Md Consulting

Hello, everyone! I’m so excited to share with you my latest achievement: I won the first Kobushi Cup, a karate competition held in Miami last weekend, in the kata category for adults 35 and older. This was a dream come true for me, as I have been practicing karate for almost more than 20 years and I have always wanted to test my skills in a tournament. I start competing 2 years ago. But it wasn’t easy. I had to overcome many challenges and obstacles along the way. In this blog post, I want to tell you how karate helped me develop a resilience attitude that enabled me to never give up and follow my goals. I also want to talk about the amazing values of karate and how they can be applied to your daily life, whether in your personal or professional endeavors. And of course, I want to highlight the profile of my sensei, Alexandra Marques, who has been a source of inspiration and guidance for me throughout my journey.

What is the Kobushi Cup?

The Kobushi Cup is a karate tournament that has been held annually in Miami, Florida since 1992. It is one of the most prestigious and popular events in the karate community, attracting hundreds of participants from different styles, ages, and levels of expertise. The Kobushi Cup is not just a competition; it is a familial gathering that fosters growth, camaraderie, and the development of young competitors in a safe and friendly environment.

The Kobushi Cup follows the rules and regulations of the World Karate Federation (WKF), the governing body of karate recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The tournament consists of two main categories: kata (form) and kumite (sparring). Each category has different divisions according to age, gender, rank, and experience.

What is Kata?

Kata is a form of karate that involves performing a series of predefined movements that simulate combat situations. Kata is a way of practicing karate techniques, principles, and strategies in a solo manner. Kata also expresses the essence and spirit of karate through body language, breathing, rhythm, and focus.

Kata is judged by a panel of referees who evaluate the performance based on criteria such as technical accuracy, speed, power, balance, timing, expression, and difficulty. The competitors must perform a different kata in each round, choosing from a list of approved kata for their division.

How Karate Helped Me Develop Resilience?

Karate is a martial art that originated in Okinawa, Japan. It is a system of self-defense that involves striking techniques using the hands, feet, elbows, and knees. Karate also teaches mental discipline, physical fitness, and moral values.

Karate helped me develop resilience in many ways. Here are some examples:

• Karate taught me how to set goals and work hard to achieve them. When I started karate, I had no idea what I was doing. But I had a goal: to earn my black belt someday. To achieve this goal, I had to train regularly, practice diligently, and improve constantly. I had to overcome my fears, doubts, and frustrations. I had to accept constructive feedback and learn from my mistakes. I had to challenge myself and push myself beyond my comfort zone. Every time I earned a new belt or passed a new test, I felt a sense of accomplishment and pride.
• Karate taught me how to cope with stress and pressure. Competing in karate was stressful and nerve-wracking. I had to perform in front of a large audience, under strict rules and regulations, against skilled competitors. I had to deal with the expectations of myself, my coach, my teammates, my family, and my friends. I had to manage my emotions, thoughts, and actions during the competition. But karate also taught me how to relax and focus. Karate taught me how to breathe deeply, meditate calmly, visualize positively, and execute confidently.
• Karate taught me how to appreciate the journey and not just the destination. Winning the Kobushi Cup was an amazing achievement for me, but it was not the only thing that mattered. What mattered more was the journey that led me to that moment: the hours of training, the sweat and tears, the friendships and bonds, the lessons and insights, the joys and sorrows. Karate taught me how to enjoy the process of learning and growing, not just the outcome of succeeding or failing.

The Amazing Values of Karate

Karate is not just a sport or a hobby; it is a way of life. Karate instills many values that can benefit anyone who practices it. Here are some of them:

• Respect: Karate teaches respect for oneself and others. Respect for oneself means taking care of one’s body and mind, being honest with oneself, and striving for excellence. Respect for others means acknowledging their dignity, honoring their rights, and appreciating their diversity. Respect is shown by bowing, using polite language, and following etiquette.
• Discipline: Karate teaches discipline for oneself and others. Discipline for oneself means being consistent, committed, and responsible. Discipline for others means being cooperative, supportive, and respectful. Discipline is shown by following rules, keeping promises, and fulfilling obligations.
• Courage: Karate teaches courage for oneself and others. Courage for oneself means facing one’s fears, challenging one’s limits, and overcoming one’s difficulties. Courage for others means standing up for what is right, protecting what is precious, and helping those in need. Courage is shown by speaking up, taking action, and making a difference.
• Humility: Karate teaches humility for oneself and others. Humility for oneself means being modest, grateful, and open-minded. Humility for others means being generous, compassionate, and forgiving. Humility is shown by admitting mistakes, giving credit, and seeking feedback.

My Sensei, My Inspiration

One of the most important factors that contributed to my success in karate was my sensei, Alexandra Marques. She is the head instructor of the WSKF USA dojo, where I train. She is also a 5th dan black belt, a world champion, and a certified judge and referee.

Sensei Marques is not only a great teacher, but also a great mentor and role model. She has taught me not only the techniques and skills of karate, but also the philosophy and spirit of karate. She has inspired me not only with her words and actions, but also with her attitude and character.

Sensei Marques is a person who embodies the values of karate. She is respectful, disciplined, courageous, and humble. She is always eager to learn, improve, and share. She is always positive, optimistic, and enthusiastic.

Conclusion

Karate has changed my life in many positive ways. It has helped me develop resilience, which is the ability to cope with stress, adversity, and change. It has instilled in me many values that can be applied to my daily life. And it has introduced me to my sensei, who has been a source of inspiration and guidance for me.

If you are looking for a way to improve yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually,
I highly recommend you try karate. You will not regret it. You will discover a new world of possibilities and opportunities. You will discover a new way of living and being.

Thank you for reading my blog post. I hope you enjoyed it and learned something from it. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. I would love to hear from you.