Some Day It Will All Be Over

I do karate. I've been doing it for years and years. THANKS, MOM, for enrolling me in that first class back when I was six or seven.

But some day, it will all be over. I'll take off my gi and black belt for the last time, and collapse into the rocking chair on the porch — with a knowing smile on my face. Thinking back on my martial arts journey, perhaps flipping through an old photo album, I'll remember all the years of tough training, belt examinations, and tournaments. The long trips, triumphs, defeats, and injuries, too. Ahh, the good ol' days...

But more than any of that, I'll remember my friends — my teachers, dojo mates, and students — who took the journey with me, and helped me to grow.

The martial arts are more than just knife hand chops. Everybody knows that. But it's only "really" true if we make it so through our words, thinking, and acting. The martial arts have the power to transform us, but only if we're actively — and constantly — looking for the "other" lessons. I've come to realize that it doesn't really matter what you "do." It's about what you do WITH what you do that matters.

I do karate. Your particular vehicle could be yoga, or African dance, or music, or golf, NASCAR, basket weaving, or ... whatever. I've come to realize that in the end, it doesn't really matter what we're doing — if we seek deeper meaning, value, contribution, and transformation, we will eventually find it. So, where does "your thing" take you?

Today, I can't help but wonder, "What is my 'karate legacy' going to be?" While I've certainly thrown a lot of kicks and punches, the story doesn't end there. (Actually, the story only starts with the physical stuff... it loses its importance eventually!) Karate has connected me to community, to teamwork, to self-knowledge, to making a difference in the world and in people's lives.

I do karate. But, when I'm done with all of this... When I've thrown that last roundhouse kick… When I finally bow into the Big Dojo In The Sky... What will it all MEAN? Will people remember me for my kata performances, board breaking ability, or my side kick?

Geez, I really hope not.

Purpose, Goals, and Indomitable Spirit

This blog entry is an excerpt from an essay I wrote a while back (2004), but it's worth another look! Enjoy!

Ask yourself: “Why am I learning karate?” Some people come to the dojo to learn self-defense. Others come to relieve stress, get in better shape, learn a new art form, or meet new people. What are your personal training goals? If you’re seeking improved fitness, increased confidence, and stronger mental discipline, karate training will develop all of these things! I’ve always said that karate is a journey of self-discovery. So, if karate is a journey — and if some of the benefits I’ve mentioned are the destinations — then what should you pack for the trip?

Indomitable spirit!

Sooner or later, you’re going to a few bumps in the road, and your karate training will bring you face-to-face with one or more of your personal limitations. (Perhaps it’s happened already!) The bumps in your personal karate journey may be the physical limits of your strength, endurance, flexibility, or coordination. A nagging injury may force you to slow down, modify your techniques, or skip a class or two. Your bumps may also be mental obstacles that become manifest as impatience at your lack of improvement, frustration at your inability to master a form, or even boredom from the seemingly endless repetition. The bumps that show up outside of the dojo (stress at work, strained personal relationships, laundry, and all the other things that make up our lives) may also prevent us from getting to the dojo to train for days or weeks.

In the course of your training, the bumps you encounter in the dojo and in life will frustrate you again and again. They may cause you to question why you started karate training (or piano lessons, or medical school) in the first place. If the bump is big enough, you might even be tempted to quit. (I’ve come close to quitting karate many times myself!) The key to getting past the bumps in your training is to train with indomitable spirit!

Indomitable spirit is a combination of inner strength and commitment. It’s what keeps the last-place marathon runner going until she crosses the finish line, long after the crowds have gone home. Indomitable spirit is confidence and a winning attitude. It’s what brought the New England Patriots down the field for the final score in their amazing come-from-behind Super Bowl victory. Indomitable spirit is infinite patience, perhaps best demonstrated by Mother Nature: It’s how the Colorado River carved out the Grand Canyon!

