Resistance - lots of resistance. Reluctance, too. And a whole lot of silent pent up anger towards my parents, as well. This is how I remember going into my first day of karate lessons as a shy and scrawny little fifth grader. Little did I know at the time, that those initial feelings of uneasiness and apprehension would one day blossom into feelings of great dignity and gratitude. June 15, 2013, is, and always will be, one of the most rewarding days of my existence. It’s not only the day on which I finally earned my first-degree black belt in karate, but also the day I came to the realization that I have unequivocal capability of exerting myself to the max, both physically and mentally.

The single greatest value karate has taught me is commitment. I practiced karate for about five years of my life, and during those years there were many times I wanted to give up, but I didn’t. I knew what I was working towards, and the end goal of testing for my black belt is what kept me motivated the entire time. I became very goal-oriented at a young age because of this and was able to apply the lessons I learned in karate to my life outside of it, as well. Being committed to the people in my life is something that karate very indirectly taught me. I learned to value the relationships I have with friends and family much more as I got older. You never know when someone will leave your life, so every moment should be cherished with your loved ones and you should always express your commitment to them as a reminder to show them how much they are appreciated and accepted by you.

Karate has also taught me a lot about gender stereotyping. Before I began learning martial arts, I would’ve never in a million years imagined myself fighting a guy. Like I mentioned earlier, I was the timid little nerd in class that never spoke a word to anyone unless necessary. So, my first time sparring a guy, a pretty big one, might I add, wasn’t ideal. I still remember being practically body-slammed into the glass mirror as his brutal side kick knocked the wind out of me. It took a lot of courage and years of building up my physical strength to be able to fight guys confidently, and in a lot of cases, successfully, too. Essentially, I’m appreciative of having learned at a very young age that girls are equally as capable as boys of having physical strength and superiority. Growing up in an environment in which both males and females were treated exactly the same was a very rewarding life experience for me, and it is something that has had a huge impact on my life and the way I view myself and my abilities. No girl should ever have to feel as though she is worth less than her male counterpart, and I’m forever thankful to my parents for enrolling me in karate and allowing me to believe that.