Regular Training

First published Tuesday 17th August 2010

I'm sure that those of you that have trained with me for some time will have realised that my expectations of myself and my students are often unreachably high, and in some instances, impractical or damn right unattainable.

As much as I truly believe that aiming high should never be seen as a fault or weakness, I also appreciate that not everyone will share my determination to continue to improve and develop as a martial artist, or share my passion for karate, and everything that it has given me.

However, whatever your own expectations of yourself as a martial artist are, there is only one sure fire way to achieve them, and that is REGULAR training.

The benefits of training on a regular basis should be obvious to everyone, but just in case, here are the main ones:

a) You will continue to improve and develop, while learning a balanced amount of each part of the syllabus

b) You are more likely to be selected for grading assessments

c) Your Instructors will notice your dedication and commitment, and really enjoy teaching you and pushing you forward

The problems of not training on a regular basis should also be obvious to everyone, but again, here are the main ones:

a) Your development will slow, you will have gaps in your knowledge and ability, and because of this, your enthusiasm and drive will begin to wither

b) You are unlikely to be selected for grading assessments, and because of this, your enthusiasm and drive will wither even further

c) Your instructors will notice your lack of dedication and commitment, your disappearing enthusiasm and drive, and wonder whether they should devote any more time to teaching you

Ok, so the last one is a bit harsh, but put yourself in the instructor's position. They are having to teach you differently to the rest of the class because you haven't learnt what everyone else has. This usually ends up with a student complaining that they don't know what they are doing, when they really only have themselves to blame for missing the previous sessions.

So what am I driving towards with this post? I totally appreciate that it is not possible for every student to make every session, but I do look at the attendance figures very carefully, and it is not too difficult to notice patterns emerging.

It usually starts with the odd missed session, maybe through work or holiday, and then this slips to every other session. Before long, there are more sessions being missed than attended, and then it is not long before the student stops training altogether. I have taught for too long not to notice these patterns, and that is why I assume students that have not trained for four weeks without advising me in advance have resigned from the club.

There are many reasons why students cannot train, such as illness, injury, work or holiday, and these are all totally understandable, but that is why you have to train on a regular basis for the rest of the time, so if you get held up at work one evening and have to miss a session, or the school is closed and the session cancelled as per last week, it does not end up with a month's gap in your training.

If you are making excuses not to train, then you really need to think where you see your karate heading in the long term. I hate missing any sessions, and I know there are a few of you that share this feeling. That is why I have attended the last 88 consecutive sessions, and ignoring holidays, 215 consecutive sessions, last having to miss training through work on the 3rd of December 2008.

In this time have I been ill, injured or been invited to social events? Yes, of course I have, but my attitude and determination keeps me training through illness and injury, and my friends appreciate how important my karate is to me and understand that I will attend a meal or party on any other night, or arrive late on a karate night after a well earned shower! There is not much any of us can do about work commitments or holidays.

I can just about hear you say that it is easier for me when I'm feeling ill or carrying an injury because I am teaching the session. Let me assure you that isn't the case, and when it is your turn, you'll understand.

Until next time,

Sensei