You Just Need Heart

We all have regrets and one of mine was not being more involved in sports when I was a kid. I was on the wrestling team my first year in high school, but most of my teammates had been in the sport long before I started and already had a good knowledge base. They were also used to demanding coaches and rough training sessions. Fluffy, little me was not; I hadn’t really given it my best shot, perhaps because I didn’t understand how. I’ll always remember the day I went to the coach’s office to get my team picture. In his own way, I think he was trying to mentor me but I took his comment personally: “You were only here for the picture in the yearbook.” Ouch. Whether he was trying to help me along or he really didn’t like me, that experience provided a new prospective and a feeling I never wanted again.

I’ve been reminded of that day often during this past year watching one of our newer students develop his skills. Tom Frye is one of the finest 16-year-old young men I have ever met. He is polite, courteous and very engaging for someone his age especially now, when so many of his peers are self-absorbed and distant. Tom exhibits the same ferocious tenacity that his father, Justin has demonstrated over the past eight years in our dojo. He is a big dude and getting his body to perform some of the finite movements of our system is challenging. Instead of quitting or walking away because something is difficult, he attacks it. And just like his father, Tom inspires others to do the same. He plays football and wrestles. Not sure what he does in track, but it’s not the 500. Doesnt’ matter, because you know whatever he does, he puts his full heart into it. Tom is the product of two loving parents who push their children to be their best selves in everything because they understand that life is hard; you have to be harder than life if you expect to live it fully.

We have other students who are equally inspiring. Derek, who finished his black belt test last year despite spraining his ankle three quarters of the way through. If anyone had a reason to quit, it was Derek. I’ve seen a lot of sprains and his was truly a bad one. But he didn’t quit; he asked me to tape him up and he finished. It didn’t matter how he looked or whether he got the technique right. He just didn’t want to quit. And there are others…Leah, who started off so timid among a bunch of knuckle-dragging young men; now, a force to be reckoned with. Steven, who possess one of the kindest souls you will ever know along with some pretty significant asthma that interrupts his training from time to time. And of course, “Yoga” Matt Eshelman who’s fierce heart is deceptively wrapped in gentleness. When Matt started, he could not fight and really couldn’t grapple. But over time, he instinctively applied his mastery of yoga to martial arts. And now…nobody likes to grapple with Matt. And my dear friends, Gary and Tom who trusted me enough to leave another dojo and train in a space that’s not exactly what the had before. Despite being unfamiliar with our style and having chronic injuries that go along with 60+ years of athletic endeavors and manual labor, they religiously show up every week and bring all they have. These are all examples of heart.

One of the biggest challenges in getting new people to give our dojo chance is to help them understand that they don’t need to come here with any special skills. Nor do they have to start off being in great shape. It truly doesn’t matter how old you are or if you have some chronic injuries that may hamper your training a bit. Hell, just watch me try to kick over my head these days. I tell beginners all the time, “You don’t have to be able to do all the push-ups, you don’t have to have the ability to do everything that you see or finish all the reps. I just need you to try.” You see, if you have a little bit of heart, I can work with that. Sure, you may not be able to make it here all the time and no, you will not be able to do everything you’d like to be able to. That’s not the point; the point is to try. The founder of Shotokan Karate Do, Gichen Funakoshi, said that even if you had just five minutes a day to practice [kata], that was enough. You may give up today, but you can come back tomorrow and try again. That’s the piece that you need, the willingness to try. The heart. Bring that here and you will eventually be able to do amazing things. Bring that here, and you will learn how to apply it elsewhere.

Jesus told his followers that if they had faith the size of a mustard seed, they could move mountains. Matthew 17:20. Have you ever seen a mustard seed? Pretty tiny. There have been many times throughout my life that it seemed like there was no way I was going to make it through, especially in the past few years. Fear, doubt, injuries…damnable cancer that has ravaged those most dear to me. Yeah, some times I’ve just wanted to take my ball go home. And plenty of moments when I’ve shut God out. Almost. But then there is the tiny voice in my head…the whisper that doesn’t sound like one, tells me to get back up and press on. Even though I don’t want to listen some times, I do it anyway. And with that mustard seed of faith, God helps me move my mountains. His 98% and my two. Two is enough. With God, all things are possible.

Perhaps you are reading this today and have your own mountains to move. Maybe you are a student here at our school and you go home some times wondering why you even come when you can’t put two things together…or it seems like you can’t. You will. It may not be today, but you will. Keep trying, keep pushing yourself and you will achieve things you never thought you could. Just don’t give up. If it was easy, we’d have a much bigger place with heating and air conditioning and you wouldn’t have to pee in the woods behind the dojo. We’re working on that.

If you are not a student but frequent our blog, thank you. And, the message is the same. Don’t give up. Three simple words that can never be overused. Don’t give up. Hold on to your mustard seed. Better yet, plant it and take of it. Watch it grow. You just need a little heart.

Dave Magliano

Tatsu Dojo

Jissenkan Budo

Dojo Cho