Author: Ash Prime

Do you have a goal in karate, in life?

Write it down. Say it out loud.

What will it take to achieve that goal?

Are you prepared to do the hard work required to achieve that goal?

What will you do today?

Take a step towards your goal.

Karate presents us with many clear and achievable goals in the coloured belt grading system. With progressively harder work required as we advance, we can learn to set goals, put effort in to training working towards them and experience the satisfaction of achievement. This process can be applied to any goal in life.

Set goal. Do the work. Achieve.

Sounds simple but it’s not easy.

There will be many challenges, interruptions and obstacles in your path. Approach each of these as a goal of its own. Then refocus and move ahead towards your ultimate goal.

You’ll get there.

You just have to keep going.

Fight Your Self

Beyond fighting and self-defence, beyond speed, strength and flexibility, beyond knowledge, grades and belts, karate can teach us to fight our self.

You can never be the best at everything. There’s always someone stronger, faster, naturally athletic, better at remembering sequences and so on. However, you can be the best that you can be. It’s not a competition against other people, it’s a battle against your self. What does it take to be the best that you can personally be? It takes the mental strength to push yourself past your limits. The will to get up and do something on days when you feel like you can’t. Do something. Anything that improves you. When you practice, be mindful of your goal. Always aim to improve on what you did the last time, in some way. That might not be more power, it might be with relaxation. There are many aspects to improve. Tired? Good. Push harder. Bored? Good. Do it again. Find your fighting spirit and keep going. This is when you break through barriers and come closer to your best self.

And then rest. Acknowledge your achievements…. Then, when things get easier, find a way to make them harder. If you only do easy things you stop improving.

It’s not always about hard and fast training. Balance, breath and awareness are just as important.

All of this can be applied to anything in life. You can always be better at something. Fight your self to become your best self.

Term 3 starts this week.

Wednesday 10-11am Ipswich
Thursday 4:30-5:30pm Harrisville
Saturday 2-3pm Ipswich

Term 3 begins July 13.

Grading will be on the 22nd, 23rd or 25th of June depending on which class you go to.

All students who would like to grade this term must wear or bring their current belt to class this week (or next week if they can’t come this week). Before class they must check in with me and have their name added to the grading list.

Sorry. Saturday class is not on this week. 21/5/22

Unfortunately, Harriville class is cancelled today due to flood warnings. Stay safe everyone.

Term 2 starts next week.

Wednesday 10-11 Ipswich
Thursday 4:30-5:30 Harrisville

Saturday class will resume in week 2.

There will be no Saturday class in week 1 due to Girl Guides event in the hall.

New training video for you focusing on Pinan Shodan kata. Kata is an important aspect of karate and requires constant attention. Those who want to advance will need to work on this more. I recommend taking a video of your kata practice so you can watch it to see where you can improve. I always find things to work on myself. Another good way to practice is to teach someone else. In doing so you will gain a better understanding of the movements yourself.

https://youtu.be/jx3XDPvgpxA