International Goju Ryu Karate Federation

My name is Marc Alexandre Miville and I am13 years old.. I am an avid practitioner of Goju-Ryu karate-do. I have been training for a little over three years. I am amazed by the benefits of my knowledge and training in the different techniques of Goju-Ryu karate-do. Please allow me to explain.

Since the start of my training, I have gained a significant amount of knowledge of the history of this style of karate. However, I realize that I only know one percent of what there is to know about this style of karate. Yet, I have drawn significant benefits from karate since the beginning of my training. I have gained levels of mental toughness that I never thought possible by someone as young as me, who is just starting to grasp what karate-do essentially is. By training hard and trying the best I can, I now have the mental toughness to endure more then I ever thought I could. I have also gained a fair amount discipline which is important for everyone. With discipline, one learns to respect people, objects and moments, with more passion and reason. Discipline is an essential quality for true success in life. Self-respect and the respect of others will usually come your way if you are properly disciplined.

Another major benefit that I have derived from Goju-Ryu karate-do is the amazing level of focus. Before I started my training I could not stay focused. Now, with the clearness of thought that I have learned, I can start to focus and cancel out everything and everyone that is around me. This advantage provides me with an improved level of technique. During this time of focus, time is irrelevant and I have no sense of it. This helps me every day, while training at home, listening to my teachers, doing homework, playing sports, etc...

Another extremely important side benefit of karate is the physical aspect. I am more fit and in better shape then I have ever been in my life. The mandatory and important core strength exercises that help the tanden role and create a center of power help me daily with all my physical activities. Almost every muscle in my body has been trained to tighten at once and create power. I am skinny and I do not have big muscles but because of karate, I have endurance. The muscle that I have is well conditioned for endurance which is needed in karate-do.

Karate is the foundation for all my sports. I am now much stronger, faster and better in all the sports that I play. Before my training I was a pretty average player because while I was fast after a few minutes I would lose my edge and my focus and endurance would deteriorate. But when I started karate-do, I became faster, stronger and better due to the intense training that I started going through with Sensei Hill and practicing at home. Essentially what I’m saying is that before I started training while I was relatively tall and fast for my age, the additional mental and physical toughness I gained through karate gave me the confidence and strength to reach down deep and really push myself. Things have just taken off from there and everyday with practice I get better and better.

Another fundamental benefit of martial arts is the ability to properly defend my self and to get out of an altercation without anything serious. Karate-do has taught me different ways of getting myself out of danger with fundamental techniques of freeing myself and temporarily stopping my opponent to give me time to get away. When I become more senior, I hope to be able to volunteer and help Sensei Hill with the younger belts. It will be good to help others get strong and gain confidence in themselves with karate.

Yet another positive thing that is interesting with karate-do are the Gassukus. I am usually one of the first people to sign up for Gassukus. I really like being able to focus on just one aspect of something and see different ways of doing things and new techniques. I learn a lot by watching other people and seeing their technique. I am inspired by the senior belts, their work ethic and accomplishments and try my very best to have mine to come close. I hope to continue to expand my understanding of Goju-Ryu karate-do and follow the principles of the Dojo-kun every moment of my life.