Goals

For many of us, goals are an important part of life. For me especially, goals make my life more meaningful. It's how I measure how well I'm doing in this crazy adventure, because sometimes life gets to be so much fun that I forget there are other things I want to accomplish, do (or buy!) later on and only by laying the foundation for some of those things now, will I have a shooting chance of accomplishing them.

We all have many goals, and even if they are not written down and strategically planned out, they still take time and energy and perseverence. A goal that many of us share is to raise our children to be kind, caring, responsible adults. That one takes years to accomplish and more than a little time and energy! (And from what I'm discovering, it never actually ends.)
Karate is no different.

We have many different goals in karate. Your most pressing goal might be to achieve your next belt, but you may have many other goals as well: to learn your next kata, to make your roundhouse kick higher or to clean up your breakfall. There are so many facets to karate that we can have many different goals at the same time.

Summer usually brings with it many activities that take our time away from the dojo. Vacations, cottages, friends coming to visit...it makes it hard to stay focused on our goals at the club. But that's okay. Another great thing about karate is that by simply attending class two or three (or four!) times per week and without even consciously working towards our own goals, we will still make progress to achieve them. Our next kata will be learned, our roundhouse kick will gain more snap and we will become a better partner.

Karate, it's been said many times, is a journey. But I think that it is more like an old friend. A friend you've had since childhood understands that sometimes they will not be your main focus, but that doesn't make them less important or less of a friend. Karate is the same way: sometimes my training feels incredibly intense and focused and other times it simply feels like a good way to exercise with friends. As my goals are realized and my focus changes direction, I can rest assured that just taking classes will help me retain what I've learned and possibly help me to find my next goal. So even if your heading off to class and your mind seems stuck on the bbq or your vacation next month, don't worry. Karate will still be there and it will be willing to meet you head-on when your training becomes focused again and you strive to punch harder, kick higher and retain more each class......you know, when your company has gone home, you're back from vacation and you've had your fill from the bbq. Happy summer everyone!