The Keys to Success
Revitalize your mindset for 2022
by Master Tim Rupert
When I was a Gup member, my instructor had a huge sign suspended above the belt rank display: “The Keys to Success.” It is important to see our advancement in rank as a major personal success as we move towards the Dan level and beyond to the Master level. It is equally important, however, that we celebrate the “smaller” victories in our training, as we ourselves as students are responsible for our own growth and success.
The work we put in as martial artists pays off as we feel a technique become more natural and powerful as we practice it; it pays off as we connect a philosophical concept like Yong Gi (courage) that we were exposed to in class with an event that takes place at home, school, or work; and most of all, it pays off when we do not let a challenge, stumbling block or external distraction stand in the way of our own growth and apply what we have learned to overcome the obstacle in our path. When we naturally feel we can rely on the mindset we enter during focused training to overcome a challenge we come up against outside of the Do Jang, that is true success.
Occasionally I catch myself thinking, “if parents or students understood how important x, y, or z was, they would have such a better experience,” and I’ll write it down. What follows is that list I have kept. These are the “Keys to Success” to bear in mind for your own training or to assist your child in theirs. When applied, these simple things will help students stay focused on their advancement in a positive way and take more ownership of their training.
BE ON TIME. Arrive no later than 5-10 minutes before your class is set to begin. Do not be habitually late. Classes are pre-planned to the minute, and 5-10 minutes of a 45-minute class is a lot of instruction to miss and damages the discipline of the class from the beginning, which starts with punctuality.
BE CONSISTENT. If I were to emphasize any of these points a little extra, it would be this one. The way material is taught in class is presented in a progressive way, meaning if you miss an entire week, we are moving on to something different next week, and you will have missed a big section of requirements that you must skillfully demonstrate at testing to advance in rank. Attending two classes a week minimum each week allows you to stay on track for testing. To effectively do this, make sure to…
UTILIZE THE CLASS SCHEDULE. Our schedule is unlimited, so you may attend as often as you like. As not everyone can attend five days a week, please look at all the different time slots available as opportunities to make up for any missed days. Between four weekdays and Saturday, there are plenty of options to keep yourself on track. in addition to this, you must…
PRACTICE! Spend 10-15 minutes each day practicing what was taught in your previous class. Just a few minutes to review will keep it fresh in your mind and allow you to come back ready for more new information, instead of feeling stuck learning the same thing repeatedly, spinning your wheels. Think of it this way: if you play soccer and do not attend practices, would you still expect to be starting in the next game? The same goes for classes and testing. If you feel you hit a stumbling block in class or in practice, please consider scheduling…
PRIVATE LESSONS. I offer private lessons in 30-minute blocks on Fridays for $30 a session. Some students do private lessons on a regular basis to supplement their classes, and some schedule them as needed, like when a test is approaching. I am always happy to do these, and they can be scheduled through the Spark Member App.
READ EMAIL & TEXT ANNOUNCEMENTS. If you receive an event invite, test registration, or membership renewal, please take care of it as soon as possible. Oftentimes I find myself resending the same information because emails are not being reviewed. As a parent, take an active role in your child’s success by staying informed about what we have going on, whether you sit and watch their classes every week or drop them off for class. Bearing all this in mind, if you have any questions at all, never hesitate to reach out so I can clarify or solve any issues for you.
COMMUNICATE WITH ME. If you will be out of town for a week or more, will be absent for an illness, or something else occurs, please email, text, call or tell me when I see you after classes. If your schedule changes and you need assistance establishing a new class routine, let me know. If you or your child hits a stumbling block and is struggling to come to class, let me know so I can help. That is such a vital part of my role as an instructor and after all, some of the most common areas parents and adult students alike wish to see strengthened are discipline, confidence, and focus. If a concern pops up and you react by immediately attempting to pull out of class, it is completely ignoring everything we teach and all the values that we set out to strengthen in the first place. Allow me to help and be a resource to you.
USE TRAINING RESOURCES. The student section of our website, the Spark Member App, requirement posters on the wall, and other materials have been developed for your benefit to help you have the best experience possible in your martial arts journey. Every piece of curriculum is available on the Spark App and website to help you grow. Use it!
BE ACTIVE! We are forming a community and family as a school with every special event we hold. Come to Dan promotions, try a board breaking or weapons class, be prepared for testing so you can participate in our NEW promotion celebration events, and enjoy being a part of the community that we are building here at Rupert’s Karate Academy!