(Approx 1 minute 45 second read)

I often get asked this question: “How can I improve my karate?” The answer is really very simple: practice.
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Yes, of course, you need a good teacher. And if you’re lucky enough to find one, make sure you go the extra mile to learn from them.
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If you only manage to get to the dojo once a week, or if you take time off and miss classes, your skills will naturally decline. As Gichin Funakoshi wrote, “Karate is like boiling water: without heat, it returns to its tepid state”.
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Making any kind of training a habit is important. Practice at home. You need to reinforce what you’ve been taught outside of the dojo. If you can’t get to class, practicing on your own becomes even more important.
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One of the fundamentals I’ve always stuck by is this: once learned, never forgotten – out of respect for my teachers.
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It amazes me how many people say, “I’ve forgotten what you taught me”. Usually, this happens because some practitioners just don’t have the self-discipline to practice diligently and regularly.
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When I first started training, I would write things down after class. Another student and I would compare notes, and after everyone had left, we’d spend a few minutes going through what we had learned to make sure we got it right.
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When I got home, I’d go over everything again – practicing if I could, or at least visualizing it in my mind.
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My notebook went everywhere with me. Whenever I had the chance, I’d open it up and practice.
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My instructor expected us to remember what we’d been taught and to practice at home. This kept us accountable and pushed us to get better.
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Set yourself the goal of practicing outside the dojo whenever you can, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Make it a habit, and it will be easier to maintain. Reinforce what your instructor has shown you in class.
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Personally, I like to immerse myself in everything I can about my chosen subject. You might want to try that too. Spend a few minutes reading about martial arts history, philosophy, or culture. Those are great ways to deepen your understanding, and they don’t take much time.
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Applied consistently, they’ll greatly improve your karate and overall knowledge. There’s always more to learn and more you can apply.
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Do you practice every day? I do. Once learned, never forgotten.
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“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit”. – Aristotle
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Written by Adam Carter