Important Life Lessons from the Dojo

[Kieran-Lilith]

What are the greatest lessons you've learned in your dojo?

Mine would probably be "Anything worth doing is worth doing 100%! (Sir!)"

And

Do what you know is right. Oddly enough, they both stem off the same story.

Story behind it, would be nobody was really working hard or concentrating, which is precisely what we were working on. Focus. If we weren't focused, chances are, your partner was getting hurt. Sensei stopped us all, and he was rather angry. He asked us how many of us believed that anything worth doing was worth doing 100%. Everybody raised their hands. So he told us to say it. We did, quietly. He told us we couldn't possibly mean it, and we had to be louder. We were louder. He said it still wasn't good enough, shout it at the top of our lungs. You could literally hear the whole dojo inhale for about three seconds...nobody said a word, until I opened my big mouth and shouted it it as loud a I possibly could. Sensei knows I believe it. And I know to do what's right, and to do it with all I have. It's still kinda funny that I yelled it all by myself, though. Everybody else was too scared.

[Smitty]

My most important lesson...... so many to try to pick one out of...

I guess it's patience. Lots and lots of patience. My sensi has us doing the Taikyoku katas over and over again. At first, I hated them, they were basic, and BORING. But I had to do them to get to do other katas, and some nights I didn't get to do other katas. One night, I did it technique by technique, step by step, every step being corrected if it was wrong. I had never realized there was so much to have right. Now, I have to be patient in waiting to start, because they're my favorites.

The patience I was taught has helped in my outside life, as well. Before long, I found myself being patient with the trouble makers at school, patient with my parents in our disagreements, and patient with my girlfriend (and boy, do I need it.)

So... yeah... Patience.

[Cmon]

Mine would be,

Give everything a go don't be affraid to try stuff out that you don't think you can do because most of the time you can do it. It is just in your head that you can't.

[Mr. Mike]

kind of the same here...you can always do better than you think you can.

[neko_shojo]

I think the most imprtant lesson I've learned from my dojo...and martial arts in general is that everything is possible with diligence, courage and practice.

[robadob]

Stick to your obligations.

Never quit, no matter how you feel.

Punching and kicking are secondary, martial arts begins within you

My instructor made it clear to me the day I started that he was obligated to teach me as long as I was obligated to learn. He also tells us we should always come to the dojo, unless of disabling injury. He says if we are sick we can still watch, take notes, and learn. We are also taught how "doing martial arts" and "knowing martial arts" are two separate things. Doing martial arts is good, but knowing/learning them is where the true rewards are.

[pineapple]

When I was just starting out in the martial arts, I watched the black belts in awe and told myself that I could never do what they're doing. When I finally achieved my black belt, I learned that even if something appears to be very difficult, as long as you don't give up, you will achieve that goal.

[karatekid1975]

The answers here are very good ones. I have to agree that I learned all of these through MA. The biggest one would have to be patience and modesty. Another thing that finally sunk in my thick head lately (LOL) is what I learned in Tang Soo Do (that I still work on) is "Finish what you start."

[Grenadier]

Martial arts training means many things. One of the most important ones, though, is training the mind and body to override that which initially seems natural.

After all, when you hit the first phase of being tired, your instinct is to stop, and rest, but the martial arts training teaches you to transcend those limits.

Let's face it; unless you were a phenomanlly gifted athlete, you were all huffing and puffing your way through the introductory classes, as a white belt, learning how to condition your body and mind, dealing with the soreness of exertion. Once you got past that initial phase, that's where you probably realized that you can do many things that you previously couldn't.

Also, many of the movements themselves aren't exactly natural-feeling either, but to practice these movements grants you a sense of balance, focus, etc., previously unattainable.

[italian_guy]

Martial arts training means many things. One of the most important ones, though, is training the mind and body to override that which initially seems natural.

After all, when you hit the first phase of being tired, your instinct is to stop, and rest, but the martial arts training teaches you to transcend those limits.

Let's face it; unless you were a phenomanlly gifted athlete, you were all huffing and puffing your way through the introductory classes, as a white belt, learning how to condition your body and mind, dealing with the soreness of exertion. Once you got past that initial phase, that's where you probably realized that you can do many things that you previously couldn't.

Also, many of the movements themselves aren't exactly natural-feeling either, but to practice these movements grants you a sense of balance, focus, etc., previously unattainable.

Good post grenadier! Since I joined JKD/kali this white belt feeling has come back again!