Thoughts from a Hopeful Sensei: Back to the Dojo ??

Mokuso: A Reflection on Gratitude

After 18 months out of action due to the pandemic, my karate club returns to training tomorrow... a flash of hope and light at the end of the tunnel. I'm really freaking excited.

Whilst the pandemic has taught us all a great deal about the aspects of our lives which we have taken for granted; our ability to gather with friends, to hug our families, to visit new places, or even eat out at a restaurant; I am hopeful that we will continue with a sustained appreciation for those shared rituals which we have longed for so dearly in recent times.

In a traditional karate setting, each class will begin & end with a traditional bow on the floor, followed by a moment of silent meditation, known as mokuso. In our first class back to training tomorrow, my ask to our students during that mokuso will be to reflect on all the great and many positives in our lives which we have often taken for granted, and to focus hard on practicing gratitude for some of these wonderful aspects of lives which are now returning.

For me, missing out on teaching my students or training with my coaches has been a massive hole that I didn't see coming. I hadn't appreciated the sense of purpose & satisfaction my own teaching & training had brought to my life each and every week, and how it made everything in life better, until it was gone. It wasn't the physical exercise. It wasn't the technical detail, or even the mental challenge of learning a new technique. Any of that I could do at home; squeezing in a few drills in my living room or reading books & blog articles online. And I probably didn't do enough.

The Shared Pursuit of Perfection

I've realised it was the shared learning experience, and the ability to enjoy our passion for the art together which is what made it so special. Each class, I would walk out of the dojo (training hall) seeing the development of my students first-hand, or knowing that I was improving in my own training thanks to my coaches. One of the founders of modern karate, Gichin Funakoshi, once said that "the ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants." In twenty-plus years I don't think I've ever seen what we could call the 'perfect' karate demonstration - I don't think I ever will - but it's that shared pursuit of perfection and personal development which I've always found to be the most powerful source of inspiration in life.

"The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of character of its participants."

- Gichin Funakoshi

In Okinawa, there is also an old proverb that says that "one cannot master karate even in three lifetimes," and when I think about anything worth learning or studying in life, I'd bet this same statement holds true. We'll never be perfect, whether it be our performance in work, in education, in sport, or even in our relationships... but we can always be learning.

Back to the Dojo

As a Sensei (instructor), my focus now is on prepping for our first few classes back to training, welcoming back our students, and even meeting some new ones. It's a focus on the relationship, with my club, and our members. I'm nervous, and I'm excited.

When I first started teaching 10+ years ago, I thought my job was the make sure my students knew how to perfectly perform the techniques prescribed to them in their syllabus. My job was to instruct, and instruct I did, and it was joyless. Some students improved, some fell away, and eventually our standards stagnated.

As we return to training, I've realised that my own training & standards don't matter. Even the standards of our students won't matter, not for now. As we all emerge from this pandemic, battle-hardened from protective blocks & defensive barriers we've adopted to keep our families and loved ones safe, we can't expect to walk straight back into the office, the sportsground, or even the dojo performing just as we did before. Nobody's perfect, and we never were, but we can still aim to be.

My role as an instructor as we resume classes will be to rebuild the confidence in my students, and create an environment for them to find the joy in their own learning & development over time. That's my first priority. Is that not the responsibility of any leader? If I can do that, that sense of 'perfection' will come in time... or it won't... no matter.

It's the pursuit that counts.

Closing Note

I'm hopeful for a working world & society post-pandemic which is more empathetic to those around us, understanding of others' struggles, and one which is more appreciative of the many aspects of our lives which we used to take for granted.

As your own teams, businesses & lives return to 'normality', how're you trying to rebuild those safe environments for learning and personal growth in those around you?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

OSS! ????

Rory ??