Karate for Kids 3: Learning by Making Mistakes
In this video Bill Leith, 5th degree Uechi-ryu Karate black belt and headmaster of Leith Karate Academy teaches a class for young beginner students who are new to the martial arts. In this interactive video students can follow along as they learn to block, knee strike, and jump kick through interactive drills and games. Included are important lessons on patience and learning through making mistakes.
What I want to talk with you today about is one of the biggest lessons I have learn with my karate training – that its ok to make mistakes.
When you are learning something new that may be confusing or challenging it is so easy to be down on yourself when you can’t figure it out right away, or if you keep messing up. It can feel so much easier to give up rather than keep working on it – but I urge you, don’t give up!
You see, one of the best ways to learn is to make mistakes. If you have the right mental attitude, every time you make a mistake, you are teaching yourself a small lesson on how to get better.
I recommend when you are learning something and you are having a hard time with it to pause and think about what you may be doing wrong, and see if you can figure out how to fix it. If you can’t figure it out on your own there is nothing wrong with asking someone for help.
Also, be patient with yourself – sometimes it just takes more time and practice to understand something. For instance, I had a really tough time learning how to do a jump kick. I understood all the steps I needed to take to perform the kick, but my body just hadn’t caught up to my mind yet. So I just kept practicing it over and over again, and eventually I was able to do it!
Believe me, I have made thousands of mistakes with my karate training! And this doesn’t only apply to karate – the same can be true for learning a school subject like math or science, or for learning something more artistic like painting. So be patient with yourself, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes! I know if you do you are going to be amazing.