The Secret to Better Karate Discipline

Kris Wilder

The secret to better karate discipline. When we look at the people we admire they always possess some form of discipline. A focus, a clarity that leads to achievement.

Here is a checklist audit to help you get a better sense of your discipline.

Discipline Is Ritualized

Discipline is ritualized. Ritual builds consistency and as humans we love consistency.

Push-ups

This is a checklist for you to begin with. You will take note there is no, “I will do 25 push-ups every morning,” aspect to the list. The reason is all action, all discipline begins with the mind, the initiator. These are features of discipline that set you up to have success. Think of them as setting the table so you can enjoy the meal.

Here Is Your Checklist

Morning

1. I get out of bed every workday at the same time

Yes         Sometimes         No

2. I get out of bed at a set time on the weekend, not the same time I do during the week, but I do set a time

Yes         Sometimes         No

3. I fall asleep to a screen. I have my phone in my hand until I fall asleep, tablet or T.V. on

Yes         Sometimes         No

4. I hit the snooze button

Yes         Sometimes         No

5. My keys are always in the same place when I wake in the morning

Yes         Sometimes         No

6. I know what I am going to eat in the morning

Yes         Sometimes         No

7. I have media I consume every morning that helps me keep on time, and keeps me positive

Yes         Sometimes         No

8. I take a moment to meditate, pray, or reflect most mornings

Yes         Sometimes         No

9. I know what I am going to wear the next day when I go to bed.

Yes         Sometimes         No

Score each answer this way Yes = 1, Sometimes = 2, No = 3.

The largest score you can get is 27

The lowest score possible is 9

Like golf the lower the score the better. The lower your score the more ritual you have in your life the less anxiety you likely have.

The "Word" Organize

Organize Your Day

These questions are not a recommendation but serve as an indicator. They are indicators of the level of organization you have in preparation for the next day. Starting the day after a poor nights’ sleep and with several decisions to make before the day begins? That formula makes for an unnecessary challenge.

You can start a plan by using these nine questions to form the beginning of your program. Or adapt and improve what you already do.

Caution! Only choose one addition, deletion, or change to start to get success. Too many changes at one time are not the best choice no matter how high your enthusiasm.

You will notice the items on the list are small, almost too simple, and that is why they work in setting the path to the secret to better karate discipline.

Don’t Rush It

People in a hurry

We have all listened to the person that has a list of New Year’s resolutions. As they are ticking off the items on their list, we are saying to ourselves, “Yeah…that’s not going to go very far.”

It takes time to establish a disciplined ritual to your world, don’t rush it. But do make the choice to do so. Do the check list. And then adopt the small forward leaning actions.

A few more posts you may find of interest

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KRIS WILDER

Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington. He has authored many martial art books, including the classic, The Way of Kata. Making no apologies for his obsession of Football he can be found telling any who will listen about the nuances of the Canadian Football League.

Organization Changes Everything

Kris Wilder

Organization changes everything and improvement is often unmeasured, it can’t be seen. That means it’s how I feel about my progress and the feeling is often worthless. Bear with me as I lean into aphorisms, and truisms to emphasize my point. The first one and we all know it, “What doesn’t get measured, doesn’t get done.” This phrase is about creating accountability.

External and Internal Accountability

Creating accountability on an external level and an internal level. We become transparent to our employer or superior. Being accountable to a superior is much easier than being accountable to self. How many times have you said, “That’ll do,” and let something slide that you would not let slide for your employer?

Look at it this way, you get out of bed five days a week to get to work on time, but you sleep in on the weekends. This is not to say you shouldn’t indulge yourself on occasion. It is to point out you are likely to be more accountable to others, than yourself. You are not the driver of your life.

Feelings Are Not Measurable

Just having a feeling about how you doing is not successful. We have bathroom scales to check our waistline. Products come in dimensions or weights. Weather measurements take on many forms. Every one of these forms of measure makes sense. These measurements are necessary and they are all external.

We are not as diligent at the measurements that are our own. The internal measurement. How many things do you eat daily without measurement?

