To celebrate the 80th birthday of Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee this past weekend, we will be presenting his “Seven Qualities of a Champion” over the next few weeks.

The “Seven Qualities of a Champion” shows Grandmaster Rhee’s personal philosophy about the keys to happiness, which he believes are created when we transform our highest ideals, thoughts, and emotions into physical action. Martial arts are an educational tool to discipline and unite the mind and body. Martial arts training develops seven basic physical qualities that can be transformed into corresponding human emotions that, over time, will create positive human qualities that will become engrained in our character.

Quality #1 – Quickness/Alertness

In the Martial Arts, quickness is the ability to respond without hesitation. In a competitive, or real life self defense situation, a moment of indecision can be the difference between victory and defeat.  This is why one of the goals of training is to teach the body and mind to work together in complete synchronization.

Outside of our Martial Arts training, the parallel human quality to quickness is alertness. Being alert allows us to recognize and respond quickly to any given situation. It teaches us to take action and avoid procrastination.

A procrastinator is a thief of his or her own time. Things that could be done today should not be put off until tomorrow, because tomorrow may be too late. Many of the most successful people in the world came by that success because they took action while others waited. They were alert to the possibilities in their lives and took immediate action. As martial artists, we must strive to develop a sense of alertness in our everyday life, just as we strive to develop quickness with our techniques.

Your assignment this week is two-fold. First, while training in class, try to emphasize non-telegraphic striking in everything you do. Second, outside of class, try to concentrate on being present focused and aware in all that you do, and to not procrastinate.