From the Desk of.....

Fred Altensee
Dai Sempai

When you practice, what do you think about? Is your mind focused on the task at hand or are you somewhere else?  Many students give the impression that they are not "fully in the moment."  Why is this?  It can be that they are dwelling on outside commitments.  If this is the case, then they probably follow the same pattern in other areas, constantly letting their minds wander and wasting time.  This is bad enough in itself, but the real loss is when the ability to fully appreciate each moment disappears.

We each have goals and desires that we strive for, somehow thinking that when they are realized (when I get that car, pay raise, finish school, when the kids finish school, etc.) somehow everything will fall in place and we can then start living  and enjoying our lives.  How sad!  The goal is the process and the journey, for how many goals change or go unrealized?  But what is not lost is the experience and life that has been enriched in striving to better ourselves.

What does this have to do with Karate practice? Everything!  Focus on the task at hand, fully commit to your practice, and explore in the deepest manner possible the things that you have been taught and everything else will fall into place.

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