Do you like riddles? You know the type of thing: a seemingly unanswerable question with a solution that involves some kind of twist of perspective. For example: "What gets wetter and wetter the more it dries?" Answer: "A towel!"
The point is that a puzzling question can make you think about things in a different way.
This week, our headmaster asked the class a puzzling question. He asked, "How can you use karate . . . without using karate?"
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The silence lengthened. The little kids squirmed and the older kids racked their brains.
How can you use karate without using karate? In the sense of using karate without laying a finger on anyone? The answer was: through the confidence you have gained.
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As I have observed myself, children who have studied at the Independent Karate School for a while develop confidence in themselves. In a way, they relax. They can rely on the foundation of knowing that they have worked hard and achieved something. They don't have to worry so much about physical confrontation with others, or what they will do in this or that eventuality. They can afford to take things as they come, with nothing to prove.
Certainly, their training does not confer immunity to trouble. But it does seem to help. True confidence is an interesting quality, in that it seems to attract friends and deter foes.
In any case, everyone left class that evening with something to think about.
Next week, the Karate Mom will be patching her pie crust and fretting about how much broth to put in the stuffing. Class will be held at 6 pm on Tuesday the 26th as usual, at the VFW post near the Common Man (and visitors are welcome!). But of course there will be no class on Turkey Day.
Happy Thanksgiving to all, safe travels to everyone on the road, and see you in December!
