ARTICLES

Break Through the Wall

By Steve Bodnar

When you begin in karate, you may wonder when you will be able to perform the amazing feats of karate.  Well, after a month or two of practice, you already have!  Not giving up requires discipline, dedication, and self-determination.  Theses qualities are essential to an individual who practices karate.

The physical requirements of the karate practice, not only give you enhanced strength, stamina, balance, and coordination; but also help you sharpen your mind. 

You will find, however, that there are times when you do not feel that you are making progress.  You continue to try to push to new limits, but you do not appear to improve.  Does this mean that you have reached your maximum potential?

Of course not!  You have simply reached a plateau.  Throughout your training in karate, you will come to periods in development that seem slow or unproductive.  Then, suddenly, you “Break through the Wall!”   Some defining moment will make something click and you will understand a technique, or gain proficiency with a technique, or make a kata flow.

This is a moment for which all karateka strive.  In some ways this ‘Breaking through the Wall’ makes the satisfaction of achieving a certain proficiency even sweeter.  It is a sensation of self-accomplishment that motivates you to continue to higher levels of proficiency in your art.