Reflections on practice by Shane Lear

Shane Lear holds a black in 5 martial arts systems. I met him a couple of years ago at Dillman Camp in Pennsylvania. There were a lot of male egos at that camp - guys were knocked out repeatedly over the course of the weekend - but Shane Lear stood apart from everyone else as a modest, introspective man, a consummate student of the martials arts. I sensed there was little delineation between his martial arts practice and his daily life. The paragraph below was copied from his web page.

This weeks reflection is on practice. I have heard my karate instructor George Dillman say many times that you get good at what you practice. It also is well known in many sports that you perform the way you practice. Practice hard and the battles are easy, practice soft and it will be a struggle. There is always a consequence for how and what we practice as well. We become what we practice. Life works the same way. If you practice spending more money than you make you will end up broke. Practice saving and you won't. Practice being negative or positive and you will become that person (with the same like minded people and situations surrounding you). Approach situations with a level head and your decisions will reflect it. Feed your emotions and you will become a "drama king, or queen". Again, you become what you practice. Set your goals to start moving toward the person you want to be today. Practice daily and it will become a way of life! Thanks for reading.

If you want to become more skilled - whether in martial arts, other physical skills, or in life - aim to  practice perfectly and with intent, and watch yourself improve. Only perfect practice makes perfect. Thanks to Shane Lear for his words of wisdom.

[Note: Pictured are: Master Gaby Roloff, Shane Lear, Renshi Janet, and me. Master Gaby is kind, generous and never egotistical. In fact, others need to sing her praises, since she never does so herself. And Renshi Janet, a natural leader, centers on other people's strengths and provides the proper environment for success.]