Martial Arts for the SOUL

The other day I was watching a TV drama called "OL Nippon". It's about the workers at a Japanese company having to deal with the reality that they may lose their jobs.

The company they are working for decided to save money by having most of the it's operations run and products sourced in China.

Due to this decision, the workers in Japan are placed in a difficukt situation. They must welcome and train two employees that visit from China.

Each person is forced to take a step back and think about what it is that they want out of their job and their life.

It was actually said in Japanese but, here is a Chinese proverb that I took to heart when I heard it on the show:

「やりたいことをやらなければ１００歳まで生きても死んでいるのと一緒」

It roughly translates as:

"If you don't go after the things you want in life, even if you live until 100, it's the same as being dead."

I think this applies to being a martial artist as well. Everytime you get in the ring you risk getting injured. But, the joy of being on the mats everyday and doing what you love outweighs the risk.

Being a part of a gym is about more than just showing up. We shed blood, sweat, and tears together. In many ways, it's like being a part of a family.