Be careful what you look for

I've taken to reading again. I know, I know...I don't know how to read :) Not true I tell you! I can read! Seriously though, I have dusted off a few books that I have and ordered a couple more. Right now I'm reading "Living the martial way" by Forrest Morgan, "Karate-do" by Gichin Funakoshi and "The book of five rings" by Miyamoto Musashi. Next on the list is "On the warriors path: Philosophy, Fighting and Martial Arts Mythology" by Daniele Bolelli and "Art of War" by Sun Tzu. Each one has offered real nuggets of wisdom that have really made me look at how and why I train. If you're not reading about what you do, and WHY you do it then you are wasting half of your training! I'm not talking about just reading karate, mma or jiu jistu "manuals" that catalog techniques. I'm talking about books that chronicle founders of what you do, philosophy behind things, and books that pick apart the commonly held beliefs of the martial arts.

Question why you do what you do. What you may find out is that the reasons you train are not the reasons that you thought you trained. That maybe there is a deeper need, or calling that draws you to the mat each day. When that happens, don't be surprised if the fire in your belly feels like it is going to burn its way it. Filling your knowledge tank will propel you just as far as practicing your techniques. They are not exclusive in training. You're success depends on both. I promise you.



Master Gichin Funakoshi, Founder of Shotokan Karate,
life long scholar and educator.