A Day’s Lesson [9/17/2010] : KUO

The Beginner’s Mind

One skill that I continuously work on is approaching training with the attention of the beginner’s mind. Every time I do even the simplest of drills, I work hard not to just tune out and go through the motions. I try (with varying success) to approach each and every session as if I’m seeing things through the fresh eyes of a beginner. Each session is its own unique experience and is a unique opportunity to learn.

Time and again, when I think I already know something and stop paying attention, I will later find out that I didn’t know the concept as well as I thought. I can touch hands with my Sifu or my kung fu brothers, and it becomes clear that there’s something missing in my training. What I glossed over for being simple basics earlier, later becomes the weakness I need to improve.

Johnny Kuo

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