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THINGS TO
REMEMBER
Food for
thought
Over the
past 30 years I have attended a wide variety of seminars
and read a tremendous amount not only on the physical and
technical aspects of the art of Shotokan karate and other
associated martial arts, but also on the mental and
spiritual side of these arts as well.
As a result
"Things
To Remember" is a collections of saying, ideas, and
thoughts that I have accumulated over time and that I
consider to be note worthy for one reason or another. I
also try to make it a personal habit to re-read this list
on a regular basis in order that I might remember to try
and practice their underlying principles not only in my
karate and kobudo training, but in my daily life as well.
I learnt
long ago that no matter who a person is there is always
some room for self improvement - the trick however, is
for each of us to recognize this fact within ourselves
and in turn to try and do something positive about it.
Now some of
the sayings and thoughts that are recorded here are my
own - others I can not and do not take credit for - they
simply came my way. I have made no distinction as to
which is which because that is not really important -
what is important, however it that no matter who says it,
a thought, any thought, should never be dismissed lightly
for more often than not there is a great deal more to
what is being said than originally meets the eye.
In any
event it is my hope that contained here you will find
something that may inspire you, something that will make
you think about how fortunate you are, something that
will make you think about what is truly important in your
life, or perhaps something that will simply make you look
at the world around you from a slightly different point
of view, and in doing so make you a better person for it.
So "walk
around the building" and take the time to look at
your karate training, your life, your family, and your
friends from a new perspective, since as with all things,
"clarity comes from having more than a one
dimensional outlook".
These 500 sayings and
thoughts are in no particular order of importance, and in
most cases they should be looked upon as individual
concepts, although from time to time you will notice that
several sayings in a row will definitely focus on the
same theme.
-
Timing is
everything.
Start as you
mean to continue.
The end of
everything is important.
Seven times
down, eight times up.
Your dedication
to the art of karate is visible in the quality of
your techniques.
The objective
of karate is to contribute to the evolution of
the human spirit through physical and mental
training.
Always train as
if today is your last day in the dojo, one day it
will be.
The ten most
powerful two letter words in the English language
are: "if it is to be it is up to me".
The most
precious thing you can give to anyone is your
time.
Teach less so
the student can learn more.
Life is a kata
that you can not start over.
To bow well
physically, you must first learn to bow well in
your mind.
If you give
less than your best, you are only cheating
yourself.
Quality is
better than quantity.
You must "be"
before you can "do".
Kata is the
"soul" of karate.
Bunkai is the
"soul" of kata.
A kata in it's
self is great teacher.
Onegishimasu.
Domo arigatou
gozaimasu.
You can not
learn what you do not practice.
You can not
teach what you do not learn.
Spirit is often
the deciding factor.
Do everything
with sincerity.
Mental
efficiency depends on spiritual harmony.
It is not what
you teach, but how you teach it, that is
important.
Check your ego
at the door.
If you do not
trust your children it is your own fault.
In order to
learn you must first be a willing participant.
Always be on
time.
Look to the
needs of others.
One person can
make a difference.
The greatest
rewards are often the hardest to see.
Without a
student there is no need of a sensei.
Never assume.
Proper
repetition teaches confidence.
All growth is
from within.
All power is
from within.
Striving and
struggle, precede success, even in the dictionary.
Your karate
must be done from the inside out, not the outside
in.
Your karate
must be done from the ground up, not the top down.
Your reality
today is the result of the planning, and the
effort, you put into your yesterday.
Your reality
tomorrow will be the result of what you plan, and
do, today.
To know what
something is worth, you must first pay the price.
You are not
finished when you are defeated, you are finished
when you quit.
When you breath
out that is your doing, when you breath in that
is God's doing.
Dreams never
die, just the dreamer.
A thought
remains a thought, until it is given form through
action.
Action often
takes form without thought.
Nothing of
value is ever created in a hurry.
Perfection
depend entirely on unconscious thought.
Knowing what is
right is not difficult, doing what is right often
is.
Women are
stronger than men.
Pain is
inevitable, suffering is optional.
Nobody can make
you feel inferior without your consent.
Knowledge comes
to those who seek it.
Everyone fears
something.
Truth comes to
those who understand what they have found.
You can not
learn everything, so be selective.
True reward is
never anticipated.
Do the most
natural thing in the most natural way.
Everything you
accomplish depends on your own efforts.
Seek an
appropriate teacher, and train hard.
Always learn
from someone who is still learning.
No one knows it
all.
If you met
someone who thinks they knows it all, walk away.
A wish is
simply a desire without any effort behind it.
A dream is a
wish with a goal, a plan, and a timetable.
