54 Mhm.

1:54 14 or 15 years old.

1:56 But in Czech Republic.

1:57 Yes.

1:58 In Czech Republic.

1:59 Uhhuh.

1:59 I started reading books about Japan and I

2:03 became fascinated with the Japanese culture especially

2:08 with the traditional culture and the concept

2:12 of harmony and also I loved watching samurai movie.

2:17 Samurai Chambara.

2:19 Yeah.

2:19 Yes.

2:19 So I wanted to do What kind of samurai?

2:22 You should show me.

2:26 Uh like samurai.

2:27 Katana.

2:29 Okay.

2:31 So you loved it.

2:34 Yes.

2:34 Yeah.

2:35 So I also wanted to do some martial arts

2:40 and because there was a karate dojo in my town

2:43 and wanted started my but my parents uh worries

2:49 that I can't get injured so they didn't allowed me.

2:53 Ah yeah they are they were worried about me.

2:56 Yes.

2:56 So I just started studying Japanese by myself.

3:00 By yourself?

3:01 Yes.

3:01 Is there any Japanese language book in Czecho?

3:05 Yes, I first I found very old textbook in our in library

3:11 in my hometown and then I bought a new newer textbook.

3:15 Yeah.

3:16 And after that my parents saw that I continue studying my myself,

3:22 they helped me to go to Prague to attend language school there.

3:28 A language school.

3:29 When were you able to study Japanese martial arts?

3:35 Uh, it was after I was 19 and I came to Prague

3:40 to study Japanese language and then to study Japanese studies at university.

3:47 Mhm.

3:47 So uh when I uh came to the university

3:52 building I found them there an advertisement for Iikido training.

3:57 Iikido not karate Iikido Iikido training.

4:00 So I could took Iikido class instead of normal physical education.

4:06 So I immediately started going there.

4:10 Uhhuh.

4:10 And I started Iikido when I was 19.

4:15 Your first encounter was Iikido?

4:19 Yes.

4:19 When did you start karate?

4:22 Uh I started karate in Vietnam when I was in Vietnam.

4:25 Not in Japan, not in Czecho, in Vietnam.

4:29 Yes.

4:29 Uh because I got some Vietnamese friend in Japan.

4:33 Ah.

4:34 So I became interested also in Vietnam

4:37 and my university started a Vietnamese course.

4:40 Uh-huh.

4:40 So I attended it and got chance of Vietnamese scholarship.

4:45 I came to Vietnam and tried to continue Iikido.

4:50 Yeah.

4:50 But there was no Iikido but there was a karate dojo close to my dormatory.

4:56 So I started karate instead.

4:59 Where are we walking to?

5:00 Uh we are heading for Canen and Park.

5:06 Ken it the translation is sweet spring park.

5:11 Oh because uh the spring of the water is famous.

5:15 Oh there.

5:15 Yes.

5:16 Is this your favorite place?

5:19 Uh here this building is my graduate school.

5:22 Oh really?

5:23 when I visit when I attended during several times.

5:27 So uh in between the breaks in the classes

5:34 I came to refresh myself to consume from Vietnam.

5:39 Yes.

5:39 So did you continue uh karate?

5:43 My aid friend introduced me to JKA Karate dojo.

5:47 Oh.

5:48 So I could finally find my dojo in check.

5:51 Finally, you met JK dojo in Czech Praa.

5:53 In Prague?

5:55 Yes.

5:56 Prague.

5:56 Yes.

5:56 In English, it's Prague.

6:00 How did you find the Kar dojo in Japan?

6:05 Uh, I sent an email to JK at the quarters with the address

6:09 of my dormatory and Okuma Sensei replied me that his dojo is the closest.

6:15 So I started visiting Johto branch dojo branch of Okuma sensei.

6:22 Oh, how was it?

6:24 Oh, it was great.

6:25 Yes, I was quite like uh I was the only low belt.

6:31 All other people were majority of people were black belt.

6:35 So really but every everybody was very nice to me.

6:39 So they kept being friendly with me.

6:42 So I I really was happy to train there for one year and a half.