Your improvements need anchoring in the discipline. One form of self-accountability is a review of your actions because self-organization changes everything.

Get Things Done conference

The popular system of Get Things Done makes you take on a daily review of the process. This review process has accountability to self and others.

Smead Corporation logo

This principle goes from the business world to the spiritual world. The Daily Examen by the Jesuits is an organizational method as well. You can check out The Daily Examen here.

The Smead Company based out of Hastings Minnesota is built around organizational products and how to use those products.

Marie Condo

We thirst for the organization. The popularity of Marie Kondo, a Japanese organizational consultant, is an example of the level at which we desire structure. She has an empire built around clarity of personal space.

We Sorely Want Organization

We desire organization. Organization removes chaos. With lower levels of chaos, we can perform better in our work and our personal lives. We have the opportunity for growth, change, and improvement. The most difficult of those changes is being accountable to one’s self by one’s self is the beginning of the order.

There is no one best way, there are structures and recommendations galore. It is about finding a system that will provide the methods of action for you. You can scour the web, asks friends, find a program that gets the job done for you. Keep in mind you goal and your understanding organization changes everything.

Remember no system will operate unless you commit to it. It is a machine and you are the driver.

Some other information you may find helpful

Let’s Connect

KRIS WILDER

Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington. He has authored many martial art books, including the classic, The Way of Kata. Making no apologies for his obsession of Football he can be found telling any who will listen about the nuances of the Canadian Football League.

The World Prefers You’re Organized

The world prefers you’re organized and organizing. The ordering of one’s life, putting your world in place is important but I would argue that it’s essential.

We talk about organization regarding productivity. Productivity and organization are critical to a successful business and a successful life. The price you pay for being disorganized is expensive, and here’s a couple of examples.

Banks Are Not Your Friend

Banks are counting on you not organizing well. Financial institutions like you to be late with your payment, to do an overdraft, to exceed the benefits that they provide.

 I’ve seen some statistics that have said that banks make upwards of 40% of their income on fees for their services. Banks set a threshold for your failure and with that keep people continually financially violate.

Society prefers you to be organizing your life. Organizing and staying on top of your world is keeping you from getting fined. You get fined for not filing your business taxes on time. Even if you didn’t owe business taxes you still need to file. You can see the penalties that are built around these types of things cost money.

Cheat Yourself

You show up late to an event and you cheat yourself out of the moment, it’s expensive. Organization, even in its smallest forms changes your world it changes things instantly.

There’s a phrase today we are using, it goes, “Make your bed.” The first thing you do is make your bed. This is the first act of bringing order to your day and it scales up to the world.

Discipline is doing what needs doing even if it’s not enjoyable.  Where and how to start? There are one billion different systems out there to choose from. Adopt a system and use it.

Creative Scheduling

It’s what a friend of mine did. I pointed to her appointment book, and I identified her system by name. She said, “Yes, but I changed a little to suit my needs.” Brilliant. You start and then you adapt and change the color, the pages. Do it however you need to do it to organize your world. You can do it on your phone or you can do it on paper. Know it’s about developing a successful method that suits your needs and also your brain type.

Eat The Elephant

You see you can’t eat the elephant in one bite. We know this and to simply start is an understanding. You will acknowledge your bites are going to be small but eventually you’re going to eat the elephant.

Being disorganized is expensive. It is expensive in money and it’s expensive in lost moments. We want to keep as much of those as we can and enjoy our lives. We want to enjoy our money and enjoy our time, our experiences.

The World Prefers You’re Organized, It’s Elemental

If you’re not organized you need to start getting organized. If you’re good at organizing go ahead and start reviewing your system. Review because you change, the world changes, and your system should probably reflect that as well.

Recommending something to do, yes get starting on it today. Even the smallest of steps toward organization count.

Here is my book on leadership and organization

Sensei, Mentor, Teacher, Coach

Let’s Connect

KRIS WILDER

Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington. He has authored many martial art books, including the classic, The Way of Kata. Making no apologies for his obsession of Football he can be found telling any who will listen about the nuances of the Canadian Football League.