“Look deeply into kata, there is much hidden there so the kata must be repeated hundreds and thousands of times to get a true and correct understanding.
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Don’t get bored in training – experiment with different techniques but do not change the kata. Boredom is overcome through self discipline.
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Seek knowledge. Knowledge doesn’t come to you, you must go out and look for it.” ??
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Eizo Shimabukuro (1925-2017) Shōbayashi Shōrin-ryu (少林流)
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Trying to become good at karate is very difficult. It takes a lot of deliberate practice over a long period of time. In the beginning, you will have giant leaps in skill and ability, but after that, you reach a point where it takes so much work just to make incremental improvements. This is when boredom can set in and suddenly you are not going to class regularly and you’re not training as often as you should.
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It’s a really tough time. It’s a time where you have to dig very deep to find the strength to keep pushing through when you just don’t seem to be getting anywhere. It’s a test. A test of your ability to dig deep, to keep training, to be patient.
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You’ve come a long way since you started training. Your fitness and strength have improved, your techniques and knowledge have grown significantly. You have new friends and a new confidence.
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So where’s the problem? Could it be that your thinking isn’t right?
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The truth is to become good at karate, to get anywhere near being proficient with your techniques, drills and kata, you need to do thousands and thousands of repetitions. This is what grows you as a martial artist and moves you along the path.
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So trust in the process. Turn up for class, make it a good habit. STOP making excuses. And just keep practicing.