6:48 What is the reason uh you started at Nakasi Dojo?

6:52 Uh when I trained in Okuma Sensei's dojo,

6:55 Okuma sensei often repeated that we should attend

6:59 Naka Sensei trainings because they are really amazing.

7:03 M so I attended the training once and after when I came second

7:10 time to Vasida University then my dormator was closer to Naka sensei dojo.

7:17 So I asked Okuma sensei's permission to switched to Naka sensei's dojo.

7:22 Oh so at the time I didn't know that Naka sensei is so famous.

7:26 It was just just a sensei.

7:28 Just a sensei you thought.

7:32 Yes.

7:32 Yes.

7:33 How long have you continued karate training?

7:36 Uh it's about 14 years.

7:38 14 years.

7:41 Yes.

7:41 For why did why did they continue?

7:44 Is there any main reason?

7:46 Please let me know.

7:49 Like I like to continue my activity.

7:52 So like give up it means that I cannot go into the deep

8:00 and especially like first I did as something like hobby it feels good

8:06 so I do it but after I came to Japan I could study

8:12 about more deeper meanings in karate and in budo which fascinated me a lot.

8:20 So it's not only about like body training

8:24 but the connection between body mind and daily life

8:29 that's like we attain really high level means

8:34 to incorporate all the parts of the life into karate.

8:38 Oh, so and you are you've trained Iikido for many years.

8:45 Yes.

8:45 And you were you go to Zen.

8:49 Yes.

8:49 Zen Zazen.

8:49 The dojo Buddhist meditation.

8:52 Yeah.

8:53 So you are writing about the training of karate dojo almost every time, right?

9:01 Yes.

9:01 Why do you write the kind of things?

9:05 I started because my American friend from Karate

9:09 Mayard asked me to inform about the training

9:12 and of course it's a bit uh like to send it only one for one person.

9:20 So I prefer to post it so that more people can read it because I am sure

9:26 many people really would love to participate

9:28 on our training but are not able to come Japan.

9:33 So I first I try wrote simply and now I

9:37 try to be as precise in detail you writing in detail.

9:41 Yes.

9:42 So I hope that like people who

9:45 read can understand and incorporate incorporate it

9:49 in their training and and you were

9:52 writing in English and in Japanese two languages.

9:57 Yes.

9:57 uh some people who are reading in English send me

10:00 thank you emails but also some Japanese are grateful too.

10:05 So really I I can see that really many like not only abroad but also

10:13 in Japan people are interested in Naka sensei's

10:16 training or in Oh they want to know

10:19 yes uh they want to experience yes uh generally they feel like coming every time

10:28 for each training but okay I understand

10:31 it's difficult for them to come to Japan.

10:35 Then I should show to them the Tashik dojo training on YouTube, right?

10:40 Yes.

10:41 Longer version.

10:41 I I'm sure a lot of people will watch it.

10:45 Okay.

10:47 Uh how do you spend your life usually in Japan?

10:51 Oh, like of course I practice karate several times a week.

10:56 I work, I study, I meet my friends.

11:00 And well it's quite similar to other people's around the world.

11:05 The difference is that I I am doing everything almost in Japanese.

11:11 Uh do your friend of dometry know your training karate.

11:17 Yes.

11:17 Is the place for for uh uh drying the washing washed clothes.

11:24 So when they are when they come to put

11:28 the clothes on they can see me practicing.

11:33 You are doggy kgi.

11:34 Yes.

11:36 And sometimes you are one guy asked me

11:38 you are doing some kind of Chinese martial art.

11:42 I said no no I said karate.

11:44 Ah how long will you stay in Japan in your mind?

11:48 Oh as long as possible really.

11:50 So I I have no plans to come back.

11:53 rather I am trying figure out the way how to stay in in Japan.

11:57 Yes, now I am working at university so I am safe for some

12:02 time but in the future I will need to decide what to do next.

12:11 [Music] Roino tattoo.

12:26 [Music] Will you go to train today?

13:20 Yes, of course I will go.

13:24 [Music]