Some people are simply amazing in their ability to grasp a concept and make it their own. Some people have the physical prowess to see a martial arts technique and execute it near perfect the first time.
Sadly, I am not one of the people. Because of that I have struggled to gain a skill and failed miserably and looked bad in the process. It’s a good thing I have tough skin, because falling down can hurt!
One thing I am grateful I do have is a strong will and a desire to get it right eventually. It might take me longer, but if it is important enough, it’s worth it.
Here’s a clip from a post by Stephen Kesting, a fellow Kajukenbo practitioner and BJJ Black Belt:
"So I’m touring Casa Loma recently, the famous castle in downtown Toronto and the largest private residence ever constructed in Canada.
We’re wandering the halls, climbing the turrets, and exploring the never-ending parade of lavishly decorated rooms.
All of a sudden I heard something beautiful drifting through the marble and hardwood hallways. It was the aria Il Dolce Suono from Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor opera. And it sounded like it was being sung live.
I made my way towards the sound and ended up at the edge of the balcony that overlooked the main hall. There, at another, smaller balcony, not 15 feet from me, was the source of the music – a young woman – delivering an unaccompanied live performance for the visitors to the castle.
It was incredible. Despite the acoustics of the hall (most decidedly NOT designed for opera) she did a great job with several famous arias. To hear that almost-private performance in the home of an industrialist robber baron made me feel like I should be wearing an ivory linen suit in the style of the Great Gatsby.
Finally she concluded with a rendition of Ave Maria, curtsied, waved, and then disappeared from her balcony.
…Afterwards, as I was on my way down the hallways of the castle, I saw the same diva again. Some fan had cornered her and was fawning over her performance.
As I got a little closer I could see her nodding with a polite smile plastered on her face in response to what seemed like a very one-sided conversation.Then I was able to overhear what the dude was saying…
“What a gift,” he sighed, “What an amazing gift.”
I couldn’t help myself. “What a lot of work!” I interrupted.
She used the interruption to disengage and get on her way, but not before flashing me what seemed like a giant smile of gratitude. I squeezed past her now lonely admirer on my quest to find the castle’s secret passageways and tunnels."
I am reminded by our STORM retreat a couple of years ago where we talked about the pitfalls have having a natural talent and being praised for the talent rather than the hard work in perfecting the talent. Talent IS overrated. Be careful of the pitfall of relying on your talents to get you by. It will work in the short run, but in the long run, hard work and practice will overcome anyone’s natural abilities.
As we drill and practice our martial arts, we must remember that the pay off is down the road. In the future as we demonstrate our ‘talents’, in reality we will be demonstrating the many, many hours of practice, patience with ourselves, the bumps and bruises we have sustained, and ultimately, the demonstration of the will to not quit.
Others might see it as a gift, but you will know differently.
Train Strong to Remain Strong!
-Sigung Kelly
Note: Stephen Kesting is a student of Tuhan and Grandmaster Philip Gelinas of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Gelinas is the author of the Kajukenbo Family Tree and has been on the KSDI board of directors for many years. GM Gelinas is a stick fighter and knife fighter practitioner. GM Gelinas is a special guest instructor for Grandmaster Lim this year for the Malama Ohana event. He is a ‘must see’ martial artist.
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