I am often asked for answers to questions from people online that I have never met, without knowing who these people are, or what they are doing, or where they come from. There are no introductions, or any form of politeness, it’s just…. “I want information, give it to me NOW!”
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Sharing knowledge is the most fundamental act of friendship. Because it’s a way you can give something without loosing something.
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However, you have to do the diligent study too. It’s part of the never ending process of learning. Teachers start the process it’s up to you to take up the challenge.
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There is so much superficial karate out there today, and some practitioners want to get to the end of the journey before they have even started, taking as many shortcuts as they can.
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There are NO shortcuts to quality learning. In a nutshell, it grows, like a tree, on progressive layers and branches of learning that need to be grasped, mastered and integrated in order to make sense of the next level.
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Good teachers are invaluable, and learning difficult material is satisfying in itself. Mastering the knowledge and skills taught in the dojo can be innately rewarding. It builds satisfaction and pride. It yields a sense of accomplishment that is far more rewarding than making progress without trying.
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Ultimately though, learning is a personal accomplishment, a private success that makes all the effort worthwhile. When you succeed in learning something challenging, you know you’ve done well. You know you’re ready for the next level. You’re better prepared to really to do well in the martial arts….. And you know you didn’t cut any corners.
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So don’t cheat. Don’t pretend you did it. Don’t lie….. WORK FOR IT.
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Older practitioners, masters, always talk about spending their lives working on their kata, on their karate. Always striving to improve even after 40, 50, 60 or more years practicing. I’ve come to understand that means also working on yourself as a human being, always striving to be a better person. Your karate, and you, are a whole…… It’s up to you. 
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“… if you only train the physical technique without enlightening your spirit, which is fundamental, you will be unable to use the art. You must become clear-sighted in life and seek to develop modesty, a calm spirit, alertness, and bravery at the same time as you train in the physical techniques.” – Chotoku Kyan (1870-1945)
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