The Power of Spirit

Your outlook can matter more than your nerves.

Even the most prepared student can get nervous before something big. It could be a karate test, a school presentation, or a math exam. Those feelings of fear, anxiety, or self-doubt can sneak in no matter how much practice you’ve put in. You can’t always make those feelings disappear, but you can decide what kind of spirit you bring with you.

I learned that lesson firsthand. The night of my first brown belt test, I showed up to the dojo feeling like my brain had a giant hole in it. I had trained for hours and hours, but I was suddenly drawing a blank on half the things I knew would be on the test. Renshi Mark asked how I was feeling, and I told him the truth - I was nervous and not sure I could remember everything. He told me, “Just focus on your spirit.” So I did. When the test started, my anxiety and self-doubt faded. Without all that noise in my head, my training kicked back in, and I remembered almost everything I needed to pass. That advice has stuck with me ever since.

A strong spirit means showing up determined to do your best and choosing to stay positive, even when you are not sure how things will turn out. At MEKA, we teach kids that their spirit can carry them through those shaky moments. It helps them focus on what they can do in the moment instead of worrying about what might go wrong. And sometimes, that’s exactly what it takes to turn a nervous experience into a great one.

If you want your child to learn how to face challenges with strong spirit and a positive mindset, we would love to welcome you in for a free trial class.