{"id":12940,"date":"2023-12-12T00:00:35","date_gmt":"2023-12-11T15:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sasugacommunications.com\/ja\/?p=12940"},"modified":"2023-12-18T14:18:26","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T05:18:26","slug":"why-i-love-criticism-sometimes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sasugacommunications.com\/ja\/why-i-love-criticism-sometimes\/","title":{"rendered":"Why I Love Criticism (Sometimes)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even though I\u2019d practiced karate in the UK as a university student, when I first joined my dojo in Japan (over 30 years ago!!!), sensei laughed at my moves.<\/span><\/p>\n

I had to give up my blue belt and go back to being a white belt beginner.<\/span><\/p>\n

For years, I felt uncomfortable whenever sensei pointed out in front of the class that I was doing something wrong (I think it brought back memories of when I was being told off at school and all the other kids were looking at me\u2026).<\/span><\/p>\n

Have you ever experienced something similar in your personal life or at work? It may feel like criticism. It may feel like negative feedback.<\/span><\/p>\n

But when those words come from an expert or someone who can see your potential, that can be a tremendous gift.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And, in my case, all that attention certainly paid off because I ultimately earned a 4th dan black belt and, in 2009, I won the gold medal in my category in the Itosu-ryu Karatedo World Championships in Malaysia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, I\u2019m back in the dojo learning kobudo – which is an ancient form of martial arts using weapons, including nunchaku.<\/span><\/p>\n

I noticed that I have a very different attitude when my moves are corrected. I welcome the advice. It feels good because I know it\u2019s helping me to improve.<\/span><\/p>\n

See me in action below at a recent team nunchaku embu (demonstration).<\/span><\/p>\n