but what sometimes seems magical to me is the transformation of people that make up the martial
arts. Through the years I have seen hundreds of people go from unhealthy to healthy, overweight to slim, weak and slow to
strong and fast, frightened to confident, and shy to outgoing, all because they latched onto the martial arts and learned
its discipline. The martial arts are certainly no cure all, but for many peaple they are a funnel into which they can channel
all the ways in which they want to improve themselves. and, a vehicle for building better minds, better bodies, and better
spirits. Perhaps you are one of those people.
As you continue training in the martial arts, always keep in mind that the mental and physical
principles are equally important. I have seen many potentially skillful fighters whose abilities never developed because they
gave to much weight to one aspect of the arts and disreguarded the other. Also as you grow in the arts, be open minded and
humble. We certainly must be thankful to the precious knowledge that the ancient masters have passed on to us, and use that
knowledge for good purpose. And, also as you progress, remember to search deeply within your own mind, for that is where you
will find some of the greatest secrets of the fighting arts.
