Champions Rise through Resilience

Being mentally tough is a skill set like any that takes repetitive practice daily. It is easy to seem disciplined when things are going well and everything is in order, but it is a different game when things break that momentum.

Take the summer for instance; if you are like most you may find it challenging to get that daily workout in when the kids are home and vacation time kicks in. This is that 1 step forward, 1 step backward pattern that can be a recipe for failure should you get caught in that trap. Failure doesn’t have to be some big defined event, but it can be a competent, disciplined, and motivated person falling short of their true potential.

From time to time, we see this in karate when a highly successful karate student does so well during the school year only to have it impacted by the casualness of the summer. This is usually the result of lax attendance and not being accountable for making up those missed classes. Had the students been able to put a little bit of pressure on themselves and used some discipline, they would find they would be right back to that feeling of unstoppable confidence in the dojo.

Now that the 2024 Olympics are underway, we can see this principle in action on the global stage. Athletes from around the world have spent years training with discipline and determination to compete at the highest level. Yet, even the best can face setbacks, whether from injuries, pressure, or unexpected challenges. It's their mental toughness and ability to push through these obstacles that often make the difference between standing on the podium and falling short.

This resilience is similar to what we push students at First Choice Martial Arts to become. Just as Olympians aim for gold, our students aim for their next belt achievement and now that we are at the start of August, it looks as if kids and parents are starting to get back into that much-needed routine of success.

With that in mind, let's conquer these last few weeks of summer and work towards greater progress as we target that next belt achievement this September. Remember, the goals we set are the goals we get!

 Sensei Chris