Perhaps it was the golden sun rising over the Houston ship channel that conjured up the memories. As I drove toward Beaumont, gold was on my mind. I found myself reflecting on my martial arts career and the victories it has produced in my life.
In the years preceding my journey along the Shotokan path, I was a dedicated tournament fighter. As a result, I accumulated an impressive collection of gold medals.
Over the past five years, I have had the honor of training under a man who taught me the true meaning of martial arts. While there is nothing inherently wrong with tournament competition, Sensei John showed me how much more there is to the way of karate. He taught me that there are greater victories than winning a sparring match, and greater rewards than gold medals.
As I maneuvered along the interstate, I thought again about those glistening discs that once testified to my success, and smiled. Today, those medals are taking up space in the city dump. Just as it is not wrong to compete, it is not wrong to have trophies and medals. But over time, I found that their meaning had faded and they had become no more than clutter. I tossed them without a second thought.
My Shotokan journey has once again filled my trophy case…this time with more lasting rewards. Today I find that the smiles on the faces of my students sparkle like gold. When I watch a student overcome a challenge or develop their character, I am more satisfied than the most celebrated Olympian. When I personally conquer a fear, or successfully incorporate a teaching from my Sensei into my life, I know the joy of victory once again. Today, my students are my medals -- their progression along the path of karate the measure of my success.
Oss!
Sempai Patty
Friday, April 9, 2010
Friday, December 18, 2009
The Coming Year
As the start of the new year approaches, I will be seeking new ways to enhance the training experience of the students in our dojo. It is my hope that this new blog will contribute to that goal by providing a forum for additional exploration of the beauty of karate-do...
I find great delight in blank calendar pages...bright, clean squares waiting in expectation. A new year is a new beginning, a rebirth, and an opportunity for the Author of Life to pen the story of our lives. No matter how many mistakes the fading year holds, they are extinguished by the promise and purity of the new year.
In our dojo, we welcome the new year with our Hatzu Geiko celebration. The sense of victory comes not from the 1,000 kicks we execute during practice on New Year's Day, but from the resolution to continue the karate journey, no matter what obstacles we face as the year unfolds. The glory is in the growth we anticipate as we seek to enhance our understanding of karate, embrace the dojo kun, and engage our spirits, minds, and bodies equally in pursuit of a deeper, richer life experience.
My challenge to each of you is to set goals for the new year, not only regarding the development of karate technique, but also regarding the refinement of your character. Master Gichin Funakoshi, the father of modern Shotokan, said, "The ultimate aim of the art of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants." Let that be your ultimate aim in 2010.
Throughout the coming year, we will take a look at the tenets of the dojo kun, and explore them together. We will examine the thoughts of karate masters and examine the beauty of the karate way. We will discover the rich heritage that is ours as karateka.
Thank you for joining me on the journey.
Oss!
Sempai Patty
I find great delight in blank calendar pages...bright, clean squares waiting in expectation. A new year is a new beginning, a rebirth, and an opportunity for the Author of Life to pen the story of our lives. No matter how many mistakes the fading year holds, they are extinguished by the promise and purity of the new year.
In our dojo, we welcome the new year with our Hatzu Geiko celebration. The sense of victory comes not from the 1,000 kicks we execute during practice on New Year's Day, but from the resolution to continue the karate journey, no matter what obstacles we face as the year unfolds. The glory is in the growth we anticipate as we seek to enhance our understanding of karate, embrace the dojo kun, and engage our spirits, minds, and bodies equally in pursuit of a deeper, richer life experience.
My challenge to each of you is to set goals for the new year, not only regarding the development of karate technique, but also regarding the refinement of your character. Master Gichin Funakoshi, the father of modern Shotokan, said, "The ultimate aim of the art of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants." Let that be your ultimate aim in 2010.
Throughout the coming year, we will take a look at the tenets of the dojo kun, and explore them together. We will examine the thoughts of karate masters and examine the beauty of the karate way. We will discover the rich heritage that is ours as karateka.
Thank you for joining me on the journey.
Oss!
Sempai Patty
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