--- title: Practice in art and karate description: practice and martial arts, practice and other pursuits image: https://northamptonkarate.com/hubfs/IMG_0170.jpeg --- [Skip to content](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/practice-in-art-and-karate#main-content) [![Matsubayashi Ryu Shorin Ryu kanji](https://northamptonkarate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/NK%20Logo%20high%20res%20photo.jpg?width=50&height=101&name=NK%20Logo%20high%20res%20photo.jpg)](https://northamptonkarate.com/) - [Home](https://northamptonkarate.com/) - [Classes](https://northamptonkarate.com/classes) Show submenu for Classes - [Adults](https://northamptonkarate.com/adult-classes) - [Teens](https://northamptonkarate.com/teen-class) - [Children](https://northamptonkarate.com/kids-class) - [Instructors](https://northamptonkarate.com/classes-0) - [Understanding Karate](https://northamptonkarate.com/guidelines-for-practice) - [Blog](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog) - [Plan Your Visit](https://northamptonkarate.com/visit-us) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://northamptonkarate.com/) - [Classes](https://northamptonkarate.com/classes) Show submenu for Classes - [Adults](https://northamptonkarate.com/adult-classes) - [Teens](https://northamptonkarate.com/teen-class) - [Children](https://northamptonkarate.com/kids-class) - [Instructors](https://northamptonkarate.com/classes-0) - [Understanding Karate](https://northamptonkarate.com/guidelines-for-practice) - [Blog](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog) - [Plan Your Visit](https://northamptonkarate.com/visit-us) Oct 23, 2024 4:08:24 PM # Practice in art and karate [Jan Šabach](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/author/jan-šabach) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/practice-in-art-and-karate) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/practice-in-art-and-karate) [Share this page on Facebook](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/practice-in-art-and-karate) Karate concepts in my life I think about karate a lot. Definitely more than 5 years ago when I rediscovered it. Initially, my aspiration was merely to enhance my fitness and well-being. However, as I delved deeper into training, I began to discern its profound impact on facets beyond the dojo. Physical transformations accompanied mental shifts; improved health bolstered my self-assurance while fostering a sense of tranquility and measured responses. Through diligent practice, I uncovered the invaluable lessons karate imparted, transcending its domain into my everyday life. The ethos of a beginner's mind, advocating continuous learning, openness, and empathy, emerged as a cornerstone. This newfound perspective seeped into my professional realm, softening my adherence to sometimes rigid rules when teaching graphic design and prompting a more exploratory approach. The ethos of nin tai, embracing progress over perfection, became my guiding principle. Consistent effort, I realized, breeds proficiency and ease over time. Embracing this philosophy eased my struggle with imposter syndrome, offering a comforting reminder of my personal journey and accomplishments. Karate, for me, isn't a competitive pursuit but rather a personal odyssey of growth and self-mastery. The essence lies not in outdoing others but in surpassing oneself—each session a triumph in dedication and resilience. This mindset has enriched my martial arts journey and instilled a profound sense of peace and contentment within. The (Martial) Art *“ Living life as an artist is a practice.* *You are either engaging in the practice,* *or you’re not…* *We tend to think of the artist’s work as the output.* *The real work of the artist* *is a way of being in the world.”* *—Rick Rubin* Rick Rubin's book, “The Creative Act: A Way of Being,” sparked a profound shift in how I view both karate and art. Despite not focusing on martial arts, the parallels between the creative process in art (visual or audible) and the practice of karate became strikingly evident. Like in art, karate is about relishing the practice rather than fixating on outcomes. Improvement in artistry emerges naturally through dedicated practice, independent of external validation or recognition. An artist's journey is akin to a continuous evolution, where each creation holds its unique allure. The thrill lies not only in mastering new skills but also in the ongoing exploration of artistic expression. When approached with sincerity and an unwavering passion for creation, the process becomes the purpose, transcending transient successes or accolades. While commercial success may come and go, the commitment to self-improvement through practice remains timeless and infinitely fulfilling. Whether it’s a rock band, an art collective, or a group of martial artists in the dojo, the collective effort of each member significantly impacts the overall outcome. When everyone brings their best to the table, the group