An old karate master said: Put your everyday living into karate and you will find “Myo” (subtle secrets).
Why would that be. How about self control, self esteem, health benefits, awareness, etc.
How do you put it in everyday life. Thinking about your surroundings. Being aware of potential dangers and potentially dangerous people.
Also if you are a true martial artist and practice it even in frequent thought, you will begin to understand and unlock many things that will otherwise go undisclosed.
There is a story of an American soldier that was a POW in the Vietnam War. He was an avid golfer before being captured. When he was released years later he went and played golf and did very well. His partner asked, how on earth did you golf such a good game when you haven’t golfed in years. He replied, I played a round of golf everyday in my head. He kept practicing and analyzing his game even though he was unable to physically play. He visualized it everyday and put it into his miserable cell life. I’m sure it was part of his coping mechanism also! One major difference between the occasional karate student and the true martial artist is thought and visualization!
If you think you can become great by only training for an hour 2 or 3 times a week, then you are misguided. To become good one should participate, question and practice the corrections. To be great you should also be thinking about it much more. Karate is a life changing activity and henceforth it certainly should require some extra thought. When you receive correction during training, always focus on those corrections, practice them when you get home, practice them the next day and the next and so on. That’s how you burn that info onto your mental hard drive. That becomes part of you then.
Martial artists live and think about it, karate students come to class train and then leave. Hmmmmm???
Put your everyday living into karate and you will find “Myo” (subtle secrets).
Written by:
Sensei Perry Culver 6th degree Shotokan Karate, 1st degree Syu Sin Do (pressure points & joint locks)
Chief Instructor of Culver Karate Club in Connellsville, PA 724-626-KICK (5425)
