Fixing the Karate Community loss.  The intention was to do a different podcast but an inquiry from Anne (thanks Anne) about the loss of martial arts schools. It is needs addressing and so here it is. The two elements of addressing the loss of community and achievement. Student diaspora, physically and mentally resulting in nothing. No handles to gain a grasp on the situation we are living in. Nothing tangible and the loss of fellowship as well.

There are many answers. Many of the answers are unsatisfactory. The “Drink plenty of water.” The default position of advice gets addressed and how it is of little meaning. It solves no problem. These are throw-away lines, fillers, for a weak list of poorly assembled tripe. 

The podcast offers few recommendations but addresses the two items that are the most difficult of which to get a grasp. The loss of community and the loss of achievement.  

Community and the Loss

The loss of community is hard and when the loss is final it can be difficult, but it has an end. The loss of your martial arts community in these circumstances is like a child teasing a cat with a string. The cat never quite gets the string and the child laughs.

Achievement and The Loss

Human beings have a unique element about them. This element is the need to achievement. Here is the hard truth, not everybody cultivates the achievement gene, some people don’t give a rat’s ass about doing, achieving, or getting better. Those people not caring about themselves or their world, they are not involved in martial arts.

Martial artists are a self-selecting, self-referencing group of achievers. And now you are stripped of your support, your community of like-minded people and have moving timelines, dates, and lockdowns. Think of that cat chasing the string.

You are not going to get specifics here such as, “Stay hydrated,” but you are going to get an overview and a few examples of how you may want to approach the dual issues of fixing the karate community loss and achievement.

A few more links in which you maybe interested

* Iain Abernethy – Road Less Traveled* New World Karate* Goran Powell – Karate / Zen

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KRIS WILDER

Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington. He has authored many martial art books, including the classic, The Way of Kata. Making no apologies for his obsession of Football he can be found telling any who will listen about the nuances of the Canadian Football League.