“Everyone knows that karate is a martial art. But few people know what art really means. Art is not something you hang on the wall, art is something you do, and it always involves a learning process. The problem is, some people hate learning. I know why! Because to learn something new means admitting that you didn’t know something before…..
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It’s your ego calling.
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Learning doesn’t require humility it. It demands it, and that’s why some people never grow. They’re too afraid of finding out how little they actually knew. Basically learning is defeat.
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Preserving the status quo is way more comfortable. But nothing ever grows in the comfort zone. So learn and keep learning. Because the day you stop learning, is the day you stop living. That’s the art of karate.” ~ Jesse Enkamp
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Why do so many people quit when they reach Shodan or Nidan? You see it all the time. The magic of the black belt! Some people see at as a goal, then quit, and others seem to think they know it all, and then quit. Some treat black belt like a driving license. They pass the exam, get their certificate. Now they are a master, and they can hang their certificate on the wall so friends can admire their achievement. But Shodan, or Nidan, really is the beginning.
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The bottom line is that we need to enjoy our training. Perhaps this is why so many quit at this level. Maybe you are no longer enjoying training, and that you feel you’ve no more progress to make? If that is the case, you need to put yourself in a position where you can learn more. Find and approach instructors who can challenge and direct you.
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Firstly, admit that you don’t know. Quell that rising ego because you have a black belt. There is always more to learn. Enjoy yourself, and keep learning. ??
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? Photo Credit: Mikael Hjerpe – With thanks to Jesse Enkamp