Karate Boy, by Michael V. Rovere

This story is dedicated to Master Gil Kim and to my son, Dante. They

 have both inspired me, each in his awn way. Master Kim as wise teacher,

 and Dante as innocent and eager student.

Karate Boy, who teaches you karate? I call him Master. He wears a black belt around his waist. The belt is old and worn. I think he has had it for a long time. I think he is the best martial artist in the world, but he is humble and says that he has much to learn. He says that he learns from me. Can you imagine that? Master learning from me? He tells me that he is ancient and that I am new. That it is my duty to become better than him. That I must take what he teaches me and make it my own. He teaches me so I can give his knowledge new life. I will have to practice a thousand years to become better than him. hope I don't let him down.

And what does he teach you? He teaches me to have a strong mind, a flexible body and a pure heart. Karate Boy, what does that mean? A strong mind means doing the right thing, even when nobody is watching me. A flexible body means exercising to stay healthy and fit. A pure heart represents courage and compassion. That means to be brave even when I feel afraid, and to care about others not just myself. Master is very good and wise. I hope to be like him someday.

And what else does he teach you? He teaches me to move like a cat. To breathe with my stomach, not my chest. And to be like water. Why. should you be like water, Karate Boy? Water flows without effort. It is peaceful yet powerful. It can crush but cannot be crushed. I never thought about water before. I didn't know it was so special until he told me. Master thinks about many things, and he shares them with me.

Do you like to fight? No. Why would you fight, Karate Boy? Only to protect or defend. Never to hurt. I train my body so that I will be strong enough to defeat another. I train my heart and mind so that I will have the strength to choose not to do so.

What did you do today in karate class? Today I broke a board. I hit the board with my fist, but I shattered it with my will. I was nervous and filled with doubt. Before I swung, Master told me that the board was already broken. But I told him it wasn't. I asked him to look with his eyes and see that it was one solid piece of wood. He asked me to ignore my eyes and see with my heart that the board was broken in two. I did. Bamm! He was right. It was already broken. I just had to swing my fist to allow the board to do what it was destined to do.

What else did you do? I stretched, I ran, I jumped, I rolled. I kicked, I punched, I ducked, I blocked. I dove, I fell, I swept, I tumbled. And I defended myself against attackers. It was fun, but I'm very tired. Tonight I will sleep well.

And what will you dream about Karate Boy? I will dream that I am a thousand years old with a ragged black belt around my waist. Young students look at me with bright eyes and open minds. I tell them that I am ancient and that they are new; That they must become better than me. They roll their eyes in disbelief. But I see with my heart that it is possible.

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