Get Uncomfortable!

January 13, 2026

Want to get Better?  Get UNCOMFORTABLE!

No one WANTS to be uncomfortable!  Most people avoid discomfort like a plague!!  Yet, others seek it, knowing that UNLESS they push themselves past their current level, they are doomed to mediocrity.  They are in pursuit of a “prized” goal, something important and meaningful to them. 

Many children, when asked  “What do you want to be when you grow up?”  answer “A football star like …” or “An ice skater like …”  Of 1000 kids with the same goal, maybe only 100 will work toward it; less than 10 will put the necessary effort to get there; MAYBE just 1 of the 1000 will ever get the chance to realize their dream.

That’s right!  These are the ones who ran that extra lap, lifted the weight 10 more times, or practiced their dance moves or played their instrument one more hour than everyone else.  They are willing to push themselves to uncomfortable levels to get the edge over everyone else.  They were willing to GET UNCOMFORTABLE!!!  That is why they are who they are!   THERE IS NO MAGIC!

HSK students who train with focus, determination, and spirit are, indeed, a rare breed!  They are the ones who relish the physical, mental, and spiritual challenges they experience at each training session!  They understand the concept of “pushing the envelope”, and love to seek, explore, test, and conquer new horizons of achievement at each stage of their training.  They are the ones who benefit the most and will go the FARTHEST in this art.  Their focus is NOT stardom, but on finding out how much and how far they are able to push themselves toward excellence!!

So, why isn’t EVERYONE following this path toward excellence?  Don’t they also want to be the best that they can be?  Well, the answer is YES and NO!  YES they DO want to get better, but NO they do NOT want the process to be uncomfortable!  Faced with two choices – a HARD way or an EASY way – most rush toward the EASY!  Many of our students fall into this group or somewhere close. 

Karate, as I have told ALL my classes, is EXTREMELLY hard.  There are NO gray areas where you kinda like it or you kinda don’t.  You either love it or you hate it!  For adults, there’s no problem.  You like it, you continue.  You hate it, you don’t!  For kids it’s a bit more complicated.  Although they might not like it, their parents find our approach refreshing and necessary for their child’s growth and development. 

So, will you continue to do what you can already do and be comfortable, OR work harder to improve and excel by getting  UNcomfortable!  The choice is YOURS!!!