When I see people thinking that karate is about fitness maintenance or the improvement of one’s physical condition, aesthetic gymnastics or a means to becoming stronger, then I really feel like saying: “Learn to get along!” To really get along. What does it mean, in a concrete sense, to get along? It means to become one with another, to really put ourselves in his or her place, to experience exactly what the other one feels, to feel what the other one does. To put ourselves in the other’s place. To this end we need to put aside our ego, as I think that is it indispensable to always accept as something precious other people’s feelings. At times like these, when egocentrism and a “me first…” attitude prevail, I think there are people dominated by a mental state that relies wholly on physical strength and trying to keep everything under control through force, and thus do not even try to understand. I am left speechless when I see people putting their trust in a strength that, in reality, is only the consequence of overestimating a fraction of the strength that in reality is available to us. I believe that the karate way, as it has developed and evolved up to our days, is the result of the efforts of many people. In spite of the remarkable level that has been achieved, it would be a serious mistake to think that the task has been accomplished. Therefore, do not overestimate your capabilities, fear the heavens, put aside your ego and do not stop moving forward.
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