It’s your enthusiasm and dedication that will take you all the way to Black Belt and beyond. If you never quit, you'll never fail! With indomitable sprit, we can press on when things get difficult for us. Keep in mind that our potential is always greater than our performance, and displaying indomitable spirit does not always mean trying harder or pushing yourself past exhaustion. There will be many disappointments on your journey, so relax, humbly trust in the process of your training, and draw on the energy of others whenever you’re tired or frustrated. And, be sure to give your energy and encouragement away when you sense that someone else could use a lift!

The moment that you really want to quit is exactly when you’re about to learn something new about yourself. Endeavor! Persevere! Grow and learn! Rest if you must, and respect your limits, but don’t ever give up on your goals!

Learning to Punch Like a Girl

On any given night at Emerald Necklace Martial Arts in Boston’s Allston neighborhood, the adult students can be found in their crisp white karate uniforms, moving up and down the training floor. In summer's brutal heat and in winter's bitter cold, they punch the focus mitts and kick the padded shields with impressive force. Working in pairs, they throw each other to the ground. They yell a lot, too.

Seriousness fills the air as people strain and sweat. The students are disciplined, and they’re growing evermore capable and confident. They really push themselves. And they’re tough. Every once in a while, someone gets hurt. It's never anything severe — perhaps a bruise, a minor sprain, or a rougher-than-expected landing on the padded floor. It’s this element of real danger that keeps everyone focused and fully in the present. But things aren’t too serious: the heavy mood is broken frequently with smiles and laughter.

These are my students, and I’m proud of the progress they are making. On the surface, this looks exactly what you'd expect to see in any urban dojo (training hall) where traditional karate is taught and practiced. However, there's just one thing that jumps out at you while watching a class at Emerald Necklace Martial Arts:

Fully two-thirds of the members who train at this dojo are women.

This, by any standard, is unusual. Men — and all too often, the male ego that tends to come along for the ride — seem to dominate most karate schools. I asked my students why they thought things were different at our school, and what keeps them coming back.

"I think a lot of women start training in the martial arts for the self-defense aspect," Said Angela D., a Brown Belt at the dojo. Angela has been training for nearly four years. "But there is also a mental toughness that develops from studying karate — not giving up, trying one more time, nothing is impossible. There are still barriers and stereotypes for women to face in the real world, and I for one appreciate learning to be more assertive and determined."

"I see what the advanced students do, and I think, 'I want to do that,'" says Jen V. a Green Belt student. Jen has been training at the dojo for two and a half years. "The group of people in the dojo is really a big reason I keep coming back. Each and every person involved with the dojo is an interesting, well-rounded, fascinating individual. I consider myself lucky to be part of such a group, and I value it highly."

"I think I am more confident in certain areas of my life now," Jen continues. "I don't necessarily walk down any dark alleys, and I don't think I was fearful before, but my attitude is different now when I walk to my car in a parking lot."

"One of the aspects that I enjoy the most about the martial arts is that gender plays no role." Says Joe P., a male Brown Belt at the dojo. "If we're doing things the right way, we should not be using upper body strength to perform our moves. We're supposed to rely on proper technique, which can be as easily achieved by women as men."

"Working with women has changed my preconception of the art, as I always thought that only men were drawn to it." Joe says. "I don't really look at my dojo mates as men and women, but as fellow practitioners."

Outside the dojo, Angela is a graphic designer and mother of two. Jen is a librarian. But you’d never guess their real identities by watching the two of them work out on the dojo floor. (Joe, incidentally, works in real estate finance.) Everyone goes through the same training, regardless of gender, and the criteria for rank advancement are the same for men and women. While self-defense is a big part of what’s taught, our dojo focuses on building character and serving others in an environment of mutual respect. The men in the dojo don’t treat the women any differently — and the opposite is also true!

As for me, I’m really looking forward to the day when someone observes one of my male students and says, "Man, he sure hits like a girl." What a great compliment that will be!

In Defense of Karate (or any other martial art) as a "Fighting Art"

One of my students came to me recently, concerned because she read a number of posts online that slammed karate for being "a less effective form of fighting/self-defense."

How crude.

Now, I'm trying REALLY hard not to sound like an elitist karate snob here (Okay, I admit it, I am an elitist karate snob!), but I must say that those who doubt karate's effectiveness as a fighting art have never "really" studied it — at least not in any depth. In the same breath though, I'll also willingly say that EVERY art has its strengths and weaknesses. As the saying goes, "there are no superior martial arts, only superior martial artists."

