Os, hisashiburi!
I remembered when I was in the Malaysian Squad, we trained in National Karate Squad training camp in Bukit Jalil.
When I first time stepped in the dojo, many surprising motivational features that indeed will inspire any 1 who read/look at it.
Among all, the elite squad have their own wall/section, where they posted their motivational quotes/pictures/items and target that they want to achieve.
But in front of the dojo, where the main whiteboard is placed, and where we line up for the morning mokuso, there was a quote that sound scary but certainly a true 'jodan mawashi geri' to all of us.
"U ARE TRAIN TO WIN GOLD MEDALS NOT TO TRAIN AND TRY." It signifies how important a target in our life. And this become the pillar of the OBJECTIVE TRAINING in Bukit Jalil.
Having train for about 10 hours per day, i.e 7.30 am to 12.30 pm.3.30 pm to 5.30 pm and 8.00 pm to 11 pm at night in our respective styles dojo with own senseis, indeed I have managed to 'shinsei'-ing my heart:), i.e. making myself to reach the level of sincerity and to do it for myself, and to serve as an acceptable ibadah to Allah, the Almighty.
Regardless how my legs were 'crying' (can be read as 'injured, blistered,etc:), and how my body 'sms-ing' me to stop (now you can read yourself:), but i kept on pushing until I reached my target when I won medals for my country.
Above is just a lil' experience sharing, especially for my enthusiastic students and champion wannabes, amin!
The gists I would like to highlight:
1. Never think we are the best, i.e. if got bronze, at least there is karateka who got silver; if we got silver, definitely there is champion who get gold, which he is the best karateka for that event. Remember, good, better, BEST;
2. Train hard and sincerely each seconds you are in the dojo, and out of dojo. coz nothing comes easy, as how the GREAT WALLof China was built by the citizens of the Emperor Shih Huang Ti, and how the China team retain to be the CHAMPION of OLYMPIC GAME till now;
3. Always remain humble to ensure we can 'berlapang dada' in obtaining knowledge from our Sensei, therefore, MUST COME TO DOJO as it is the avenue for us to reach the wholesomeness of being Karateka, among all to get good kihon and good budo;
4. Imagine that what we are training today, is always so little as compared to what your sensei has gone through in his time. they have faced more 'hell' than us in order to reach his 'paradise' of performance, achievement and reputation as what we observe today; and
5. Your journey never ends, even if you get GOLD, and even if you eventually got SHODAN, as there are much more to know as your karate journey is just begun. (Remember: White-purple= imitation of the teachings. Brown=Comprehension of the teachings. Black and above= Continuous application and pursuit of the meaning of the teachings)
Thus students, and reminder to all of us, remember all above Item 1-5.
Indeed being good athlete is one of our endeavour, apart of (A)being a good character martial artist with full application of karate-do principle, spirit and good karate-do techniques, (B) obtaining good health and (C) Self Defence guru, eventually to be a WHOLESOME KARATEKA.
"Karate-do is not only about winning the competition, is about the perfection of the character of the practitoner"
Till then, see your sensei in the dojo!!! Gambatte minna! :)
-Amirul Iman Bin Dollah ( karateka since 1994-now)
