In January’s blog,
I discussed the importance of the attitude and your mental state when coming
into the dojang for each class. This
month I am going to take it one step further and discuss the energy side of it.
So, as discussed
last month, your mental state of willingness to learn, being present for the instruction
and willing to focus on learning and studying a martial art is critical every
time you step into the dojang.
The energy you
bring and the intention you set with your energy is also important. Keep in mind that thoughts are energy and our
thoughts matter tremendously when setting intentions and projecting energy.
Instructors:
Instructors should strive
to ensure every student’s safety while participating in the drills and exercises
of each class. As instructors, it is
important not only that we set up drills that are safe but we set an intention
(project energy) that the dojang is a safe place to learn and study. This by all means does not mean we need to
always go light or never project force. In
fact, at times instructors need to project energy that could be damaging as a
means of demonstrating the energy and philosophy of the Han Moo Kwan art
form.
It means being
conscious of the selection of drills and projecting the appropriate
force/energy (or taking to a level slightly above what a student’s level is) and
at the same time have the intention we are in a safe learning environment.
Instructors should
set an intention that the environment is inviting to learn, ask questions, make
mistakes and learn from them. Instructors
should set an intention to be patient with their students since not all
students learn at the same pace.
Students:
As students, it is
important our intention is to be safe for ourselves and be safe with our
partners. This by all means does not
mean we need to always go light or never project force. In fact, at times we ask students to project
energy that could be damaging as a means of demonstrating the energy and
philosophy of the Han Moo Kwan art form.
It means projecting
the appropriate force/energy. If a
student is concerned with getting hurt or hurting someone else, he/she tends to
cause more harm with that intention than just projecting the appropriate
force/energy (or taking to a level slightly above) dependent on the drill and
the level of experience of our partner.
It is also
important we set an intention of being open to learning. Students should feel comfortable we are all
here to learn and grow. Students should
set an intention to do their best and learn from mistakes with no
judgment. Students should set an
intention of being patient with themselves if they are not picking up a new
technique, correcting a technique, or learning a new form as quickly as they
would like. Every day we walk into the
dojang is a new day. We may be coming
off an injury or illness and should honor whatever our best is that day with
the goal to continuing to improve. Our
mental state and the intention we put into each class every time we bow into
the dojang will set the stage for that class for you and others participating
that night. It is about being conscious
of the energy we project into the room and with other students.
Summary:
So, when you bow
before entering into the dojang, not only spend a moment and let your day go,
be happy to be entering the dojang and be ready to learn (and/or teach) and
practice with an open mind. Ensure when
you enter a drill with a partner you are projecting the appropriate energy/
force, set of intention of being patient with yourself and others you work
with, and create an, inviting space to learn, teach, and grow.
Regards,
Kelly
“We are what we
repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”
