Articles by Dahrla Mailman, Shodan

Karate Talk (Issue 1) Living the Five Rules….EFFORT

EFFORT:

Conscious exertion of power: hard work
A serious attempt: TRY
The total work done to achieve a particular end

There once was a parent who allowed her children to quit karate after only one month of classes.

When asked why, she responded with pride, “I don't make my children do anything they don’t want to do.” Wow, what a concept! I suppose her children don't have to go to bed on time, eat their dinner, go to school, do their homework, learn to share, respect authority, or any of the myriad other things we have to do in order to function as members of society. Where would we adults be if we didn’t get up and go to work tomorrow because we didn't want to? Where would our species be if our an- cestors had awakened one day and decided they didn't feel like hunting anymore? EXTINCT!!! Obviously, every functioning adult knows that doing what you don't always want to do is part of a successful lifestyle. Why then do we hesitate to instill that concept in our children?

What about the child who is doing really great in his/her martial arts classes and loves it, but the busy parent just can't seem to work it into their schedule to bring said child to class regularly? What does this teach our children about exerting the effortnecessary to keep something worthwhile and valuable in our lives?

How about the child who is chronically tired from lack of physical conditioning and so has trouble focusing on their homework? What does a caring parent do in this situation? The temptation is to go for the quick fix… let the child skip karate class and take a nap or just relax playing video games, etc. But what are we really accomplishing with this course of action? It's a proven fact that regular physical exercise creates moreenergy, not less, and disciplines such as the Martial Arts develop men- tal focus and acuity. Aren't these the very things this weary, scattered child is in need of?

However, it takes time and commitmentto begin reaping the benefits of any endeavor. To quote Napoleon Hill, “Effort only fully releases it’s reward after a person refuses to quit!” And so, as a par- ent myself, I challenge all of us to expend the effortneeded to instill within our children a sense that they can do more than they think they can; a belief that they are strong, not weak; capable, not lazy; confident, not fearful; WINNERS, NOT QUITTERS! In this way, both we and our children can begin to exemplify the first rule in our own lives!

EFFORT-It’s worth it!