Lessons from Karate I started karate when I was three years old and received my black belt when I was nine. It was hard work for a child, but it paid off. I learned many valuable lessons that would help me in the long run. Karate taught me self-defense, dependability, focus, leadership skills, goal setting, and physical fitness. One of the most important skills, karate, taught me was dependability. My classmates depended on me to show up on time for class. If anyone was late, we were all required to do pushups. For example, I was late to class once, and because I was late everyone had to do forty pushups. Making everyone do forty pushups was a quick way to make enemies, therefore I did not want to be late again. Similarly, it has taught …show more content…
The six months prior to receiving my black I was required to help teach karate classes. I, at the age of nine, had to help teach karate classes to students who were often older than me. I would be put in charge of teaching a couple other students. Overall, having to teach people younger than I really helped me in my job this past year, as I was the youngest employee and I had to teach new employees. Another way training for my karate black belt helped me be a leader because I knew I had to set a good example. Because I was a higher belt than most kids my age, I was expected to set a good example for them even though we were the same age. One way I would do this was by encouraging others instead of putting them down. How to lead others is a great and useful skill to learn at a young …show more content…
It was drilled into me that karate was for self-defense only. It is never to be used to bully anyone. In fact, if a karate instructor heard that I used karate for anything else, they would kick me out of class. I learned several self-defense techniques that could save my life. Some of the skills I learned were how to get out of different kinds of choke holds, how to disarm someone with a knife, stick disarms and much more. I am lucky enough that I have never had to use any of these techniques, but we drilled them so much theses self-defense moves are
Throughout history knowledge, culture and information has been passed down within communities. Life lesson were often taught by older, wiser or formally educated people within the community. This idea still holds true today, especially in low-income communities as illustrated in the short story “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara. I am led to believe that story took place in a low-income community in the early to mid-sixties as African-American families moved to find better opportunities, when extended families moved north as groups and then spreading out into their respective community (507). Miss Moore, who had obtained a college education, assumed this role within her community by saying “it was only right that she should take responsibility for the young one’s education” (507). Initially the lesson of the day was the value of money, but quickly evolved into several different lessons for the children in attendance that day.
Involvement in marching band, field hockey, and various other activities has given me many opportunities to show leadership. My first leadership opportunity was in eighth grade when I became a WEB leader. While I was a WEB leader, I helped incoming sixth graders get adjusted to middle school life and find their classes on the first day. I also met up with the sixth graders in my group once a month at lunch and got to know them while I asked how school was going and helped them with any issues they had. In marching band, this past season I was a marching captain for my section. I helped the freshmen learn to march, demonstrated proper marching techniques for others, and gave advice to anyone having trouble with part of our marching show. At the start of field hockey season I showed leadership by helping new players learn to play field hockey by demonstrating how
My father taught me to fight. He took to Camp Lejeune with him and had me watch the Marines training for hand to hand combat. He taught me how to fight with a knife, to shoot a gun and to find the weakness in any opponent I might have. The skills I learned helped me defend myself and my friends from the perils that awaited us.
“To conquer frustration, one must remain intensely focused on the outcome, not the obstacles.” I still remember this quote from Within I Rise by T.F. Hodge because this specific quote has helped me through my long and winding journey toward the black-belt. It started with my friend in fifth grade showing me what he learned in karate class the day before, and me asking my mother if I could join. My brother and I went to our first class and I instantly fell in love with the sparring, grappling, fighting combinations, self-defense, and of course, learning to use nunchucks. It was not long before I had my eye on the black-belt, but there were many obstacles ahead. Less than one percent of all students at my karate school end up getting to
I spent two years working on a literary magazine and newsletter, and proved myself enough to grab a higher position my second year. Helping others perform to their fullest with my help is extraordinarily rewarding. These qualities reflected on the two years I spent regularly babysitting after school and on call. Babysitting not only helped me develop my leadership and role model traits, it was also gratifying to know that because I dedicated myself, I was making the lives of parents
I first encountered the significance of leadership in the tenth grade. Berry College the largest campus in the U.S. was in search of school ambassadors to serve part in a seminar known as HOBY. To get chosen you had to write an essay describing your leadership roles, and at that moment I thought that I did not have any. I literally did not know what it meant to be a leader. I had to brainstorm till I remembered going through one of the most difficult times of my life. The lack of understanding the English language became one of my biggest obstacles, and even caused me to repeat a chapter of my life. However, I did not cease; I continued to fight and strove to help others who were susceptible of following my steps. I used my story as an example, and hoped that it would make a difference in someone else’s life.
I have been given several opportunities to teach these skills to younger girls, including organizing the San Francisco Girl Scout Skills Camporee training, where we trained Girl Scouts of all ages for the annual Skills Camporee. For multiple years in a row, girls in my troop and I organized and designed the training activities for this event. Events like this have improved my leadership abilities and inspired me to continue learning as a Girl Scout. Of all of the amazing experiences that I have gotten from Girl Scouts, the most important to me has been the opportunities to meet hundreds of other inspired young women and help them enrich their own lives through Girl Scout programs. Through my troop, I was connected with DWEN, Dell Women’s Entrepreneurship Network.
