Great, Not Good!

[sensei8]

My Dai-Soke, Takahashi Sensei, drilled something in our heads over and over...

"Your karate has to be great, not good!"

Good isn't, well, good enough. Whereas, great still makes one to want to reach even higher than ones own expectations. As we improve, so does our satisfaction. Satisfaction over ones karate/martial arts invites complacency, and that's unacceptable to me. Being great doesn't end our continued search for being greater.

To be honest with ourselves is important, so, at your present level....

Is your karate/martial arts great, or is it good? Either way, keep training!

[Lupin1]

Haha. Our instructor pretty much tells us the opposite. He goes on and on about how great some people are and then he tells us we'll never be that great because we're part time martial artists and there's only so much we can do in the two hours a week we train and since most of us started when we were older. He wants us to be great at what we do, but assures us that we shouldn't expect to be able to do what people who train full time all their lives can.

[evergrey]

My karate sucks! But it will improve. I'm just starting to learn, but I know nothing.

[Jeffrey]

My Dai-Soke, Takahashi Sensei, drilled something in our heads over and over...

"Your karate has to be great, not good!"

Good isn't, well, good enough. Whereas, great still makes one to want to reach even higher than ones own expectations. As we improve, so does our satisfaction. Satisfaction over ones karate/martial arts invites complacency, and that's unacceptable to me. Being great doesn't end our continued search for being greater.

To be honest with ourselves is important, so, at your present level....

Is your karate/martial arts great, or is it good? Either way, keep training!

I agree 100% Sensei8… but….

Perhaps making this a life Philosophy rather than just a martial arts one. All too often we find complacency in our lives. Strive to set good examples not only in your training but in everything you do. This will build good Karate.

[Rateh]

My instructor was lecturing us in the red & black belt class just this last week about good and good enough. About giving your whole self, and just meeting the minimum requirements. She said you can go through your testing year, just meeting the bare minimums expected of you. Going to your classes, taking your pre-tests. Passing, but not putting your heart into it. And when September comes around, and you get your black belt tied around your waist, you will know in your heart that you did not give of your whole self. Or you could go through your testing year putting everything you have into it. Expecting more of yourself than your instructors expect of you. Meeting and exceeding everything put before you. And come September when you get your black belt tied around your waist, you will know in your heart that you gave of your whole self, that you put everything on the table, good and bad. And if you made little mistake here or there, at least you will know that you gave your all, and what a great feeling that will be.

[sensei8]

All of us understood what our Dai-Soke was telling us; DON'T BE COMPLACENT! Just as there's no way we can ever master anything because we're imperfect, we can only strive to be great in our karate, but, we don't want to be just good.

All I know is that good is less than great.

[bushido_man96]

I think it is a good motivational idea. Its another way to push people once they think they've reached a pinnacle.

[sensei8]

I think it is a good motivational idea. Its another way to push people once they think they've reached a pinnacle.

BINGO! Absolutely!