“Friendship and cooperation are the most important part of karate.” – Seikichi Iha 10th Dan Shorin Ryu Shidokan
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Nothing feels more disappointing than watching your peers get promoted ahead of you – especially if you’ve been training the same amount of time or even longer.
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Instead of throwing in the towel, or soothing your bruised ego with nasty comments about your dojo friends, stop.
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The fact is — this attitude won’t help you progress any faster in martial arts. It would most likely hinder your promotion. The key to progress in martial arts is simple. Work hard.
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But in order to do so, you must rid yourself of some bad habits: Nothing shows more dedication than showing up to class at least 3-4 times a week. There are some students who show up once or twice a week, or show up everyday for a week straight and then take a break for a month or two – this isn’t being consistent.
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Instead of harping on and on about your dojo friends or colleagues being promoted, despite their obvious lack of skill compared to you, you could spend your time doing more productive things…… Training more.
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In our martial arts journey, or even in our daily lives, we all face a common enemy. It prevents us from unleashing our true potential and becoming the best version of ourselves possible. Our biggest enemy is our EGO, and it is what stands between us and our goal.
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Have you felt the sting of envy after watching someone with half your experience promoted to the rank above you? Have you seen people, some of whom started later than you, promoted ahead of you?
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Martial arts isn’t a race – it’s a journey. It does not matter how fast you get promoted, or if your dojo friends or colleagues get promoted before you do. What matters is that you’re trying to improve yourself everyday and working on being the best martial artist YOU can be.
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You may not be the flavor of the month. Therefore you only option is to knuckle down and get on with it…… Go forth and train hard! 
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Seikichi Iha quote from an interview with the Lansing City Pulse
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