| If you have been studying karate for any length of | | | | habits and beliefs and then perfecting them until you |
| time now, you have probably come to realize many | | | | reach the next breakthrough stage. Then repeat the |
| important insights from your training. From my own | | | | process and find out that what was once clear now |
| study of karate, I have come to notice many | | | | makes little to no sense. These are very confusing |
| interesting lessons. I would like to share some of | | | | stages in your training but very important in your |
| these insights with you in this article. | | | | growth as a martial artist. |
| 1. The most talented students don't always make the | | | | 7. Try not to impose your values onto others in your |
| best instructors, nor do they even become black | | | | training; try instead to be open-minded. Just because |
| belts in many cases, whereas the averagely skilled | | | | you think that kata is the greatest thing doesn't |
| but highly committed practitioner often makes it to | | | | mean that the die-hard sparring fanatic on the floor |
| the higher levels. | | | | next to you agrees. It is important to respect and |
| 2. It is a mistake to judge yourself based on the | | | | accept each other's values rather than criticize and |
| performance and skill of others. Instead, do your | | | | judge. |
| best to honestly evaluate your performance in | | | | 8. All of the above points can be directly applied to all |
| relation to how well you feel that you are fulfilling | | | | aspects of your life in some shape or form and if |
| your potential in the art. | | | | you only practice them in the dojo then you are |
| 3. Never criticize others for not "getting it" because | | | | missing the wider picture and life lessons that karate |
| although they may be missing some of the things | | | | offers. |
| that you "get", they may be gaining many other | | | | These eight points can be further condensed into |
| important insights that you haven't yet begun to | | | | three core values of the martial arts: |
| understand. | | | | · always try your best |
| 4. Don't profess to know anything about karate | | | | · be honest in everything you do |
| other than superficial knowledge until you have been | | | | · respect others |
| training for at least ten years and even then be very | | | | This is the essence of what I have taken from my |
| careful because as your own knowledge increases, | | | | karate training so far. How about you? What have |
| rather than feeling that you know more, you instead | | | | you learned from your training? Why not share some |
| realize more things that you do not yet know and | | | | of your insights and e-mail me at |
| the challenge becomes harder once again. | | | | I will look forward to communicating with you. For |
| 5. If you are a senior grade and a junior grade tells | | | | some valuable information on becoming a good |
| you that they now know a kata or a technique, don't | | | | instructor, read my FREE Report on "Instructor |
| put them down or tell them that they don't know | | | | Mastery: How to Become a Great Instructor Right |
| what they're talking about (even if that may be | | | | from the very First Lesson." You can download it at |
| true), instead encourage them to keep training hard | | | | Good luck and best wishes to you on your honorable |
| and congratulate them on their breakthrough. | | | | and noble role in teaching. Feel free to write to me at |
| 6. There are different truths at different levels of | | | | with any questions you have on your practice or |
| training. Learning karate is a sequential process of | | | | your teaching. |
| breaking previous habits and beliefs, forming new | | | | |