QUOTE
April 16th, 2006
In This Issue
> Goal Setting
> Appreciation Yields Results
> Be Mindful Of The Groin
With your training you can benefit greatly by setting goals and sticking to them. Before you start to think of setting goals, think of the reasons why you started training and the results you plan to achieve. Try to map these out before you get started to give you an idea of how you can reach your goals in an efficient way. You will be able to see what you expect to achieve and then you can begin to formulate ideas to make it happen.
Step 1 – Forming your goals
Think of what you want. Do you want to be a black belt, lose weight or is it to become confidant like your instructor? Think of the reasons why you are doing this in the first place.
Step 2 – Being reasonable
So maybe becoming a black belt in a year is a little out of reach, there is no point in setting a goal that is impossible to achieve. Start small, and set reasonable goals at first.
Step 3 – Talk to someone who knows
Remember your instructors were once were you are now and have knowledge on setting goals, they too have goals they are working towards, so why not talk to them about what you want to achieve and they can help you plan and get there.
Step 4 – Laying out a path
Once you have decided what your goals are, what is the best way to achieve them? Do you need to spend more time working on your strikes? If you know what you plan to do ahead of time, you can concentrate your efforts accordingly.
Step 5 – Goal setting in advance
As you set up your goals, you can break them up into time scales. Where would you like to be in 3 months time? Try to have definite goals for each portion of the year.
Step 6 – Making goals a reality
Once you have laid out your path to your goals you can begin taking a look at the best way to make them happen. Each goal is an important road marker along the way to your ultimate destination – your black belt? This will give you incentive to keep going even when things seem to be at their hardest.
Step 7 – Don’t be discouraged
If you do not meet your goals as you planned, don’t get discouraged and immediately give up. Instead look at your list and even if you overachieve it in some areas, or didn’t work hard enough to meet your goals in other areas this is a learning experience not a lesson failure. Each time you fall, pick yourself up and reset your goals. Before long you will have started to make progress in achieving these goals.
Step 8 – Starting Small
If you are new to goal setting, start by setting just a few goals. Keep these goals in a conspicuous place like pinned up in your kitchen or in a school bag. Each time you look at them, you will be reminded of your goals and that might be the little nudge you need to start making them happen. Goal setting is for everyone and not just the “inspirational” types. Try it for yourself and see what kind of progress you can make in a short time
How come one person can try a few karate classes and then quit a few weeks later and the other progress through the grades towards black belt? The difference is that one appreciates the basics, while the other sees it is a waste of time, little more than boring repetition!
When it comes to basics, what is your attitude?
“Basics again”, can be a thought we have when our sensei says “right hand out, stomach level punch.” But how does a white belt make it to yellow belt? Basics.
Throughout your karate journey you HAVE to do the strikes, blocks, stances and kicks in that order in almost every class. You have the choice, to just go through the routine or work on improving your technique, focus, speed, power and strength. For those who have the attitude of a routine, they will never be able to differentiate one stomach punch to another and will ‘zone out’ of basics. Day dreaming through the first section of class will see you introduce bad habits and make it harder to grade. Furthermore, it will weaken their focus. They will not be able to make it count when needed the most.
However, a student who walks into the dojo happy to do basics (even for a short period) and have the opportunity to perfect some fundamental techniques, will always come out of class with a better and more knowledgeable experience. Strikes are blocks become efficient when the purpose and destinations of these movements are understood.
How can you improve your basics?
1. Expect the basics will be taught in every class. See it as an opportunity, as you get the chance to improve.
2. Choose a part of the basics format you want to give attention to. Strikes, blocks, stances or kicks, and give 200% in that area when your sensei reaches that part of the format.
3. Have a goal to be the fastest, sharpest or the most focused in your class.
4. Ask your sensei if you can be at the front of the class when going through the basics.
5. Train at least two classes a week so you will feel you are always improving.
6. Always be teachable. Even though you have done a thousand classes, all feedback you get from your sensei is important.
7. Try to keep up with the higher grades in the class. If you are the highest grade, set the standard.
8. Always, always give 110%. If you don’t feel exhausted after the kicks, you haven’t trained hard enough.
Karate practice MUST begin with basics. With basics, we lay the foundations of our practice.
The groin is an illegal area to attack in kumite for one very good reason. You could severely injure your sparring partner. With that in mind, it tells you that it is a very valuable attacking area for real life combat.
While you all know this, it goes beyond just knowledge if you want to make it work. One potential downside to dojo sparring in terms of real life self-defence is that we develop combat instincts around the rules of kumite.
So how do we avoid this?
The key is, whilst sparring, is to always be mindful of the paths you “could” take.
Example One: Next time you are sparring, take note of your opponent’s stance. Would you be able to execute a groin kick to finish the bout instantly if you chose? Of course you don’t act on this, but the thought is a good habit to have in the face of confrontation.
Example Two: Upon being attacked, while you may be blocking, before countering with a straight stomach punch, it enters your mind that you could actually back fist the groin should you choose. Once again, of course you do not, and if the thought ever transpired into action, then you would have to cull back,. However, having these thoughts helps you identify moments in a person’s attack where their groin is open and vulnerable, and where you would be able to strike it, whilst still defending yourself from the oncoming attacks.
