Good Made Better

Karate has been known to improve many things. Physical improvements such as balance, co-ordination and strength can be attributed to karate training. We can also thank our karate training for improvements in focus, confidence and awareness. Karate can definitely make good people better.
However, as Sensei Bruce has often told us, "Karate doesn't make a person good. You have to have good qualities already. Karate can also make a bad person more dangerous." And how true these words are.
The reaching and achieving of goals in the way of belts leads to improved confidence. It's easy to feel better about yourself as you see each milestone reached by the colour around your waist. Witnessing the payoff to your hardwork is amazing.
However wonderful it is to have confidence in yourself and your abilities, this is also the time to keep yourself in check. Humility is a huge part of martial arts. To know your abilities and to not display them is the ultimate goal. You shouldn't need to show others how much you know or what you can do. The need to convice others of your worth does not show confidence - it is a display of weakness.
Let's remember to be humble in our karate training. We can't learn while we are talking, so let's listen to all we can and become the best people we can be.