How to Achieve Greatness in Karate (& Life): Let Go of Attachment

“Most of our troubles are due to our passionate attachment to things that we misapprehend as enduring entities.”

~ Dalai Lama

The Asians seem to have got it all right. Sure, our beloved old Greeks probably had a thing or two right as well, but as the saying goes: Sometimes you’ve got to climb another mountain to get a better view of your own mountain.

Now beware.

I’m about to all new-agey on your ass.

If there’s one thing we all have in common, it’s that we want to feel happy and successful in everything we do. Right? Yet, whether we’re talking Karate in specific or life in general, most of us pin this happiness and success to people, circumstances or things which we actually have no control over – and then hold onto them for dear life.

This is a problem.

So, what I came to learn that weird day when I ended up in the finals of this big international tournament was that the main reason for my surprising success was most likely not due to my physical shape, amazing gi, expensive belt, great coach, wonderful weather or the cheering crowd. Sure, I could probably have cited any of those as a placebo effect thingy, but the truth is, after a couple of years of contemplation I finally think I have an answer to why everything turned out so amazing that day:

In short, it was simply because I had detached myself from the outcome (of the tournament).

I had no attachment to the end-result.

I did my absolute best each and every moment, not stopping for a second to think about what the end-result would be, and that was it.

Why?

Simple: Because I was already so certain that I would lose the first round!

(So certain that I didn’t bring all my gear, even!)

Literally every action, word or thought in my head was 110% focused on the moment, on the now, because I had no real hope of achieving anything significant that day. Now, this isn’t to say I didn’t have confidence, sure I had. But I wasn’t mentally attached to any specific outcome, because the outcome I dreamed for had vanished along with my deteriorating health!

And ever since that day, I’ve been trying to recreate this same feeling of detachment. Of being free of attachment.

Not only in Karate tournaments, but in every project or undertaking that seems big and scary – Karate setting or not.

What I’ve come to conclude is that the most important points seem to be:

1. Focus on doing your best at this moment: That’s all you can control.
2. Don’t look ahead: The future is a mystery whether you think about it or not.
3. Lastly, let go of any attachment to the outcome: The universe will inevitably take care of itself, unfolding just as it’s supposed to. Your contribution is statistically insignificant

And strangely enough, this has become some kind of mantra for my whole life in general.

Of course, it’s no simple undertaking to let go of attachment – it’s not a one-time decision, like pulling off a band-aid. Instead, it’s more of a gradual day-to-day, moment-to-moment commitment that involves changing the way you experience and interact with everything you instinctively want to grasp.

In fact, it’s a new outlook on life.

Which is why I cringe whenever I see Karate athletes cry as they win or lose a medal, or read about Karate teachers using their titles, belts and ranks in public, or hear Karate students discuss whether they’ll pass their next grading or not.

Because they’re so incredibly attached.

And frankly, I feel sad for them.

People who are attached to outcomes, things, words, opinions, situations and other human beings are not in control over themselves. They have surrendered their dignity and sense of self-worth to an external force, and we know that’s a perfect recipe for disaster.

Sure, you might even have “found your identity” through Karate once upon a time – which is totally cool with me – but that doesn’t mean you should settle.

Know what I mean?

“So what should I do, o almighty Jesse-san?”

Well, here’s a few ideas I consider important for letting go of attachment:

• Accept every moment for what it is. Don’t try to turn now into yesterday; that moment’s gone. Don’t plot about how you can make this moment last forever; that won’t happen. Just seep into the very moment of “now” and enjoy it for what it is, because it will soon pass. And then you’ve lost it. Nothing is permanent, so fighting that truth will only cause you unnecessary agony. Sure, stuff will happen, but you’ll deal with it when that time comes. Enjoy what you have now. It’s enough. Karate won’t disappear.
• Call yourself out from time to time. Take some distance from your lizard brain. Learn what it looks like to grasp at people, things or circumstances so you can redirect your thoughts when they veer toward attachment. When you dwell on keeping, controlling, manipulating or losing something (instead of simply experiencing, learning from and enjoying it) you are effectively robbing yourself of a better life with more success and happiness. Think about how this relates to your Karate (grading system, the sensei/sempai system etc.).
• Always define yourself in fluid terms. Be dynamic. We, as human beings, are all constantly evolving and growing. At least I hope you are. So please define yourself in terms that can withstand change. Forget titles, diplomas and belts. Defining yourself by possessions, roles, ranks or relationships breeds attachment – because loss of those things entails losing not just what you have, but also who you are (or have become). And dude, you are not McDojo Head Chef of the Karate Nerd™ Universe. You are you. Find that person (again).
• Learn to like yourself. It will be hard to let stuff/people go when necessary if you depend on them for your sense of worth. And people will always have to go, that’s how life ends after all. So you’d better believe you’re always worthy whether someone else tells you or not. This way, you relate to people – instead of how they make you feel about yourself. So from now on, whenever you’re practising your kata, you’re not training alone. You are with yourself.
• Let things be. This doesn’t mean you can’t actively work to create a different (better) tomorrow. On the contrary, I believe you should always strive for making improvements. Instead, “letting things be” means that you make peace with the moment as it is, without worrying that something’s wrong with you, your situation or your life – and then operate from a place of acceptance. That place will then be your base as you build yourself and your promising future. It is what it is. And if it isn’t, go for it.
• Embrace every feeling – whether good or bad. Feel it, acknowledge it, perhaps even express it, and then let it join the rest of the universe. Appreciate every feeling you have, and work through it. Especially note to fully embrace your happy moments. And yes, if darker moments follow, make sure to fully experience them too: They’ll teach you something, and soon enough you’ll be in another happy moment to appreciate. Everything is cyclical. Experience, appreciate, enjoy, and let go – to welcome another experience. The feeling of losing in kumite against somebody is just as valuable, if not more, as winning.

So, what do you say?

How do you relate to this concept of letting go of attachment?

To be honest, I would be something of a hypocrite if I told you it would always be easy. It’s not. Sometimes you’ll feel quite compelled to attach yourself physically and mentally to people or ideas – as if it gives you some sense of control, stability or security. You may even strongly believe you’ll be happier if you struggle to hold onto what you have or crave.

And that’s OK.

It’s human nature.

Just know you always have the power to choose – from day to day, hour to hour, moment to moment – how you experience your life: with a sense of ownership, anxiety and fear; or with a sense of freedom, peace and love.

I know it sounds cheesy.

But that’s what a miraculous Karate tournament taught me, after all.

And I’ll be damned if I didn’t share that with you guys.

At the end of the day, the most important question undoubtedly seems to be:

What do you choose right now?