In This Issue
> Goal Setting
> Appreciation Yields Results
> Be Mindful Of The Groin
With your training you can benefit greatly by setting goals and sticking to them. Before you start to think of setting goals, think of the reasons why you started training and the results you plan to achieve. Try to map these out before you get started to give you an idea of how you can reach your goals in an efficient way. You will be able to see what you expect to achieve and then you can begin to formulate ideas to make it happen.
Step 1 – Forming your goals
Think of what you want. Do you want to be a black belt, lose weight or is it to become confidant like your instructor? Think of the reasons why you are doing this in the first place.
Step 2 – Being reasonable
So maybe becoming a black belt in a year is a little out of reach, there is no point in setting a goal that is impossible to achieve. Start small, and set reasonable goals at first.
Step 3 – Talk to someone who knows
Remember your instructors were once were you are now and have knowledge on setting goals, they too have goals they are working towards, so why not talk to them about what you want to achieve and they can help you plan and get there.
Step 4 – Laying out a path
Once you have decided what your goals are, what is the best way to achieve them? Do you need to spend more time working on your strikes? If you know what you plan to do ahead of time, you can concentrate your efforts accordingly.
Step 5 – Goal setting in advance
As you set up your goals, you can break them up into time scales. Where would you like to be in 3 months time? Try to have definite goals for each portion of the year.
Step 6 – Making goals a reality
Once you have laid out your path to your goals you can begin taking a look at the best way to make them happen. Each goal is an important road marker along the way to your ultimate destination – your black belt? This will give you incentive to keep going even when things seem to be at their hardest.
Step 7 – Don’t be discouraged
If you do not meet your goals as you planned, don’t get discouraged and immediately give up. Instead look at your list and even if you overachieve it in some areas, or didn’t work hard enough to meet your goals in other areas this is a learning experience not a lesson failure. Each time you fall, pick yourself up and reset your goals. Before long you will have started to make progress in achieving these goals.
Step 8 – Starting Small
If you are new to goal setting, start by setting just a few goals. Keep these goals in a conspicuous place like pinned up in your kitchen or in a school bag. Each time you look at them, you will be reminded of your goals and that might be the little nudge you need to start making them happen. Goal setting is for everyone and not just the “inspirational” types. Try it for yourself and see what kind of progress you can make in a short time
How come one person can try a few karate classes and then quit a few weeks later and the other progress through the grades towards black belt? The difference is that one appreciates the basics, while the other sees it is a waste of time, little more than boring repetition!
When it comes to basics, what is your attitude?
“Basics again”, can be a thought we have when our sensei says “right hand out, stomach level punch.” But how does a white belt make it to yellow belt? Basics.
Throughout your karate journey you HAVE to do the strikes, blocks, stances and kicks in that order in almost every class. You have the choice, to just go through the routine or work on improving your technique, focus, speed, power and strength. For those who have the attitude of a routine, they will never be able to differentiate one stomach punch to another and will ‘zone out’ of basics. Day dreaming through the first section of class will see you introduce bad habits and make it harder to grade. Furthermore, it will weaken their focus. They will not be able to make it count when needed the most.
However, a student who walks into the dojo happy to do basics (even for a short period) and have the opportunity to perfect some fundamental techniques, will always come out of class with a better and more knowledgeable experience. Strikes are blocks become efficient when the purpose and destinations of these movements are understood.
How can you improve your basics?
1. Expect the basics will be taught in every class. See it as an opportunity, as you get the chance to improve.
2. Choose a part of the basics format you want to give attention to. Strikes, blocks, stances or kicks, and give 200% in that area when your sensei reaches that part of the format.
3. Have a goal to be the fastest, sharpest or the most focused in your class.
4. Ask your sensei if you can be at the front of the class when going through the basics.
5. Train at least two classes a week so you will feel you are always improving.
6. Always be teachable. Even though you have done a thousand classes, all feedback you get from your sensei is important.
7. Try to keep up with the higher grades in the class. If you are the highest grade, set the standard.
8. Always, always give 110%. If you don’t feel exhausted after the kicks, you haven’t trained hard enough.
Karate practice MUST begin with basics. With basics, we lay the foundations of our practice.
The groin is an illegal area to attack in kumite for one very good reason. You could severely injure your sparring partner. With that in mind, it tells you that it is a very valuable attacking area for real life combat.
While you all know this, it goes beyond just knowledge if you want to make it work. One potential downside to dojo sparring in terms of real life self-defence is that we develop combat instincts around the rules of kumite.
So how do we avoid this?
The key is, whilst sparring, is to always be mindful of the paths you “could” take.
Example One: Next time you are sparring, take note of your opponent’s stance. Would you be able to execute a groin kick to finish the bout instantly if you chose? Of course you don’t act on this, but the thought is a good habit to have in the face of confrontation.
Example Two: Upon being attacked, while you may be blocking, before countering with a straight stomach punch, it enters your mind that you could actually back fist the groin should you choose. Once again, of course you do not, and if the thought ever transpired into action, then you would have to cull back,. However, having these thoughts helps you identify moments in a person’s attack where their groin is open and vulnerable, and where you would be able to strike it, whilst still defending yourself from the oncoming attacks.
Opinions and thoughts always welcome!
Tom.