becomes a wellspring of shared energy and inspiration, greater than the mere sum of its parts. In this collaborative environment, whether among musicians or martial artists, everyone’s dedication and passion ignite a cycle of mutual inspiration, lifting everyone to new heights while benefiting the collective whole. Despite the challenges of rigorous training, the sense of fulfillment and self-assurance generated creates a ripple effect of positivity, casting a halo of optimism that extends to our surroundings and community. The more we cultivate these fields of positivity, the richer and more impactful our shared journey becomes. *For each rank promotion, we ask students to reflect on what karate means to them. This essay was submitted by Mr. Šabach on the occasion of his sho dan (first degree black belt) test.*   ## Leave a comment ## Related posts [![](https://northamptonkarate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_3637.jpeg?height=200&name=IMG_3637.jpeg)](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/keeping-an-open-mind) ## [Keeping an open mind](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/keeping-an-open-mind) [Anna-Maria Goossens](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/author/anna-maria-goossens) Oct 23, 2024 4:07:24 PM What is shoshin? [Read more](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/keeping-an-open-mind) [![two people doing a kata](https://northamptonkarate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_8754-1.jpeg?height=200&name=IMG_8754-1.jpeg)](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/full-circle-moment) [martial arts](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/tag/martial-arts), [karate](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/tag/karate), [training](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/tag/training), [improving your practice](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/tag/improving-your-practice), [karate and zen as one](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/tag/karate-and-zen-as-one) ## [Full Circle Moment](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/full-circle-moment) [Anna-Maria Goossens](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/author/anna-maria-goossens) Oct 13, 2025 10:29:15 AM Have you ever had a lesson come so perfectly full circle that you can't help but marvel? [Read more](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/full-circle-moment) [![](https://northamptonkarate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/A23AE0F8-77C8-421F-A1BC-7F0F7E549C03.jpeg?height=200&name=A23AE0F8-77C8-421F-A1BC-7F0F7E549C03.jpeg)](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/making-a-resolution-about-your-karate-practice) [martial arts](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/tag/martial-arts), [beginner's mind](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/tag/beginners-mind), [karate](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/tag/karate), [training](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/tag/training), [improving your practice](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/tag/improving-your-practice), [committing to martial arts practice](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/tag/committing-to-martial-arts-practice) ## [Making a resolution about your karate practice](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/making-a-resolution-about-your-karate-practice) [Anna-Maria Goossens](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/author/anna-maria-goossens) Dec 30, 2024 2:49:41 PM As we come up to 2025, lots of folks will think about New Year's resolutions. [Read more](https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/making-a-resolution-about-your-karate-practice) [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/NorthamptonKarate) [instagram icon](https://www.instagram.com/northamptonkaratedojo/) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. --- [![Matsubayashi Ryu Shorin Ryu kanji](https://northamptonkarate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/NK%20Logo%20high%20res%20photo.jpg?width=50&height=101&name=NK%20Logo%20high%20res%20photo.jpg "Matsubayashi Ryu Shorin Ryu kanji")](https://northamptonkarate.com/) 320 Riverside Dr., Florence, MA 01062 413-222-1059 [info@northamptonkarate.com](mailto:info@northamptonkarate.com) Copyright © 2024 ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Jan Šabach", "url" : "https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/author/jan-šabach" }, "dateModified" : "2024-11-25T02:52:24.268Z", "datePublished" : "2024-10-23T20:08:24.000Z", "headline" : "Practice in art and karate", "image" : [ "https://northamptonkarate.com/hubfs/IMG_0170.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://northamptonkarate.com/blog/practice-in-art-and-karate", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://northamptonkarate.com/hubfs/NK%20Logo%20high%20res%20photo.jpg" } } } ```