How many times does this happen? When I asked a wise old sensei years ago how to succeed in martial arts he gave me some very good advice. He said, sagely with a gleam in his eye, “Just keep turning up. When you’re happy, keep turning up. When you’re sad, keep turning up. When you’re tired, keep turning up. When you’re ill, keep turning up. If fact whatever else is going on, make training your one point of calmness. Just keep turning up”.
Only four of us turned up that Sunday, but as I stepped onto the mat, a surge of energy washed over me as I was joined by three of the keenest guys in the club. Three and a half hours later, after many drills and rolling, I walked out of there, soaked in sweat. I felt on top of the world, and made a quantum leap that day in my game. I smiled as I walked down the street, feeling the wisdom of ages the old sensei tried to pass on to me years ago. Just keep turning up.