Face your fears.
Nothing that
happens to you in your lifetime is an accident.
No action is
singular.
No reaction is
singular.
Health is a
state of mind that is visible in your appearance,
and in your actions.
Never settle
for someone else's idea of what is best for you.
The greatest
power that you possess, is the power to choose.
Think carefully.
Choose wisely.
You alone are
responsible for all your actions.
You can not be
wise before your time.
Wanting
something is often more enjoyable than having it.
Look at the
impossible and then change what you believe.
Never take hope
away from anyone, it may be all they have left.
Know your
limits, and develop your capabilities.
You have no
control over your destiny, it sometimes just
seems that way.
Mental
development does not require physical development.
Physical
development requires the highest mental
development.
To be a good
teacher you must first be a good student.
When
opportunity knocks answer the door.
The link
between all things is proper breathing.
All balance
must come from the centre.
Poor posture
equates to poor everything else.
You never get a
second chance to make a good first impression.
The road to
perfection can not be travelled in one life time.
Practice does
not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.
The best way a
student can repay their teacher is to surpass
them.
To train karate
successfully in the dojo, you must first have a
dojo mind.
In order to
see, you must first know what you are looking for.
Seeing and
understanding are not the same thing.
Not winning is
not the same as loosing.
Give and forget.
Receive and
remember.
Don't undermine
your worth by comparing yourself with others.
Know what is
best for you.
Never give up
when you still have something to give.
Walk like you
know where you are going.
Every human
being has the capacity to heal.
You need water
to develop energy.
Positive energy
has no limits.
A prayer knows
no boundaries.
Eternity is
unaffected by time.
Inspire others
whenever you can.
No matter where
you are, you are never alone.
In the mind all
is possible, there are no barriers.
Instead of
finding an excuse to quit, find a reason to
continue.
If you train
your body your spirit will also be trained.
Your kime is
only effective when nothing else matters.
Always be
relaxed in your body and your mind, rigidity is
the mark of death.
You can never
walk more than one path at a time.
The only
constant in life is change.
Help when help
is needed.
A clouded mind
can never see clearly.
There are more
than two sides to every story.
There is no
substitute for a kind word.
The truth is
often easier to speak, than it is to prove.
To be a good
teacher you must first understand what the
student needs.
No one is ever
to young or to old to learn.
Success is
measured differently for everyone.
Be honest.
Respect others.
Do more than is
expected.
Set goals.
Control your
emotions.
What is the
sound of one hand clapping.
Never under
estimate a child's ability to act like an adult.
Wisdom can not
be bought.
The secret to
success lies not in the trying, but in the doing.
Do not train
when you are tired, you will only practice bad
habits.
Without a
proper stance nothing else is possible.
Always say
please.
Always say
thank you.
Seek perfection
of character.
Fill the void.
Doing nothing
is often worse than failure.
If you look for
the best in others, you will find the best in
yourself.
A good leader
is a dealer in hope.
People may
forget what you say, but they will always
remember how you made them feel.
Pain isn't
always physical.
Some questions
have no answers.
True strength
comes from gentleness.
Know something
about all professions.
Be faithful.
Do not offend.
Everyday it
rains on someone's parade.
You must see
with your mind not just with your eyes.
Knowing you are
wrong is the first step towards learning.
Admitting you
are wrong is the first step towards understanding.
Without fear
anything is possible.
Endeavour.
Nothing is over
until the moment you stop trying.
Share.
Knowing the
moves of the kata is not enough.
You can emulate
someone else's technique, but never try and copy
it.
Wanting
something, and being entitled to it, are two
different things.
Disbelief does
not make something impossible.
Before starting
anything you must first empty your cup.
To teach others
successfully is the highest skill.
When teaching
anything words are often not enough.
Doing is the
best way to learn anything.
You must know
yourself before you can try and understand others.
Never interrupt
your enemy while he is making a mistake.
Illusion is
nothing more than hidden reality.
Nothing lasts
forever.
Give people
more than they expect.
You can not
teach what you do not know.
You must
correct your own mistakes before you can correct
the mistakes made by others.
Finish what you
start.
Start as you
mean to continue.
Never settle
for just doing better than somebody else's worst.
Do not believe
everything you hear.
Do not believe
everything you read.
Do not believe
everything you see.
Deceit often
comes disguised as honesty.
To be
successful in life you must first have a teacher.
There is no
substitute for effort.
To succeed in
life you must first want to.
Helping someone
else up the hill also gets you closer to the top.
Always tell the
truth.
Never strike in
anger.
Respect others.
Love someone
unconditionally until the day you die.
