Important Life Lessons from the Dojo

[Sandan]

Yea, I've learned that it's good to stick in there and that you make your own success. There are times when I bring this through to my work and to my non-dojo life.

[Ted T.]

We focus on these attributes for our first 8 kata:

For the Pinans:

1. got a problem? Go straight in and deal with it. Don't procrastinate, don't avoid.

2. Develope your full potential so you have something to bring to your problem solving.

3. Learn how to be under fire without breaking down. Some days a win is just barely holding your own and shaking off how life smacks you.

4. Develope your mind and critical skills so you can choose a wise course of action.

5. Become a "naturally good" person.

For the Naihanchis:

6. Learn how to fit into a group at the bottom.

7. Learn how to be a useful member of the group.

8. Learn how to be a group leader.

[Jinxx0r]

Always finish what you start.

Patience and that there are no shortcuts.

Tension is your enemy... in basically everything, MA or not.

You're not as bad as you think you are, but you're also not as good.

Humility.

Don't dwell on your mistakes and think in the moment. Every time you take action, it is a victory, regardless of the outcome (I'm still working on this one, I spend too much time thinking about my mistakes).

[jarrettmeyer]

Balance. This is the most important thing. In Goju, be both tense and relaxed. Be quick and powerful. Be rooted and mobile.

In life, strive for balance between family, work, church, and school.

[aefibird]

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

I've learned many, many things in my study of MA but one of the biggest lessons for me is that one, above.