Trust yourself and your coach. This belief is the foundation of progress in any subject. Today I bring you a light hearted yet insightful story from six years ago when I was training kickboxing at Dharavi Sports Complex. This story contains valuable lessons for all martial arts learners.
After a rigorous practice session with the boys at the Dharavi Sports Complex, some of the boys eagerly asked me to demonstrate the back kick. I was already exhausted from several practice sessions and initially refused, promising to show them to the next class. But his persistence won me over and I agreed to his request.
To illustrate the correct execution of the back kick, I asked two boys to stand up. His aim was to remove the gloves from the head of the boy on the left. The students stood quietly as instructed. One stood three feet away from the other, both perfectly aligned.
While I was preparing for the demonstration, one of my senior students decided to play a prank by making a certain gesture behind me, trying to scare the boy on the right. This changed the boy's focus and made him lose faith in me, his coach. Instinctively, his hands moved to shield his face.
This incident underscored an important lesson: unshakable faith in your coach is key. Even if you are scared or distracted, it is important to stand firm. I often test children's courage and resolve in such situations. While many display remarkable bravery, not all are the same.
Another memorable experience came during a karate class. I asked Anupreeta Hees, a black belt student, to stand in front of me. Even without gloves, we improvised water bottles. I asked the students sitting in front to be quiet and attentive. Anupreeta stood fearlessly, ready for the demonstration. After the kick, the room erupted in applause and cheers. Enthusiasm and positive response from children fuel my passion for teaching and inspire me to try something new every day.
These experiences, though specific to martial arts training, resonate with broader life lessons. Everyone faces challenges, but what really matters is how we face them and what we learn. My advice is simple: focus on the good and ignore the bad.
Believe in yourself and your journey. Be strong, be patient and take every lesson to heart.
Stay strong, keep learning and remember: the journey is as important as the destination.
The time, effort, and dedication you've invested in honing such skills and nurturing it is really mind blowing, sir your coaching has left a lasting impression on us and on that every student who's been trained under your guidance.
Very informative 🙏
Very informative
Great experience, well-done