Welcome to the karate blog for November of 2024 and will cover the idea of showing up. In society, we are so busy with life that we sometimes forget about attending karate classes or practicing, thus breaking habits we learned when we first started. Do you remember when you first started karate, how you could not get enough of it and would not miss a class? How do we regain this feeling? The answer is simply showing up.
Karate is an art that has to be practiced. It requires a mental discipline that is beyond most sports. A distraction in any direction, and you can get hit in the face. If we take this concept further, if we are not paying attention in a self-defense situation, we could get seriously injured.
There are times in karate when we get tired of working the basics, dragging ourselves to class, working on katas, as there seems to be no point to the madness. Yet what most people do not understand is that it is those moments where when you come to class and work, your body builds the habitual action that might save your life. Our system teaches by making you tired before we make you think or handle complex sequences. We work to teach how to ride the tired mentality over. You can only learn this when you show up. Being in the dojo, you learn something every day.
It’s cold outside, I don't have a ride, I banded up, and so on are all reasons not to attend class. You only need one reason to attend, and that is to be better. The more you consistently show up to class, the faster you advance. The more you show up to class, the more you learn how to show up to school, to work and in life. We have had students who tore ACLs and had heart surgery who were both back the next week sitting in a chair watching. They were itching to be out there but listened to the doctors.
We have had students during COVID who begged us to stream the class so they could participate. When you build the mentality of good habits, it makes everything easier. This habit of showing up, only makes you better as a person. Time after time, if you continue to be there, you will gain experience in life.
Tomorrow's habits are made today. Each time you step in the dojo. Each time you practice a kata, each time you do a push-up. We are part of this karate journey together don’t miss the moments that change you by not showing up.
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