Rhode Island Adventure

Mr. Nicklaus said something in a karate class that's stuck with me.

"A definition of Insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results"

Man, easy to understand...but hard to apply sometimes.

For whatever reason, I've been the number two guy in the country the last 2 years. And I hate it. I'm not saying it's a terrible accomplishment. I just have my sights set higher. I want my focus to be on something better. So why number 2? Was the number one guy just that much better?

Truth is, anytime that I've really committed myself to it, I've won. I used to think that meant just really training hard. That's the commitment that I needed. Bologna. Really, THAT was insanity. The tournaments that I've won have been no surprise in hindsight. They are the tournaments I really emotionally and mentally as well as physically invest myself in.

So what's the deal with the other karate tournaments? In hindsight, I can see a number of reasons. Reasons like...being intimidated, not feeling worthy of it, fear of failure. Odd to admit because I've done really well in a lot of other things.

BUT when it comes to it, I'm just a Martial Arts student like the ones I teach. The only difference is that I'm further along in my training. I have to go through the same muck they do to get what I want.

This past weekend in Providence, RI was a breakthrough in a lot of different ways. Mr. Nicklaus has been helping me prepare mentally and physically for this success over the last month and half. My preparation helped me come to grips with my result I want. I didn't train for the sake of training. My training had a purpose....to take the position I wanted.

Even this weekend minutes before competing, I almost fell victim to old thinking....
"I just want this to be over so I can relax" (fear)
"What if I don't win" (fear)
"It's not that big a deal" (rationalizing)

ENOUGH. Everyone has the Battle of Thoughts.

My reply to old, dumb, fearful thoughts:
"I going to face this b/c I know the pain and ache of what happens when I just want to relax"

"Everything I want to feel happens when I win this, so I have to give everything I have. Can't worry about losing. Gotta keep focused on what I DO want to happen."

"This is a big deal b/c this is what I want, and I'm going to make it happen"

"There is no trying...I trust my body to do what it was meant to do"

Result:
I won the Ocean State Grand Nationals traditional division.

Post-plan:
I know that the guy I beat will not take the loss lightly. I will guarantee I will work even harder to make sure I keep earning what I want.

Lesson:
Defeating insanity requires a change in what you've been doing over and over to this point.

To Championship Level Training,

William Cornell