Although I've studied karate for a very long time, I think I'm "just now" starting to get the hang of it. And so I've also familiarized myself with other complimentary martial arts to help fill in some of the tactical gaps that karate doesn't cover very well. That's exactly what a martial artist SHOULD do, don't you think? The mixed martial arts craze that's sweeping the nation is proof that the weaknesses of those who specialize in a single martial art (be they grapplers or strikers) will eventually be exposed in the ring — usually in a very unflattering, embarrassing, and painful manner!

There are a lot of misconceptions about what karate is and what it isn't — I'll readily agree with anyone who says you CAN'T do a kata on someone, or that the "crane technique" from the Karate Kid WILL NOT WORK. (duh!) But, the "hidden" techniques that are taught as part of our karate training process (joint locks, eye strikes, throws, etc.) can be particularly effective "out there on the street" — if you've trained, and if you're actually willing to use them.

But, I digress... While developing fighting skill is certainly part of our training, I'm pretty sure that most of my students are not "primarily" interested in fighting. If they were, I suspect (I hope!) that they would have left our dojo a long, LONG time ago. In fact, there's a great place right down the street that I can recommend — especially for those who are into fighting, bruises, and broken teeth.

Here's what I would ask anyone interested in joining my dojo:

Why do you want to train in this Asian anachronism known as "karate"? Aside from learning how to break things and hurt people, what do you expect and want to learn while you are here? Are you willing to learn fighting spirit? Are you willing to develop indomitable will? And are you willing to apply these things outside of the dojo? What meaning will you find by putting on white pajamas a couple of times each week, yelling and running around in your bare feet? Are you willing to stare your own ego in the face? (Your ego, after all, is the opponent I really want you to defeat.)

We train hard and seriously at our dojo. We get cuts, and scrapes, and bumps, and bruises, too — no paper tigers, please! And if push ever came to shove, I'm confident that when properly applied, the techniques we learn and practice on the mat will work "out there on the street." So if you're interested in learning self-defense (and some art and culture and history along the way…), I can help with that.

But if you're only interested in fighting, I'll be forced to admit that I'm not really interested in teaching you… unless you're going to use what you learn at my dojo to fight (take a stand) against injustice, ignorance, crime, racism, poverty, or hunger, or to fight for peace, the environment, better education, reconciliation, or some other worthy cause or ideal.

You see, karate is the disguise I use to try to teach people how to become more confident, respectful, cognizant, engaged, responsible, fearless, contributing, caring, and enlightened global citizens. Instead of creating fighters, I hope I'm producing compassionate human beings through the culturally rich training methods of traditional karate. My students are developing as amazing and inspiring people. People who just so happen to know how to throw and land (and take) a decent punch!

Some closing thoughts —

Karate first teaches you how to FIGHT:
karate-jutsu (technique).
Then, Karate teaches you how to DIE:
karate = "empty hand" = letting go.
Ultimately, Karate teaches you how to LIVE:
karate-do (way, road, path)

If It Doesn't Cost You Your Life, It Isn't A Quest

When I originally began this blog, part of my intent was to document my journey as a martial artist. While I've done some of that, what I've really been doing is sharing my thoughts along with my observations of life and events through a martial artist's lens. I've been enjoying the process of observing, thinking, writing, and sharing. It's fun! I'm going to keep posting, so I hope you'll keep reading!

But, as for my personal journey, my own growth and development, my actual training experiences, and my transformation... lately I've been feeling like I needed something more than a blog. I needed a push, an inspiration, a supreme challenge... Something to get me out of my rut.

I needed a test!

So call me crazy, but I've just signed up to participate in "The Ultimate Black Belt Test" — a grueling yearlong examination that consists of challenges that are designed to create physical, mental, emotional and spiritual breakthroughs. It's going to be quite an adventure!

You can read all about my Ultimate Black Belt Test here.

Follow me on my quest. Train with me, if you'd like. Encourage me. Keep me honest! Wish me luck!