Sydney ( my pug/ beagle cross little walking buddy) and I were out for our walk today and we came across another walker walking her dog. As I looked closer I recognized the other walker to be someone who had had two of her boys in our Karate program. Both of her boys had gone a long way in our program with one of them getting his Black Belt and eventually teaching for us.
The mom and I walked for a while and as always the conversation between us parents turns to our kids. The son of hers who had been one of our instructors had eventually gone on to a career in the U.S. Air Force. She went on to tell me an interesting story about her son Chris.
While Chris was at the Air Force Academy he told his mom that a certain thing caught his eye. It was...
The Inability Of Many Of His Fellow Cadets To Stand Still While Directions Were Given
Interesting. The ability to stand still and follow directions is important in any walk of life. These young men at the academy were most likely between the ages of 18 and 22 and some of them had not yet learned the importance and the value of being able to center one's attention on the task at hand.
Focus and be ready. It's a big part of what we teach in the martial arts. It's also important for students and families to realize that it doesn't happen overnight. Training the body and the mind to be able to react effectively in any situation is a worthwhile endeavor that results in remarkable benefits for the martial arts practitioner.
Training the body and mind can be a worthwhile pursuit that can have remarkable benefits for anyone who is willing and committed to reaching new physical and mental heights. It takes some practice, willlingness to get through the tough times, and a pride in oneself and one's accomplishment. Anyone can do it if they set their mind and will to it.
You owe it to yourself to be healthy and strong. It's never too late to start and it's always motivating to find new things to complement an existing program. Strong mind. Strong body. Why would you settle for anything less? To your health and the health of your family.
