September Newsletter

I recently checked my official CKD enrolment record and I was officially a CKD student on August 1^st 1993! This year marks my 32^nd year as a Choi Kwang Do student – how time flies!  Thinking back to when I first stepped onto the mat for my very first CKD class, I was excited, nervous, eager to learn, and honestly, a little overwhelmed.

Martial arts can feel like a whole new world—there’s the physical challenge, the mental discipline, and the sheer amount of skills and knowledge to absorb. Looking back, there are a few lessons I wish someone had pulled me aside and shared. So, if you’re just starting your martial arts journey, this one’s for you. Here are the six things I wish I knew when I started.

1. Master the Basics—They’re the Foundation of Everything
   When you’re new, it’s tempting to want to jump straight into the flashy moves—the spinning kicks, the advanced techniques, the stuff that looks cool in movies. But here’s the truth: the basics are where the magic happens. Your stances, your footwork, your breathing—these are the building blocks of every technique you’ll ever learn. If you don’t get them right, it’s like building a house on crumbling foundations. So, slow down. Focus on the fundamentals. Drill them until they’re second nature. Trust me, the advanced stuff will come, and it will be so much easier to learn if your foundation is rock solid.

2. Your Mindset is Just as Important as Your Technique
   Martial arts isn’t just a physical practice, it’s a mental one too. I didn’t realize how much my mindset would change as I trained through the ranks. The wrong type of mindset can impact your progress. If you’re constantly doubting yourself, comparing yourself to others, or getting frustrated when you don’t nail a technique right away, you’re going to struggle. Instead, adopt a growth mindset. Every mistake is a lesson. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow. Like one of my previous instructors said: “The only person you’re competing with is the person you were yesterday”

3. Consistency Beats Intensity
   When I started, I thought progress was all about going hard every single session, and I did just that. But here’s the thing: it’s not about how intense you are for one day—it’s about how consistent you are over time. Show up to class, even on the days you don’t feel like it. Once you get started, the motivation will come. It always does. Trust the process. Progress in martial arts is a marathon, not a sprint. The students who stick with it, who keep showing up, are the ones who benefit the most.

4. Respect the Journey—Yours and Everyone Else’s
   One of the things that I like about martial arts is that it’s a personal journey. Everyone’s path looks different. Some people pick up techniques quickly, while others take more time. Some are naturally athletic, while others have to work harder to build strength and flexibility. And that’s okay. Respect your own journey, and don’t compare it to anyone else’s. At the same time, respect your training partners—they’re on their own path, too. Support each other, learn from each other, and grow together.

5. Courage is in the Small Moments
   I used to think courage was only about stepping out of your comfort zone. But since becoming an instructor, I’ve realised that courage also happens in the small moments, too. It’s raising your hand to ask a question when you don’t understand something. It’s stepping onto the mat after a tough day. It’s trying a technique again after failing 10 times. Courage isn’t about being fearless, it’s about how you deal with something even when you’re scared or unsure. Courage is like a muscle – the more you practice it, the stronger it gets.

6. Trust in the Process
   When I was younger, I had so many questions swirling in my mind about what I was learning. Was it going to be effective? Was it practical enough to keep me safe?And while I’ve since proven—more than once—that it absolutely is, back then, I felt that the only way I could find out is if I could pressure-test myself in more realistic situations (thankfully, I had the common-sense not to go there!). Here’s what I’ve learned: the curriculum you’re learning works! Despite what doubters or critics might say (and there are so many people out there ready to say that “My karate is better than your karate”), they often can’t see the big picture when they make their judgments. They don’t understand the depth of the training, the layers of skill-building, or the way it all comes together when it matters most. So, trust your instructors. Trust the curriculum. Trust the process. You don’t need to prove it to anyone….. and I honestly hope the situation that gives you the proof that you need never, ever happens!

Final Thoughts
If I could go back and give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be this: embrace the struggle. Martial arts isn’t supposed to be easy—it’s supposed to challenge you, to push you, to help you grow. Embrace the process, celebrate the small wins, and remember that every step forward—no matter how small—is progress. You can do it! Now get out there, train hard, and keep marching forward.

Master John