Growing up, I've always detested sports of any kind. In my young mind, sports were too competitive, too systematic, and too exhausting. I didn't think I'd ever find an enjoyable sport, except chess. That's right, chess is a sport!

I practiced karate from 6th-9th grade, yet I grew bored and tired of karate. I loved learning complex forms, but I would hardly learn them. The forms would frequently be changed too, which was slightly irritating. The rest of the time, I would fight other people on the ground (which was decent) or fight people standing up (which I strongly disliked). I was tired of getting beaten up at the end of each session, so I soon quit. I ended karate as a brown belt, the last belt before black.

Does anyone do karate here? Has anyone done karate here? What do you think of the belt system? It's so different in each martial arts studio haha.

However, I finally discovered an amazing activity (not really a sport) that's challenging yet rewarding.

Kayaking!

When you're kayaking, you have nearly full control of your kayak and control of what you want to do/where you want to go. I can paddle as fast or as slow as I desire. I can push myself to row quickly and work out or I can leisurely paddle to enjoy the beautiful lake and the scenery. Kayaking can be a solid workout or a peaceful trip down a river or lake.

That's why I love kayaking. I went kayaking yesterday for an hour, but I would have continued for longer if I didn't have to be somewhere during the day. If you plan to kayak one day, remember that a good form will increase your speed and prevent you from becoming tired easily. Have a straight back, feet firmly pressed against the boat, and hands spread apart across the paddle.

KAYAKING IS THE BEST SPORT

Love and Peace,
Arkada