Plan your life
and work daily on your plan.
Successful
people are persistent.
Thought is
parent to the deed.
Have patience
and engage in consistent action.
It is better to
be prepared for an opportunity and not have one
appear, than to have an opportunity appear and
not be prepared.
Temporary
failure is a price you must pay on the road to
ultimate success.
Say only what
needs to be said.
Temptation
resisted is a true sign of character.
The dojo is not
a university, to obtain the true benefits of
karate you must train until you die.
Karate is 90%
mental and 10% physical.
Mo ichi do.
Gambate.
Karate-do is
not just for the dojo, it must become your way of
life.
No action once
taken can ever be undone.
Never mess up
an apology with an excuse.
When you lose
don't lose the lesson.
Time is a great
teacher.
To practice a
technique you must first know what it is for.
To perfect a
technique you must first forget what it is for.
Listening is an
art best practiced in silence
Success is
minimizing the gap between your performance and
your potential.
In life the
reward earned, is equal to the effort spent.
Do you see the
colour of the wind.
Victory lies in
action without thought.
You can not hit
what you can not see.
The first
technique must be the last.
Good results
are the result of proper thought.
Nothing in life
is as it seems.
Keep your
promises.
Believe in
yourself.
Go some place
you have never been before.
Success is a
state of mind.
Be good to your
friends
Honour your
parents
Crying is not a
sign of weakness.
Admit your
mistakes.
Always
apologize, it is the right thing to do.
Balance in
anything can only be achieved when the scales are
even.
What the mind
fears the spirit can overcome.
Never stop
learning, learn from everyone, and from
everything.
No trial, no
error, no knowledge.
To be a success
you must first take a risk.
Never risk more
than you are willing to lose.
Give your
children everything they need to succeed, for
they are the future.
If it doesn't
work, stop doing it.
Your
subconscious never sleeps.
Listen to your
instincts.
Share your
knowledge, it is a way to achieve immortality.
Refrain from
violent behaviour.
The faster you
go, the more mistakes you will make.
Health span is
more important than life span.
It is not what
you eat that makes you healthy, it is what you
digest.
It is not what
you earn that makes you wealthy, it is what you
save.
It is not what
you learn that makes you wise, it is what you
remember.
It is not what
you know that makes you smart, it is what you
teach.
It is not how
often you train that makes you better, it is how
well you train.
Visualization
must be the first phase of any action.
Turning on a
light does not always mean you will see more.
Your hips are
the steering wheel of your body.
Power is
generated in the legs.
The first stage
of learning requires conscious thought and will
power.
The second
stage of learning is concentrated effort and
technique, without conscious thought.
Love is a
language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
Children learn
without prejudices, until they are taught
otherwise.
Try to see
everything with the eyes of a child.
Do everything
to the best of your ability.
Never forget
what it was like to be a beginner.
Your ability
changes with time so learn to adjust.
Accept the fact
that you are growing old, but never stop doing
what interests you.
Everyday that
you do not practice karate, decreases your mental
and physical inventory.
Believing and
trusting are not the same thing.
It only takes
one eye to see.
Don't carry a
grudge, it is far to heavy a burden.
There is only
one degree of difference between mediocrity and
greatness.
If a strong
technique fights a strong body, technique wins.
If a strong
technique fights a strong mind, the mind wins.
If technique,
body, and mind are equal, spirit will determine
the outcome.
The energy of
your past thoughts has fashioned your reality.
To change your
reality, change what, and how you think.
Do you see what
you see.
Be a reader.
Do not suppress
your emotions, or they will make you ill.
Courage is
simply the willingness to be afraid, and to act
anyway.
When the
student needs a teacher one will appear.
The hardest
thing to do is to forgive.
Never act and
then think.
Think before
you speak.
Silence is
sometimes the best answer.
Learn from the
mistakes of others, because you will never live
long enough to make them all yourself.
Worship the
teachings, not the teacher.
Where ever you
are there is a place to train karate.
Criticizing
others only defeats you.
You will never
have more than you think you are worth.
It is not a sin
to want more.
Happiness is
wanting what you have.
You must be
responsible for everything you do, never blame
others.
All great
leaders were great readers.
Even if you
don't understand it, every living thing on earth
has a function.
Extinction is
permanent.
Does a dog have
Buddha nature.
First thing in
the morning start the day with a positive
thought, it will effect your energy all day long.
Negative
thoughts are out of step with nature, avoid them.
We give
priority to the outside world, but the real world
is inside of you.
You have a
sound inside you just like a bell.
No matter how a
bell is hit a sound is made.
It is not what
hits the bell that makes the sound, the bell
makes the sound.
