Learning perseverance through training in the martial arts.

Everything is a learning process: any time you fall over, it’s just teaching you to stand up the next time. – Joel Edgerton 

Do you remember why you started training?  To get in better shape, earn a Black Belt, learn to defend yourself or a number of other reasons.  Whatever the reason, your reason was never to quit something.

The reality is that in our training, we’ve all had that moment when we get knocked down and just want to stay down. We struggle with that kata, face off against that opponent that’s above our skill level or struggle to get the timing of a combination down right.  Sometimes we feel like it’s easier staying down than getting up and fighting back against our fears. 

One of the most important things that the martial arts teaches, is the power of indomitable spirit and perseverance.  It’s in those moments that we feel like quitting, that we need to remember why we started our training, get back to our feet and keep pushing forward.

In karate, like with anything, it takes strength of character and determination to keep you coming back, each time learning and getting better through practice. It’s through that repeated training that we ultimately get better and learn perseverance . 

A lot of our days are like our training, facing challenges or even getting knocked down.  It’s our habits of practice and improving, that we learn perseverance and develop the traits that we need to overcome. 

To your success,

Michael