| This question seems innocent and easy to | | | | You can make it a fun and challenging hobby and |
| answer. But the truth is that it is not an easy | | | | family activity by participating with other family |
| question to answer at all, because it must be | | | | members. You can make it a really worthwhile |
| answered on so many different levels. "What is | | | | physical activity by training hard and improving |
| karate really all about?" | | | | your health and fitness. You can also make it an |
| Is it about learning some punches, kicks and | | | | incredibly tedious and frustrating pursuit that |
| blocks? Is it about memorizing endless forms? Is | | | | becomes potentially harmful to both your |
| it about self-defense? Is it about health and | | | | self-confidence and your character by not trying |
| fitness? How about making friends and socializing? | | | | to do your very best, and feeling like you are "no |
| And what about all of those buzzwords such as | | | | good" compared to everyone else in your class. |
| self-discipline, self-confidence, self-control, | | | | Or, as I have done, you can make it a lifelong |
| self-esteem and all of those other 'self' prefixes | | | | goal to try to capitalize on the strengths that you |
| that cater to our already aggrandized egos? | | | | were born with and gradually improve your |
| Some of us have already done our research on | | | | weaknesses through the honest and fully |
| this topic to find out what karate is all about and | | | | committed practice of karate. |
| we have found many different but complimentary | | | | Perfection of character doesn't mean that you |
| answers. Conventional martial arts wisdom tells us | | | | never make a mistake. Trying to be truthful and |
| that karate is about perfecting our character, | | | | honest doesn't mean that you never catch |
| being truthful and honest, never giving up, building | | | | yourself being hypocritical at times. Nor does |
| strong spirit, trying our best at all times, adhering | | | | trying your best mean that you're never tired. |
| to strict discipline and etiquette, following "the | | | | What is most important from all of this is your |
| path" or "the Way", and reaching our potential in | | | | self-awareness. Through the template and |
| life. | | | | practice of karate we should be able to |
| I can guarantee that if I put this question to a | | | | constantly polish the stone that holds all of our |
| room full of students, all of the above answers | | | | skills, so that we can clearly see our own |
| will be volunteered and probably several others. | | | | reflection in all its beauty and even all of its |
| The point of the introduction to this article is that | | | | ugliness. |
| karate is about all of the above and none of the | | | | Gradually through consistent effort, practice and |
| above. It all depends on who you are talking to. | | | | knowledge of ourselves that we develop through |
| The problem is that the difference between most | | | | our practice, we can tip the balance of our life's |
| people's words and actions can be significant. | | | | scale to positive nourishment and |
| For example, saying that karate is about focus | | | | self-improvement. This inevitably leads toward |
| and discipline and then demonstrating weak | | | | helping others and finding our own place in this |
| technique and bad manners while being easily | | | | world. Karate, although not complete in and of |
| distracted tells me that someone isn't really being | | | | itself, holds many keys that lead us towards this |
| honest. Saying that karate is about health and | | | | goal. |
| fitness and then driving straight to McDonalds | | | | If you need more help with this or any other |
| after class for a Big Mac with extra fries might be | | | | karate subject, please be sure to download my |
| equally questionable in terms of an honest | | | | FREE Report "Beginners Guide to Karate". You will |
| practice. | | | | find out how to download it at |
| So "what is karate really all about?" I'd say it's all | | | | Good luck and best wishes on your journey in |
| about YOU and it's all about what YOU make of it. | | | | karate. |