I love this quotation by Thomas Edison: “Our greatest weakness is giving up. The most certain way to success is to try one more time.” Many times, when a student in karate classes for kids asked Sensei Nishiyama a question about technique or expressed difficulty in getting something to work, the answer was always: “keep trying.”
Sensei Nishiyama was a man of few words (when it came to karate, he loved to talk when socializing). He said just enough to give you direction but wanted you to discover through training, whether in karate classes for adults or for children.
We must train rather than merely contemplate, repeat but don’t be mechanical, and don’t just keep going. Reflect on what you do—some understanding can only come through repetition. If something does not work, figure out what should be done differently. Usually, the difference is subtle, and therefore requires awareness and openness.
That’s what “keep trying” means, a lesson reinforced in every session of karate classes for kids.