Karate is a dynamic art. Being such, people are able to study the art of karate for their entire lives and still feel as though they've only scratched the surface. The many facets keep us intrigued and the constant need to reach for our own improvement keeps us both humble and working hard.
Obviously, people take up karate these days for different reasons than for what it was originally intended. We are not training our Little Warriors to prepare them for an actual battle (just imaginary ones!) and therefore the training is much different these days. People start karate for many different reasons. Some people are trying to lose weight, gain coordination, make friends, learn self defense etc. Some are just trying on something new to see if it fits. Some (like myself) saw people doing kata and drills and thought "You know what? I think I might be able to do that."
Because of the different reasons people train, karate has changed. We are no longer humiliated on the floor for not knowing something, we are encouraged and given a chance to try without fear. Our goal is to give people a place they can come, regardless of age or ability, and learn about the dynamic art of karate. While there, they will find friends and many, many laughs. They will work hard and form a bond with others on the floor next to them. They will leave each night knowing that their karate training is helping their body and their mind. They will leave feeling that they are part of something bigger. Karate, to an observer, is obviously very physical. But to those who know, to those who train, they know it is so much more. We learn to look after each other, to stand up for those who need help and to be the best person we can be. As Kyoshi Sailly said (but more eloquently and with his wonderful accent) at today's seminar at SMA in Kingston "We are not just karateka on the training mat, we are karateka off as well - remember that."
We are not helping to prepare people for battle; we are helping each other prepare for life.
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