I’ve been involved with sports since I was 2 years old, participating in these taught me more than the sports themselves; they taught me who I am. I put in countless hours of gymnastics practice, so many that the majority of kids couldn’t imagine the dedication needed to become a state and national champion. It taught me a few of the most vital lessons that I will ever learn; to contribute 100 percent in everything I do and to balance various aspects of my life. Gymnastics also taught me perseverance, how to work harder to achieve a goal, no matter how difficult.
It is Important to remain teachable before, during and after your leadership position. With leadership comes great responsibility. I have been blessed with a great work ethic, I was disciplined with as a Child and bringing it into my young adult years has helped me a lot. My passion has been in Early Childhood, my passion is what drives me to be the leader I want to be. Every leader should want to lead to where their followers surpass themselves.
Kempo teaches self-defense. Self-defense is the defense of one's person or interests through the use of physical force. The art of Kempo is a process of learning a skill through repetition. As stated in the article written by Pamela Knudson, she states “Aug. 05--Watch Casey Mihalek lead the white-clad, barefoot members of his karate class at ATA Martial Arts in Grand Forks and you'll see a well-orchestrated training regimen with a purpose: self-defense infused with discipline and respect”(Knudson). When you learn techniques such as the kicks and blocks from an instructor you will need practice to build these skills and the more you practice Kempo the more it seem like second nature. As stated in the article written by Kristin E. Holmes, she states “Genell, 46, a safety director for a demolition company, operated a karate studio for seven years, but decided to focus on teaching adaptive martial arts after being inspired during a stint at a camp for children with disabilities”(Holmes). Once you have acquired these skills you no longer have to think about the techniques you will automatically react with self-defenses moves.
Philosophy is one of the most important aspects of any traditional martial art. The philosophies of many martial arts such as Taekwondo, Kung Fu, and Karate are based off of Confucianism and principles from Confucius’s The Analects. Although traditional martial arts contain philosophical teachings, modern martial arts have lost their meaning, or “art.” The popularity of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has contributed greatly to the loss of meaning in modern martial arts. By examining the philosophy’s importance in The Analects, one can see how martial arts is more than a physical set of skills.
I joined Girl Scouts when I was six years old and continued with it until my senior year of high school. Without Girl Scouts, I know I would not be where I am today. By the time I entered high school, my troop consisted of a mere eight girls. Despite that small number, we were able to take on big projects that our leader gave us entire control over. It is because of these events—Girls Night Out, the Father Daughter Dance, and Spa Night to name a few—that I learned how to be a leader. Planning these events taught me how to organize, manage my time, and delegate tasks. Being a leader was never something I was thrilled to do, but Girl Scouts forced me out of my comfort zone and taught me skills I will use for the rest of my life.
It rises even more when you start to successfully spar and win against people. Discipline comes from listening to your instructor. Asking questions such as “Do I face my fist this way or that”, questions like these are what you should listen to. By listening to and doing what your sensei says you will learn discipline. Integrity comes from showing up every day and doing your best, even win your instructor is helping someone else. Honesty comes with this as well, when you admit your mistakes on the exercise it helps you know that honesty is right. Enlightenment comes from knowing there is a higher power and following the Way. Timing is a skill that takes both mental and physical disipline. You must learn to read your opponent’ rhythm and use a rhythm they don’t expect to get in them in your critical distance line and
I was in a program called Servant and Leadership Training; nicknamed as SALT or Slave and Labour Training. The nickname halfway sums up the program. Everyday we woke while the campers were sleeping, served when they woke, cleaned when they left, and learned when they were gone. We learned things such as how the Bible and Science are like Hamlet and revenge, and that to become a leader you must first set yourself apart for the masses. This idea is expressed by the brilliant businessman Ray Kroc. Ray Kroc once said, “The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves”. This quote moved me to stay on task every day and to strive to do my best. My mindset encouraged my team to push past the unrelenting sandman that reminded us of our exhaustion, to overlook our aching muscles, and to see every smiling face as a success. I soon become the one that our counselors looked to for leadership. I was able to control our team in a way that they couldn’t. My ability to lead led me to run a store while I was there. I assigned my team members jobs, took care of issues, and open and closed for my boss. All of this taught me the importance of being a fair and stern leader; as well as contributing to my personal development.
I quickly learned at a very young age the value of hard work. Both of my parents had worked hard to achieve their dreams of a nice home, cars, and financial stability. Their working hard not only paid off financially, but they taught my two brothers and I, that working hard was imperative to life. I was given a set of chores and an allowance every week, which taught me responsibility and how to manage money. I also realized that cooperation goes hand in hand with hard work. My brothers and I would help each other with our chores from time to time. I did not know that cooperation works on a larger scale in the workplace, that sometimes one needs help to achieve their ultimate goal.