There are a lot of sayings from Japanese and Chinese culture in the martial arts. One of my favorites is an old Japanese proverb use to represent tamashii – the indomitable spirit: "Nanakarobi yaoki, jinsei wa, kore kara da!” Which translates as “seven times fall down, eight times rise, life begins from here!"
It basically means never give up. It also means that you have to get knocked down a lot and keep getting up before you recognize an opportunity to learn and create inner transformation leading to enlightenment (yes, very Zen…it is a Japanese proverb after all). This has particular meaning to me because I was not athletic as a kid and when I started the martial arts I never really thought I had the ability to be good at it. I never gave up and took the opportunity to change the way I thought about myself. Now, decades later with a lot of effort, sweat and internal transformation, not only am I doing what I thought I would never be good at, I also teach martial arts to others.
This saying is written on the bottom of a Japanese Daruma Doll (pictured above). Named after an ancient Chinese Zen Master, Bodidharma, who lost the use of his arms and legs after sitting nine years meditating in a cave, it is a symbol of self-discipline and positive outlook. Its weighted bottom and rounded shape forces this ancient cultural doll to right itself after being knocked over (like Weebles for those of you that remember them), teaching us to be dedicated and persistent and symbolizing our recoveries from misfortune.
I find this applies to being successful at most things in life, not just the martial arts. Especially when you are working with a group or team:
1. Be prepared. A little effort goes a long way. Everyone is busy. Don't use that as an excuse.
2. Don’t stop after the first question or answer. Especially if it is not the answer you want. Sometimes the first answer is a gut reaction or the other person doesn’t really understand what or why you are asking. Be persistent. Ask at least three times (or until you get the answer you want)!
3. Never give up on learning. The minute we stop learning is the minute we become obsolete. There have been studies about aging and the brain that have shown a link between being mentally active and engaged (i.e. – learning) and staying healthy longer. Look for opportunities to learn new processes and gain new knowledge. Ask yourself at the end of the day, “did I learn anything new today?” Hopefully you can answer yes most of the time!
“The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense.” ― Thomas A. Edison
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