“People of mediocre ability sometimes achieve outstanding success because they don’t know when to quit. Most men succeed because they are determined to.” (George E. Allen)
Thought 613
“What worries you, masters you.” (Haddon W. Robinson)
Thought 612
Money will buy me a house, but not a home, a bed, but not a good night’s sleep. (Zig Ziglar)
Thought 610
Do not wait; the time will never be “just right.” Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along. George Herbert
Thought 609
“Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire, which transcends everything.” Annonymous
Thought 609
Who said it could not be done? And tell me what great victories does he have to his credit, which qualifies him to judge what can and can’t be accomplished. (Napoleon Hill Author of the 1936 classic Think and Grow Rich)
Thought 607
Your self-confidence is directly connected to how much you feel you are
making a difference in your world.
Brian Tracy
Thought of the Week 606
“The road to happiness lies in two simple principles: find what interests you and that you can do well, and put your whole soul into it – every bit of energy and ambition and natural ability you have.” (John D. Rockefeller III)
Thought of the Week 604
“The only place where your dream becomes impossible is in your own thinking.” (Robert H. Schuller)
THOUGHT 603The Importance of Perfecting the Basics
By William H. Duessel, Hanshi
When I trained with Master Tatsuo Shimabuku during 1964, he stated that more time should be spent on the basics, a little less time on the kata, and the least time on kumite. I think that new students should have a good understanding of the basics (stances, blocks, strikes, kicks, etc.) before they are started on a kata. This is especially true for the weapons (bo and sai). Most people teach the two empty-hand charts before the student begins the kata. They do not do the same thing with the weapons. Some dojos spend a short time teaching basic techniques with the weapons and then immediately start the student on a complicated weapons kata. I think more time should be spent on the weapon basics before we start the kata. Also, some of the combinations can be taught in advance of the kata. All techniques should be performed with form and speed. Form and Speed equal Power! To obtain speed, you must be relaxed.
Master Shimabuku also stated that although we can be taught a kata in a short time, it takes years of training to really learn the kata. He told me that it would take 20 years of hard training to perfect Sanchin Kata. I would advise all students to not be in a hurry. Isshinryu Karate is a life-time art. If you train hard, especially on your basics, it will make the rest of your training a lot easier. Good basics will improve your kata and your kumite.