How things hit
you every day get a reaction, or a sound from
you, learn to control the sound.
What was your
face before your mother was born.
It is far
easier to stay down than it is to get up.
Somewhere the
sun is always shining.
Successful
people have fallen down often, they just never
stayed there.
The closest
distance between two people is a smile.
Nothing on the
outside changes, if life looks different to you
for any reason, it is because you have changed.
The energy you
radiate outward, be it positive or negative, is
what you will get back from the universe.
Children are
the soul of the world.
Babies have no
filters they see the world as it is.
If you are very
ill laugh as often as you can.
Do a kindness
for a stranger everyday.
It is hard for
a poor man to be generous.
It is hard for
a proud man to be humble.
It is hard to
accept the truth.
It is hard not
to be disturbed by external circumstances.
It is hard not
to argue about what is right or wrong.
It is hard to
be human.
What you
believe you see.
If your vision
is clouded change your beliefs.
If you loose
your wealth, nothing is lost.
If your loose
your health, something is lost.
If you loose
your honour, everything is lost.
To be sick is
not natural, your health is a direct result of
your lifestyle.
Life is
difficult and discipline is the tool you use to
make life easier.
To master one's
self requires great strength.
Anger is only
one letter away from danger.
In kata it is
the body that must remind the mind, not the other
way around.
Enjoy the
silence between your thoughts.
Meditate every
day.
Write down your
thoughts so others can follow your path.
It should be
hard to choose sides on a round planet.
The mind is the
greatest power, while you are meditating nothing
can touch you.
If someone
betrays you once it is their fault, if they
betray you twice it is your fault.
Never look to
the ground for your next step, greatness follows
those that look to the horizon.
If you can
eliminate your fear of things you will have no
stress in your life.
What a mirror
receives it gives back.
There is an
inter-relationship between all things in life, so
if you kill anything you kill a part of yourself.
Try to see the
world with a spiritual eye, you will see more
clearly.
There is no
such thing as empty.
Respect all
religions.
Try to fill
your voids with love and compassion.
Do everything
to it's fullest because there is no tomorrow,
tomorrow never comes, there is only now.
Everything in
life is negotiable, the question is how much are
you willing to pay to have what you want.
Smile, it is a
universal language.
Every cell in
your body has a memory.
You must feel
positive in order to grow in a positive manner.
Live without
regret.
The value of
anything must always be greater than the price
you paid.
You can not
control everything outside of you, that is life.
You can control
everything inside you, that is yourself.
Not getting
what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of
luck.
Mistakes
can often be the best teacher.
Clarity
comes from having more than a one dimensional
outlook.
Losers live for
yesterday, dreamers live for tomorrow, winners
live for every "now".
We do not all
share the same reality.
We interpret
the world we live in based on our own personal
experiences to date.
We can walk
together, but we can not walk in each others foot
steps.
You are bound
by your habits.
You are a
product of your environment.
You are the
product of the strength of your beliefs.
You are a soul
with a body, not a body with a soul.
A flame burns
brightest at the end, just before it's life goes
out.
There is no
evidence of time.
Time is a
creation of man for the purpose of controlling
others.
All the money
in the world will not buy you one more day, one
more minute, or one more second when death comes.
Work to live,
do not live to work.
Ichi Go - one
life only
Ichi Eh - live
each "second" each "now"
Be the best you
can be at what ever you do.
Change is
constant, illusion is believing that nothing
changes
Happiness is an
internal responsibility, it is up to you
Life is a
learning experience.
Second chances
are rare.
Never under
estimate yourself, leave that mistake to others.
Put down
unnecessary burdens.
Never mistake
inaction for indecision.
Be kind.
What goes
around come around.
Everything
starts with a subconscious thought.
Reality is the
conscious mind in action.
Every problem
has a solution.
You have the
power to create your own reality, the difficulty
lies in believing it.
Opportunities
are never lost, they are simply picked up by
someone else.
Learn from
nature.
Try to be the
person your dog thinks you are.
Do not depend
on external things, only depend on yourself.
You must get
peace of mind from inside yourself, no one can
give it to you, and once you have it no one can
take it away.
The most
important fight is the one against yourself.
There are no
short cuts to success.
Learn to
control your ego.
How smart you
think you are, may not be shared by everyone.
Tomorrow is
promised to no one, so make the most of your
today.
Everything
sleeps.
Everything dies.
A closed mind
never learns.
Even the
mountains lay down eventually.
Be sure at all
times that your mind knows what your body is
saying.
The difference
between good karate and poor karate is the
quality of your thoughts.
You are unique.
Think reacting.
Make good use
of your time.
