Week 2: Never Quit

Week 2 of 16 · Test Cycle 1. This lesson is part of The Black Belt Mindset, the character curriculum every new Mile High Karate student begins with, by Grand Master Stephen Oliver and Grand Master Jeff Smith. Every week stands alone, so a student can start with any lesson.

“Defeat is a state of mind; no one is ever defeated until defeat has been accepted as a reality.”

Bruce Lee

On this page: Read the chapter · Workbook lesson · For instructors: Mat Chat

Read: Never Quit

I have been teaching karate since 1974. In all that time, I have seen thousands of students start. I have watched more than 1,000 of them earn their Black Belt at Mile High Karate. The youngest was 5 years old. The oldest was 76.

Here is what I have learned. The students who made it to Black Belt were not always the most talented. They were not always the strongest, the fastest, or the most flexible. Many of them struggled. Some of them wanted to quit more than once.

The difference was simple. They didn’t quit.

That sounds easy. It isn’t. Every student hits a hard spot. A form won’t stick. A kick won’t go high. Homework piles up. Work gets busy. You feel tired, or bored, or embarrassed. A little voice in your head says, “Maybe this isn’t for me.”

This week is about what you do when you hear that voice. And the secret is this: you decide what you will do before you ever hear it.

Interested or Committed?

There is a big difference between being interested and being committed.

An interested person shows up when it is easy. When it’s fun, when they feel like it, when nothing else is going on.

A committed person shows up no matter what. They made the decision once, and now they just keep it.

Think about brushing your teeth. You don’t wake up every morning and ask, “Do I feel like brushing my teeth today?” You decided a long time ago. It’s not a question anymore. That is commitment.

When a student is only interested in karate, every hard day becomes a vote. “Should I go to class today?” Sooner or later, a bad day wins the vote.

When a student is committed to Black Belt, there is no vote. The question was answered. The only question left is, “How do I get better today?”

The Moment You Commit

A mountain climber named W. H. Murray wrote about this many years ago. We have shared his words with Mile High Karate families for decades. Here is the most important part:

“The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.”

“Providence” is an old word. Here it means that good things start to come your way. Murray found that once he truly decided, help started showing up. People, chances and ideas came along that never would have appeared while he was still deciding.

I have seen this happen with our students over and over. A family decides, “We are going to be Black Belts.” Suddenly they find the time. They work out the rides. The child stops asking, “Do I have to go?” and starts asking, “When is my next test?” The decision itself makes the road easier.

Hard Times Show Who You Are

I have told my instructors the same thing since 1983: ”Difficulties don’t create character, they reveal it.”

That means hard times don’t turn you into a different person. They show who you already are on the inside. Anybody can show up when class is fun and everything is going well. The real question is, what do you do when it’s hard?

Here is a kid example. Imagine you are learning a new form. You keep forgetting the middle part. Your friend already knows it. You feel frustrated. One student says, “I’m bad at forms,” and stops trying. Another student says, “I don’t know it yet,” and practices the middle part ten times at home. In a month, which student knows the form?

Here is an adult example. Picture someone who starts training at age 40. Their knees are stiff. The younger students kick higher. After two weeks they feel sore and silly. One adult says, “I’m too old for this.” Another says, “I’ll be a little better next week than I was this week.” Remember, our oldest Black Belt was 76.

The hard spot is not a sign you should quit. It is the part of the path that makes the Black Belt worth having.

The Champion Who Quit

Now I want to tell you something about my co-author, Grand Master Jeff Smith, that surprises people.

Grand Master Smith became one of the greatest fighters in history. He was the PKA World Light Heavyweight Champion from 1974 until 1980. He had 32 wins and only 1 loss, with 16 knockouts. He was the first person ever to receive the Bruce Lee Award.

But when he first started karate, as a teenager in Texas, he quit.

He trained for about two months. Then other sports and a part-time job got in the way, and he stopped going. That was almost the end of the story.

But he had a friend named Johnny Woolley who kept after him. Johnny kept telling him to come back. Finally, he did. And when he walked back in, he made himself a promise. In his own words: “I’m going to get back into it this time, and I’m not going to quit.”

Look at that sentence. That is not “I’ll try.” That is a definite commitment. And he kept that promise for the rest of his life.

Think about what the world would have missed if he had stayed home. No world titles. No champion’s story. No Grand Master Smith teaching students at Mile High Karate today. All of it came from one decision: to come back and stay.

If you have ever quit something, that doesn’t make you a quitter. What matters is what you decide next.

