“Karate is not something so simple as to teach only fighting.” – Kanei Uechi 10th dan Uechi Ryu (1911-1991)
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It is important for every student to be a good listener in the dojo. Much of what you will have to learn will be presented verbally, as well as demonstrated by your teachers.
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Just hearing what your teachers say is not the same as listening to what they say. Listening is very important to show how much you respect the person who is talking and it means hearing the speaker carefully and give him or her your full attention.
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You will learn more and get further in your practice by listening intently to your teacher, trusting in their expertise and checking your ego, than you ever will by not paying attention and trying to do your own thing.
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There is much more to karate than simply fighting. It is the journey that matters. In our culture, we tend to focus on outcomes. Winning versus losing. Gaining weight versus losing weight. In the martial arts, I’ve learned that process is growth, regardless of outcome. A journey in the martial arts is a journey from within. To that end, as we grow old we need not stop growing.
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I love physical training. But if that’s all there was, I would probably have quit a long time ago. Just punching and kicking, with a few exercises thrown in, doesn’t do it for me. I need a deeper connection.
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And one of my favorite aspects of karate is the culture, the language, the history, the philosophy, and the people.
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One of the biggest lessons I learned in the martial arts is that life’s greatest battles are fought within. Even in actual fights, the greatest obstacle we face is our own fear. The battles will be won when we’re willing to face ourselves.
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You will never fully learn everything there is to learn about karate. So when you do have the opportunity to learn, especially from a good teacher, pay attention, soak it up, ask for more, be enthusiastic. Why else would you be there? 

“Karate-do is a lifetime study.” – Mabuni Kenwa (1889-1952)