What do we learn from Karate training?

A good friend of mine who was thinking about sending her son to Karate lessons recently asked me: “What will he learn from Karate?”. 

I took a deep breath and wet on a 15-minute ‘flow of consciousness’ about the benefits of Karate training for both children and adults. 

Of course, through Karate training we gain fitness and confidence, as well as leadership skills in a fun and supportive environment.  Respect and discipline in the dojo (Karate academy) underpin our practice and lead to respect and discipline in the outside world. Training consistently and striving for improvement is also a true metaphor for life – teaching us that through consistent actions we can improve and reach for a higher goal.  In tournaments we learn the self-mastery, courage and grit required for preparation and competition.  We also develop sportsmanship and learn how to deal both with winning and with losing. Those who join our dojo also become part of an international family where we nurture and uplift each other and share friendship and laughter.

I could go on and on, but let me tell you this story:

During the same week, I was talking to an accomplished senior Karate instructor (Sensei) and dojo owner who is also a professional woman and a mother.  She was sharing with me her ongoing journey of surviving some extremely traumatic experiences she had had with her health in recent years.  The events almost left her dead at a time when she had 2 small children, one of whom was just a newborn.  During that conversation she said: “If it was not for my Karate training, I would not have made it through.”

This was such an impactful statement for me, it will never leave me.  It demonstrates the power of years of training, dedication and grit, which can come through for us at a time of crisis.  We can lean on the mental and physical skills we have built through years of Karate training.

A lot of people who begin Karate training are focused on advancing in the belt ranks and the possibility of winning trophies.  I find that as we progress, especially beyond the first black belt level, the reasons why we started Karate are not the same as the reasons why we continue to train.  You see, the person who started all those years ago is no longer here, that person has been profoundly transformed. There are different values we have uncovered along the way.

The grades are merely goal posts.  The more important thing is how you change, who you become in the process of turning up, training, developing skills and self-knowledge.  As we mature as Karate practitioners we move from being a recipient of knowledge and instruction to being a source of knowledge and contributor to the development of others.  This is the true value of Karate.

Karate training provides a clear progression, goals that we can strive for.  But more importantly it can be a lifetime journey of growth, contribution and self-discovery.

After more than 18 years of training, coaching and competing in various styles of martial arts, I have no plans to quit.