Why People Quit

People usually quit for one of these reasons:

• It got hard. They hit a part they couldn’t do right away.
• They got bored. The new feeling wore off.
• They compared themselves. Someone else seemed better or faster.
• They felt embarrassed. They made a mistake in front of others.
• They got busy. Something else took their time.

Every one of these is normal. Every Black Belt has felt every one of them. The difference is that a Black Belt has a plan for those moments, and the plan was made ahead of time.

The Never-Quit Plan

When you feel like quitting, try this:

First, name the feeling. Say to yourself, “I feel frustrated,” or “I feel tired.” Just naming it makes it smaller.

Second, remember your goal. Why did you start? Picture yourself on stage at the Black Belt Extravaganza, getting your Black Belt in front of your family.

Third, take one small step. You don’t have to fix everything today. Just go to the next class. Just practice the form one more time. Just try the kick five more times.

Fourth, ask for help. Talk to your instructor. That’s what we’re here for. Most hard spots get a lot easier with one good tip.

Fifth, keep showing up. Showing up is half the battle. Your body follows your feet. If your feet get to class, the rest of you will catch up.

How a Black Belt Does It

1. Decides once. Today, tell your family, “I am committed to my Black Belt. It’s not a maybe.”
2. Says “yet.” Don’t say, “I can’t do this.” Say, “I can’t do this yet.”
3. Never quits on a bad day. If you are thinking about quitting, wait until you have a good day. Then decide. You will almost always stay.
4. Finishes what you start. Finish the drill. Finish the class. Finish the push-ups, even if the last ones are slow.
5. Is a Johnny Woolley. When a friend wants to quit, encourage them to come back. You might help create a champion.

Remember

• Interested people show up when it’s easy. Committed people show up no matter what.
• Maybe means no. Decide once, for sure.
• Difficulties don’t create character. They reveal it.
• Grand Master Smith quit once, came back, and never quit again.
• You can’t stop after that first shot.

Workbook Lesson: Week 2

Print the full workbook below, or answer these on paper. Young students can have a parent help them read and write.

1. Words to Know

• Perseverance: keeping going even when something is hard
• Commitment: a promise you keep, even on hard days
• Comeback: doing well after being behind or after a loss
• Reveal: to show something that was hidden
• Combination: two or more techniques thrown one right after another

2. Fill in the Blank

1. Difficulties don’t create character, they it.
2. When Grand Master Smith came back to karate, he said, “I’m not going to .”
3. Instead of saying “I can’t do this,” a Black Belt says “I can’t do this .”

3. Think About It

1. What is the difference between being interested and being committed? Give an example from your life.
2. Grand Master Smith quit karate once, then came back. What do you think would have happened if he had stayed home?
3. What is one thing in karate that is hard for you right now? Write it, then add the word “yet.”
4. Teens & Adults: Think of something you quit in the past. What did “maybe” cost you? What would a definite commitment have changed?

5. Activity: My Never-Quit Plan

Fill in your plan for the next time you feel like quitting. 1) The feeling I might have is ____. 2) The reason I want my Black Belt is ____. 3) One small step I can take is ____. 4) The person I will ask for help is ____. 5) The days I will always show up for class are ____.

7. My Self-Talk

Write a Say It Out Loud sentence about your commitment. Start with: “I am committed to…”

8. Live the Creed

Say the Student Creed out loud every day this week. Then write about one time this week you showed Indomitable Spirit.

For Instructors: Week 2 Mat Chat

A 3–4 minute line-up lesson built on the Hook, Teach, Story, Ask, Commit formula, with a discussion guide for every age on the mat.

Objective: By the end of this Mat Chat, students will be able to explain the difference between interested and committed and state one thing they will do on a hard day instead of quitting.

Prepare:

• Copies of the Make the Commitment page ready to send home.
• Plan the “One More Rep” conditioning set so it starts right after the chat.
• Recruit a Black Belt or Leadership Team helper to share, in one sentence, a time they wanted to quit and kept going.

The Mat Chat (3–4 minutes)

Hook (0:00–0:30). Students, quick question. Do you wake up every morning and ask yourself, “Do I feel like brushing my teeth today?” (No!) Of course not. You decided a long time ago. It’s not a question anymore. It just happens, every single day. That is what today is about. Not brushing teeth. Deciding. One time, for sure, so a bad day never gets a vote.

Teach (0:30–1:30). This week’s Black Belt Success Skill is Definite Commitment. That means you decide for sure. No “maybe.” No “I’ll try.” Our key word is COMMIT. Here’s the difference between interested and committed. An interested person shows up when it’s easy, when it’s fun, when they feel like it. A committed person shows up no matter what. When you’re only interested, every hard day turns into a vote: “Should I go to class today?” Sooner or later, a bad day wins. When you’re committed, there’s no vote. The only question left is, “How do I get better today?” Committed people think about the reward, not the fear. They picture the day they tie on their Black Belt. And Grand Master Oliver says it this way: difficulties don’t create character, they reveal it. Hard days show who you already are.

