ITM August Perseverance - K.indd - Round Rock ATA Martial Arts ...

August Life Skill
Teaching Perseverance
What makes some people winners time after time, while others seem to fall short just as
often, or at best ‘get lucky’ once in awhile? In the recipe for success, a properly set goal
is one key ingredient; the other is perseverance – steadfast pursuit of the goal and stubborn
refusal to accept defeat. It’s a trait that springs directly from Attitude (Spirit). Perseverance
is about self-confidence, self-respect and self-control. It’s about loyalty, integrity and honor. Without
perseverance, setting goals is a waste of time. With it, the sky’s the limit. And like the other Black
Belt Attributes, this truly priceless skill can be developed in our students, and in ourselves, through
continual study and practice.
It is important to understand the difference between “being determined to win” no matter what
and “staying the course” no matter what. It is not always but sometimes necessary to change the
course, to find an alternate route on our road map to victory. Very simply: some obstacles we go
over, some obstacles we go around! Perseverance means sticking to the goal, not necessarily to
the original plan. In fact, it is prudent, wise, useful and sometimes it is critical to have or make a
“Plan B.” Circumstances change, and as they do, we must adapt to persevere and reach our goals.
Perseverance is tried by the frustration of our mistakes. No one likes to err, of course, but mistakes
are also opportunities. As such, it is wasteful indeed not to learn from them, and this too is an
aspect of perseverance: accepting setbacks and resolving not to repeat them. Perseverance is
tested as well by the shame and humiliation mistakes naturally cause us to feel. Here again: accepting
setbacks, forgiving yourself, learning from the experience, and getting back in the saddle are at
the core of this uniquely valuable life skill. Many mistakes can be avoided with knowledge proffered
by books, tapes, videos and of course, our Instructors. However, the hard-learned lessons of our
personal experiences are often the most memorable, particularly as we persevere and succeed, not
despite, but because of them.
What We Mean By “Perseverance”
Young Adult / Adult (Ages 14 - 99 / Grades 8 - 12)
Perseverance is being determined to win no
matter what.
Karate for Kids (Ages 7 - 13 / Grades 1 - 7)
Perseverance means never giving up, even
when you fail. It means being determined to
win no matter what.
Tiny Tigers (Ages 3 - 6 / Grades pre-K - K)
Perseverance means never giving up.
I have not
failed. I’ve
just found
10,000 ways
that won’t
work.
Thomas Edison
August Instructor Trainee Manual 1