The SKK technical meeting has finished, almost two days, of training and ideas. There where about 60 club leaders attending from all over Sweden. Although its called a technical meeting there were lots of discussions around politics etc, sometimes a necessary evil at these events. We also covered refereeing and competitions, two long but important days.

It´s the beginning of a new year and all sports club etc. are out to get new members as we all are. When I look to see what’s on offer I see advertisements for some new idea or concept, on closer study I see things that kyokushin is offering now only we don’t give it a fancy name. We call it hard training and then there is the personal trainer who seems to be popular those of you who train at my dojo have a personal trainer every lesson, I walk around correcting you giving you advice and shouting at you. Everything goes in circles the same as the Kanku, we start at one point and eventually return there.

It’s 2014 and for many of you it’s time to reflect what you may or may not wanted to achieve in 2013. Some may have aimed at succeding in a competition others wanted to make the next grade. Perhaps for quite a few of you it was just going to the dojo and doing your best. My goals were trying to improve and develop kyokushin karate, some things I managed to achieve such as sorting out the bunkai for kata for example which by the way is still work in progress.

Whatever your goals for 2014 remember this; Following the Martial Way is like scaling a cliff. Continue upwards without rest. It demands absolute and unfaltering devotion to the task at hand. Number two of Sosai’s eleven mottoes.

We will train our hearts and bodies for a firm unshaken spirit. I suppose that sums up what we are trying to do, not just learn new technique etc but also improve our well-being by training Kyokushin. Hearts and bodies, that something inside us all that we strive to develop and control that comes through plain hard work, perhaps for some of us we will never be able to develop that side of our personality100 percentage, but at least we try (a firm unshaken spirit).

You have to push yourself to the limit and then a little more, whether it’s Kihon, Kata or Kumite, I often tell my students, “it’s easy to give up”

So perhaps that should be your New Year promise to yourself.
Never give up!