With the next basho fast approaching I was curious about what everyone is looking forward to and excited about.

I'm hoping for a full house of the senior sanyaku rikishi (maybe Terunofuji's knees will be ready for action) and we can see some exciting matches between them. I'm also still trying to decide on new favorites after Ichinojo and Tochinoshin both retired.

As per the title, I passed my Yellow belt grading today with a Distinction. I'm really proud as I'm mid 40s.

When I was a late teen I made it to black stripe but a new job, kids and moving home stopped me from continuing. When I was early 30s I started again, made it to Yellow and quit due to burn out.

Thanks to COVID and a way better work life balance, plus the kids being older (except the toddler), I've managed to get back to it and plan to stick at it through to black belt.

That's it really. I'm hoping other martial artists on Tildes will chime in with any feel good stories they have.