Story (1:30–2:30). Now let me tell you something surprising about Grand Master Jeff Smith. He was the PKA World Light Heavyweight Champion from 1974 until 1980. Thirty-two wins and only one loss. But when he first started karate as a teenager in Texas, he quit. [Hold up two fingers.] He trained for about two months. Then other sports and a part-time job got in the way, and he stopped going. That was almost the end of the story. But his friend Johnny Woolley kept telling him to come back. Finally, he did. And he made himself a promise: “I’m going to get back into it this time, and I’m not going to quit.” Not “I’ll try.” “I’m not going to quit.” That is a definite commitment, and he kept it for the rest of his life. Think what the world would have missed if he had stayed home. Quitting once doesn’t make you a quitter. What matters is what you decide next.

Ask (2:30–3:15). Let’s check. Who shows up only when it’s easy, interested or committed? (Interested!) Who shows up no matter what? (Committed!) When a kick feels hard and you say “I can’t do this,” what word do we add at the end? (Yet!) Now turn to a partner. Tell them one thing you will do on a bad day instead of quitting. Maybe “I’ll come to class anyway,” or “I’ll do five more kicks at home,” or “I’ll ask my instructor for help.” Go! [Give them 20 seconds.]

Commit (3:15–3:45). Here’s your seven-day challenge: Finish Strong Week. For seven days, finish everything you start: every drill, every chore, every page of homework, every set of push-ups. Take “I’ll try” out of your vocabulary. Say “I will,” and do it. Take home your Make the Commitment page, read it with your family, and write your Black Belt date in ink. That’s a commitment to Black Belt and beyond. Now, the big question. Are you interested or committed? (Committed!)

Discussion Guide

Aim: Help students see commitment as a decision made ahead of time, so hard days do not become a vote. Each student should leave with one specific plan for a bad day.

Little Dragons (ages 4–6)

1. Show me your strongest “I can do it” face! Now show me what you do when a kick is hard: do you stop or keep going?
2. Can you say “I can’t do it… YET!” with me?

Kids (ages 7–12)

1. What is something you do every day without asking “Do I feel like it?” How could karate be like that?
2. Grand Master Smith’s friend Johnny Woolley helped him come back. How could you be a Johnny Woolley for a friend?
3. What is one thing in karate that is hard for you right now, and what is one small step you could take on it this week?

Teens and adults

1. Think of something you quit. Were you interested or committed? What would a definite commitment have changed?
2. What does “difficulties don’t create character, they reveal it” look like at school, at work or at home?
3. Where in your life do you still say “I’ll try”? What would change if you said “I will” or “I won’t” instead?

Listen for:

• Commitment is decided once, ahead of time, not re-voted on every hard day.
• Hard days are normal for everyone, including champions.
• A specific bad-day plan: show up, take one small step, ask for help.
• Quitting once does not make you a quitter; what you decide next matters.

Follow-up questions:

• What would that look like on a day you’re tired after school or work?
• Who in your family can help you keep that commitment?
• How will you know at the end of the week that you finished everything you started?

Into the Mat Drill

• Mat drill: One More Rep: during conditioning, when students reach their goal number, the instructor calls “Commit!” and everyone does one more rep together with a kiai. Then have partners tell each other the one thing they will do on a bad day instead of quitting.
• Leader role: A Black Belt or Leadership Team helper shares a one-sentence “I wanted to quit, but…” moment during the chat and leads the count on the extra rep.
• Open next class: Open the next class by asking, “Hands up if you finished everything you started this week. Who brought back a Make the Commitment page with your Black Belt date in ink?”

Black Belt and Beyond: Module B: Commitment

Checkpoint: Spotlight students in class for Black Belt Leadership and Goal Setting

• Read the W. H. Murray commitment passage to the class.
• Ask: “What’s the difference between interested and committed?” Take three answers.
• Spotlight 2 or 3 students who have kept their training commitment this cycle, and collect the signed Make the Commitment pages.

Adult and parent tip: Parents: make it a family rule that nobody quits on a bad day, and have the commitment conversation this week. Adults: replace “I’ll try” with “I will” every day this week.

Teaching tip: Teach the word “yet” with a drill: whenever a child says “I can’t,” the whole class calls out “YET!” Keep it fun and encouraging, then help that child take one small step right away.

Download the complete books (PDF): The Black Belt Mindset · The Workbook · The Instructor’s Manual

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