I was once asked if I ever wanted to quit karate. I replied, "Yes, I have. But since I had no job. I couldn't." I had answered with a joking tone, and those listening laughed at my reply. My answer was true, but the reason given was not. What has kept me going are the words of the man who was my instructor in college and the JKA instructor school, whose example has guided me for all of my life..

"If you choose a path, stick with it." he would say. "To give up because of difficulties is to give up your self, to lose your spirit." This though has kept me on the path of karate.

To live, you have to do some job. There are those who complain, who quit when things are hard, who have a weak spirit - and who don't do a good job. Those with good spirit will have more energy - and do a good job. It all depends on how you think.

Years later, whenever I would meet him, he always reminded me of the importance of one's spirit in overcoming one's own weakness. His life was an example of this. He was known for a saying "Ban Bari Yara-Nya." The closest I can say in English is something like "Hubba Hubba, Do what you must, if not, you're out." Even at a party, when everyone was drinking, he would say this.

Whenever I face difficulty, I hear his words and feel that I have to keep going, no matter what. I have learned that if you overcome anything difficult with your own effort it adds to your strength.

Around 1150 A.D., it was said that "To make yourself a success, you must study and the truth of the matter". Around 1600, Musashi offered a way to find the truth. He said you must have a clear mind. To get a clear mind, the only way is consistent effort - to work harder and keep a strong spirit. Keep going and one day you can expect to reach a higher level. Keep going step-by-step in the right direction and don't give up.

So what I was taught is not new. But I learned it from a man who made it more than words for me - whose life was an example of what being faithful can accomplish.