“That was probably the worst kata I have ever done.”
…Was said by the martial arts competitor who won the grand champion division at a tournament I attended this past weekend.
Now, for those who don’t know, kata is a pattern of moves that are performed in martial arts as a means to practice self-defense without needing a partner.
And the grand champion division takes the winners from several different divisions and has them compete against each other to determine a “winner of the winners.”
What’s more about the above line is that this competitor said it after he found out he won.
While it may very well be true that from his perspective it was the “worst” kata he had ever done, I (and several other competitors) found it to be quite distasteful. What he was saying, essentially, was even his worst kata was better than everybody else’s best katas.
To which I say: keep it classy.
Be humble—in victory and defeat.
Keep comments that demean others (whether directly or indirectly) to yourself. And be grateful for your talents, opportunities, and surrounding competitors. You won’t always be in the position you’re in. And when you no longer are—it’s only a matter of time—people might not remember that specific tournament…
…But, they’ll always remember how you made them feel.
And making people feel like crap isn’t a good strategy for any worthwhile means or end.
P.s. If you share my new guide on any social platform, I’ll send you the first three meditations free! Just reply to this email and let me know you did it. Thanks in advance!