(Approx 1 minute 55 second read)

I love the comments section on my articles – it gives me a moment to reflect and put my thoughts together for another article.
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Assumptions – they often lead to misunderstanding and conflict. Some comments come from people who misread my article, people who don’t know me at all, where I’ve been, or how I’ve spent my time, both in the dojo and in my career.
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I often write about the need to ask questions because, for me, it’s the only way to get real answers. And if those answers don’t sound right, look elsewhere. Take those blinders off and throw them away. Question everything, even the things you think you know.
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It’s always better to approach others with curiosity rather than judgment. Unfortunately, social media tends to encourage the opposite.
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Humility is one of those principles that gets preached over and over. The martial arts are supposed to teach respect and help reduce the ego.
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Um. Perhaps not.
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When you make an assumption, you tell yourself that something is true without actually having any evidence that it is.
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But the bigger question is: why do people make assumptions about things said (or written) by someone they don’t even know?
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When you train in the martial arts, you’re not just training your body – you should also be training your mind.
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It’s easy to make assumptions. All you need is incomplete information about a person (or a post) and an unwillingness to ask the questions needed to complete the picture.
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You fill in the blanks with your own interpretation, shaped by past experiences. Armed with this incomplete information, you connect dots that aren’t there. You can’t help it – you’re missing key details. In trying to make sense of the situation, you create connections that don’t actually exist, leading to conclusions that are often completely wrong.
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It’s difficult to make people understand your views when they’ve already made up their minds. They’ll only take in as much as they’re willing to, not as much as you hope to explain.
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People judge behavior and thoughts based on their own views, experiences, and biases – not necessarily the facts. There will always be someone who just can’t understand where you’re coming from or why you do things a certain way.
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But the more you challenge your own assumptions, the more karate – and anything, really – opens up to you.
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And maybe, just maybe, instead of jumping to conclusions, you can learn to ask, listen, and truly understand. That’s where real progress begins.
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Or, you know, just keep assuming stuff – like those bunkai applications you swear by, that is completely useless outside the dojo against anyone who isn’t playing along. I’m sure that’ll work out well.
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Written by Adam Carter