Enthusiasm and Commitment
Enthusiasm and Commitment In Training
This is something that only you can find as a student. To practise as often as you can at clubs and also at home, is the only way to get as much as you possibly can from the training.
Students themselves must display determination and discipline in order to bring this about.
The syllabus used to indicated a minimum time required to reach each grade but this could unfairly penalise a student with a natural aptitude who responds well to the training. Students with a lesser aptitude will naturally take longer to reach the same level. It is always communicated to each student that it is the steady personal progression in the art that matters, not a race to change the colour of the belt.
To practise once a month is really a waste of time.
It’s not an “hobby” which you can turn to spasmodically because you feel there’s no teamwork involved and therefore no one is let down by your absence – you’ll be letting yourself down!
Also, each class is a team effort – from the senior instructor to the new beginner – working together to promote skill and experience in martial arts.
“Without practising continually skills swiftly deteriorate, and no one derives any benefit from your unfit, unskilled appearances on the mat.”
It is true, however, that as students progress they can find themselves “in a rut” where nothing new appears to be happening and their progress seems slow.
This happens to ALL of us at some time or other. It is just one of the many demanding challenges that have to be overcome, and unless you really have the desire to achieve, this is when you will join so many other people in disappearing from the art.
Take a fresh look at things, approach from a new angle. If you are a senior, take time to help beginners during training sessions, you will find yourself helping and enjoying the communication. Go and visit another Masters Club – we are friendly with many like minded people in this area and attend common functions and cross train. There is so much depth beneath the surface of goshinjutsu that is impossible to get bored or stop learning.
An instructor is always proud when a student reaches each progressive stage and finally attains or even surpasses the instructor’s own level of achievement and qualification.
Malcolm Keith
Chief Instructor
Youshiki Goshinjutsu
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