Exercising Gratitude
In our TKD training we exercise our muscles by performing basic exercises like pushups, squats, bumpees, punching and kicking. We also perform our poosme, or forms, in order to develop our body for the rigors of more advanced techniques, but in class we do other forms of training. Realizing it or not, each student performs one of the most basic forms of mental training, the art of gratitude. Surely, everyone in the world has a basic sense of gratefulness, but at United Martial Arts Centers, our master are instilling us with a deeper sense of gratitude through Taekwondo training.
We exercise gratitude every day in class. We bow to our partners to show appreciation for being our partners. Without our partner we will not improve. Each student bows to one another and says “Thank you.” As you advance in the ranks the meaning of this bow should have more meaning. Advanced students remember that they cannot improve if there is no one there to help them. That partner is there to challenge the other partner. For example, one partner will start holding the focus target at belt level. The partner may want to push his counterpart slightly beyond the comfort zone by raising the target slightly higher. Without raising the target then the person performing the kicks will always remain kicking at waist level. The bow after the exercise is a form of gratitude to the partner, thanking them for the challenge. This is the beginning of the journey for deeper appreciation.
Another form of gratitude exhibited in training is when all the student line up to shake the hands of the instructor. Each student will have his or her turn to shake the instructor’s hand. The meaning of this is the student is thanking the instructor for his time in running the class and for their instruction in the martial arts.
Ever since I started teaching the Sunday class this lining up and shaking the Master’s hand took on a deeper meaning. When the students lines up to shake my hand I thank them for coming to class. Without these students I cannot continue in my training and am just a regular student just training on my own. At this point in time this is where I am grateful for their participation and their attendance. When we shake hands I am offering my thanks to them for allowing me to be their instructor.
Lastly, let’s not forget where my training in gratitude has deepened. I am grateful for Grandmaster and Master Ciarfella for allowing me to accompany them on the Martial Arts journey, for allowing me to teach their students and for their trust. I am grateful for my wife Maria and my two daughters Nicole and Melissa for helping me in running a successful Sunday class. Managing a full class without them can be challenging and let us all remember that the world can be better off if we show greater amounts of humility and appreciation.
United Martial Arts Centers Lounge
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