The Perks of Perseverance

Perseverance: Continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failures, or opposition.

That's what the Webster dictionary says perseverance is, but that's such an impersonal definition. What is perseverance in the real scheme of life?

I recently had a chance to explore the gritty details of that for myself. You see, in July I have the honor of testing for my first dan, which means I will hold a first degree black belt, but that journey isn't going to be easy. I have to pass a test, 144 multiple choice questions on everything from the history of the martial arts style I study, to Korean vocabulary words, to translations of movements we do on the floor.

Then I have to pass the physical test, 6 grueling hours in which my classmates and I will perform every single form, technique, weapon, and combination we have learned over our martial arts careers to a panel of judges.

Needless to say, it won't be easy.

I still remember the first time I walked into my karate class. I was in seventh grade at a new school; no one had told me you weren't supposed to wear your jeans under your uniform so I was already roasting hot, and I wondered if this day could possibly get worse.

Then I saw the teachers.

The man was like Goliath compared to my short (I hadn't hit my growth spurt yet) stature, and the woman looked like the hardcore assassin from every PG-13 movie I'd ever seen.

I thought I was going to die

And then they opened their mouths. "Kamult!" What on earth did that mean?! This was followed by a string of strange commands, all delivered in what I was to learn later, was Korean. The kids with colored belts all scrambled into rows, leaving the clueless white belts standing around not knowing what to do with themselves. It was one of the most embarrassing things that has ever happened to me.

Things did get better though. Slowly, over the years, I began to understand the Korean. I learned to tie my belt, managed to get through the first five basic forms, and continued working toward my goal of black belt even as my friends dropped out. I thought about it a few times, especially when my fellow green belt Aubrie decided to stop, but deep inside I knew I couldn't give up. I wanted to be someone the world viewed as a master. I wanted a black belt and I was going to get it.

Turns out, determination and perseverance can get you a lot farther than you think.

About two months ago, as I was preparing for my final test as a color belt, the Goliath-like man (my karate teacher who really isn't as scary as he looks) was working with me on my latest form. It took me a solid hour to learn that form but at the end of it do you know what he said?

He reminded me of the first form I'd ever learned. It was incredibly easy, only two movements repeated over and over, but it took me WEEKS to master it. I couldn't understand the turns, my stances were dreadful, and I tended to just follow along with everyone else, even if they were wrong.

I was a little embarrassed at the memory, but then he told me something special. He asked me, "How long did it take you to learn this form? It has fifty-two movements, rarely repeated, while your first form only had 20 and they were all the same two techniques. This is how you can see your improvement."

He was right, I have seen great strides since that day four years ago, and no matter how hard it was at times, I've made it through. There have been days where I've been ready to throw the belt out the window and quit. The night where we did one thousand kicks and I could barely walk the next day, the time I had to learn aerials and smacked myself in the head so many times, sparring, conditioning, and getting punched in the face, all of those days were hard, but I pushed through and now I'm reaping the rewards.

All that does not mean I'm completely cool-headed at the thought of my black belt test. I still have a lot of work to do in the month leading up to July 13th. I have combinations and one steps to learn, forms to practice, and 144 Korean vocabulary words to memorize. But you know what? The end is in sight, closer than ever before and I know, just like that little girl four years ago, I will not give up.

Sincerely,

Lara