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