Some days are just slow days. Whether due to late nights, early mornings, hard training, or a combination of all three, today is one of those months... 

 What does that mean though? Do we stop training? Maybe postpone it for a while? Or do we just make the decision to train irrespective of our other responsibilities. Well, I don't think any of those are the right answer. Blindly deciding prior to evaluating our position is poor strategy, and not the Karate way.

Ideally, we will make the effort to find a few minutes to train, but sometimes it isn't possible. Realistically though, careful reflection can show us where our own scheduling is in need of an update.

Today's weather is wet. Not snowing yet, just a miserable rain. Probably the toughest weather for fence-sitters. "Will I go to class today or not?"

Truth be told, the weather affects black belts and instructors the same way as it does any other grade. We'd love to stay home and enjoy those comforts rather than heading out into lousy weather, but we go. So why do we do it?

I think the majority of black belts have learned that comfort isn't all it's cracked up to be. When it's been earned, that chocolate eclair is so much sweeter;  when it's been earned, that TV show is more exciting; and when it's been earned, that nap is so much nicer.

We have returned from a most productive IOGKF-USA Winter Gasshuku. A full Gasshuku report will follow, but major changes have been made, and IOGKF-USA will be moving forward from here.

We are looking forward to being part of the future of the IOGKF in the USA, and we will be moving from strength to strength.

Tags: iogkf, karate, usa

Today we start the Dojo blog. An experiment in evolution no doubt, but also hopefully a tool that will help members and those who are interested in classical Goju Ryu Karate-do.