Ability is what
you are capable of.
Motivation
determines what you do.
Attitude
determines how well you do it.
Wisdom and
knowledge only flower when they are shared.
Praise before
you criticize.
Pay attention
to small details.
Kata is not a
race, slow down and you will learn more quickly.
Never try to
teach more than you know.
Reward
dedication.
You can never
go back in time.
Spirit is more
important than technique.
No two dojos
are ever the same, so appreciate what you have,
while you have it.
Teaching is a
privilege, don't abuse it.
Karate begins
and ends with courtesy.
Karate ni sente
nashi.
"I will
not give a certificate of rank, it must be earned".
(Gichin Funakoshi Sensei)
Learning to
hammer in a nail, does not mean you are a
carpenter.
Knowing the
answer, does not necessarily mean you understood
the question.
Open your mind,
it determines what you will learn.
Always train
the fundamentals hard and you will find your own
karate.
The nail that
sticks up is always hammered down.
High repetition
is only beneficial if the technique you are
repeating is correct.
Shotokan is
hard to do well.
Kime is not
just power or spirit, kime means "balance"
- complete harmony in everything.
Be grateful for
your mistakes for they show you your weakness.
To succeed at
anything you must first be devoted to a positive
outcome.
The hardest
part of karate or life for that matter, is self
correcting.
Just because
you think you are right, does not make you so.
The height of
your kick is not as important as the result of
your kick.
The path least
travelled is often the most interesting.
Never do
anything you know you will regret.
Karate is not
for everyone, if you are unsuccessful at it look
to other things.
If you intend
to quit before the end, don't start.
Appreciate your
friends, they are there by choice.
Understand that
what is important to others, need not always be
important to you.
Choice can be a
burden not easily put down.
Karate is like
a book, one letter, one word, one sentence at a
time.
Friends are the
family we picked for ourselves.
Learn from your
children.
Respect should
never be given where it has never been earned.
A smile can
often hide the truth.
Being good at
anything usually involves a level of voluntary
suffering.
If you feel
pain, it is a physical confirmation that you are
still living.
When you feel
nothing, that is the time to be concerned.
A separation of
any kind is proof of failure.
To fail often
in life is inevitable, accept this early, and
move on.
Never be afraid
to ask a question.
Do not always
believe the answer.
Show
leadership, to many people are followers.
Show wisdom, it
is in short supply.
Show
encouragement, if you do people will strive for
more.
Show kindness,
it is often misplaced.
Free advice is
often overpriced.
Whether you
think you can, or you think you can't, you are
right.
You are
precisely where you are meant to be, each second
of the day.
Sometimes your
best is simply not good enough.
Words are like
weapons, they wound sometimes.
Age does not
breed wisdom.
When ever you
teach someone something, do it with passion.
Good teachers
are hard to find.
Not all roads
are going your way.
Breath.
The direction
of your life depends on who is driving.
Laughter is
universal.
Laziness is the
habit of resting before you are tired.
I takes thirty
days to build a habit.
I takes thirty
days to break a habit.
Respect must be
earned, you can not demand it.
Remember your
ancestors.
Always teach
for the love of the art.
Associate with
good people.
There is more
to life than having everything.
A weak will can
not resist temptation.
Learning
requires effort.
All is related,
if one part of the circle is missing nothing can
happen.
Their history
dies with person.
It is always
hard to accept that others don't care.
When two
emotions clash, the strongest emotion wins.
You are not
born with bad habits.
Practice
humility.
Do not live you
life based on what others deem important.
What you see in
a mirror can be changed.
Spend your time
wisely, don't waste it.
Family first.
Life is not a
race.
Your
kata changes with each day, some days are better
than others.
Imperfections
have a way of creeping into our everything we do,
so be vigilant.
Doing
something is only a good idea if your mind and
spirit are completely involved.
Technique
is either effective, or it is not.
The
deepest purpose of martial arts is to serve as a
vehicle for personal and spiritual development.
The
ultimate aim of Zen is to free the individual
from anger, illusion, and false passion.
The
duty of a warrior is the preservation of peace
without force.
We
all see the world differently.
A
lie always grows.
Your
honour should never be for sale.
The
worst thing you can do is over estimate yourself.
Lead
from the front.
You
must see the picture before you paint it.
How
will people speak of you when you are gone.
What
works for others may not work for you.
Be
better than you thought you could be.
You
can not change your fate, what ever you do, what
ever happens in your life, was meant to be.
-
- Part the
clouds - see the way
-
- "The
objective of karate is to contribute to the evolution
- of the
human spirit through physical and mental training."
- Sensei
Peter Lindsay
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