Many people are surprised to hear this, but in the dojo we don’t spend much time teaching motivation.
That might sound strange. After all, motivation is often presented as the key to success. We are surrounded by messages encouraging us to “feel inspired”, “find our passion” or “wait until we’re ready”.
The problem is that motivation comes and goes.
“You won’t always feel like training. That’s why discipline is more valuable than motivation.”
— John Ross Kyoshi
Children wake up some days full of energy and enthusiasm. On other days they are tired, distracted, cold, comfortable at home, or simply not interested in training.
Parents often tell us they notice changes outside the dojo. Children become more willing to tackle challenges, more resilient when things don’t go their way, and more confident in their ability to persevere.
These qualities are not developed through occasional bursts of enthusiasm. They are developed through consistency.
“Success in karate isn’t built in a single class. It’s built by turning up to hundreds of classes.”
— Lambros Kallianiotis Renshi
Every class attended, every correction accepted, every challenge faced and every obstacle overcome contributes to a student’s growth.
At IGK Victoria, we believe one of the greatest gifts we can help young people develop is the ability to keep going when enthusiasm fades. In a world that often encourages comfort and convenience, learning to do what needs to be done remains a valuable skill.
“The secret is simple. Keep turning up.”
— John Ross Kyoshi
