By Amy Tsang
Dojo Damachii-ji

To the outsider, karate is the obvious: a fun way to exercise and meet people, but until one actually becomes a member of the dojo, does one realize what karate really means?

For me, joining karate has made a big difference in my life, in the way I look at people and the way I look at myself. In karate, I have learned to respect. I have learned to respect my Sensei, those of higher rank, those of equal rank, and most importantly, myself. I have learned not to underestimate myself as a person and to give myself enough respect to believe that I can reach a goal that I've set.

This lesson is an important one to learn; one that can be taken outside of the dojo and applied to everyday life.