From: "Matt Kaplan" <msk15@...>

Date: January 24, 2009 9:49:44 AM EST

To: <Deshi-SRKUSA@yahoogroups.com>

Subject: [USRKUSA - Deshi]  Karate TFTW - Jan. 26, 2009

Greetings!!

The following Thought for the Week for January 26, 2009, is guest-written by Ruilong Ma, a student of the Ueshiro Okinawan Karate Family Club in State College, PA. [Ruilong is our clubs first and only Shodan. He is 17 years of age and is a senior at the State College Area High School.]

Sincerely, Matt Kaplan, Shihan

Ueshiro Okinawan Karate Family Club

 

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“What Does Shorin-Ryu Karate Mean To You?”

 

It is a short, seemingly simple question, and the last question many of us are asked on our promotion tests. Yet it is also a question we all could spend some more time thinking about.

 

Considering all the other options we have in life, such as watching TV or sleeping in, why is it that we make time day after day, week after week to practice our kata and attend workouts?

 

When searching for karate’s meaning upon our lives, there is so much to consider. How does doing karate make us feel? How does our training strengthen us both physically and mentally?

 

To have a meaning, or purpose, for our karate is to have a direction, or motivating factor, driving forward our training. With a direction in mind, we are better able to continue our lifelong journeys along the path of karate-do.

 

Once you think you have an answer, go out and share with your friends and family what you think karate means to you. Be inquisitive; ask your fellow deshi, your Sensei or even Hanshi if you get a chance and learn from their wisdom what karate means to them.

 

Domo Arigato Gozaimasu Hanshi, Kyoshi, Sensei, Sempai, Deshi,

 

Ruilong Ma, deshi, Sho-Dan,

Ueshiro Okinawan Karate Family Club

State College, PA