Karate Research Paper

The first time I had encountered a bully was the start of sixth grade. Throughout elementary school, I had never experienced being laughed at and whispered about; I had always been friends with everyone. I had never been physically threatened before, but when that day came, I found myself scared and clueless as to how I would defend myself. The thought of being in a physical altercation gave me nightmares. I did not know how to fight and was in fear of being attacked, which would lead to more intense bullying. I expressed my feeling of fright and helplessness to my mother, who then signed me up for karate classes. That is how my martial arts journey began. I started my karate training with the intention of learning how to fight and defend …show more content…
Karate is not only high kicks and specific moves; the principal of karate is the strong mental and physical discipline that comes along with it. In karate, all students are expected to learn respect for others out on the tatami (training mat), and to learn to train in Japanese. Training in Japanese provided me with a mental, as well as physical challenge, as I learned to perfect specific techniques over time. Respect plays a large role in karate and is deeply enforced in the class. At the beginning of each class, my first movement would be to rei, meaning “bow”, in the direction of our ancestors, to thank the, I would also rei to my sensei, to thank him as well. Even before battling with an opponent, I would have to rei to them as a sign of respect for their accomplishments. At the end of each class, I would rei once more to our ancestors and to my sensei for sharing his mastery and to thank him. Respect became part of was my routine in karate, for others and for myself and all my accomplishments. It quickly became apart of my daily practice in and out of karate …show more content…
I have gained a lifestyle of discipline, determination and a drive for self-improvement. The lessons I have learned have also made me a stronger person, capable of overcoming tragedies and hardships that have occurred in my life. It also taught me to perservere, to never give up on something just because it is complicated. Sensei Raimondi told me something that has stuck with me to this day. He said, “Be a weed. Flowers are pretty and decorative, but weeds are strong. Be able to emerge and flourish and every time someone tries to yank you out, sprout again, just like a