The Power of Partnership: A Supportive Environment 🤝

From a traditional perspective, the bow we share with a partner at the beginning and end of an exercise is more than just a formality. It's our promise. It's a pledge to work well with our partner, to keep them safe, to be a supportive part of their training journey, and to treat them with respect.

Group of people with linked hands in the air

When we create a supportive, encouraging environment, magic happens. We build confidence in each other and make friends for life.

Learn from Everyone You Work With 🤔

One of my favourite things about our Do Jang is the variety of people who train here. Different belts, different backgrounds, different strengths. There is genuinely something to learn from everyone you work with.

For example the person struggling with a move might help you refine your own communication skills or understanding of how that move works.  Every single partner offers a chance to grow, not just physically, but as a person.

Here's a tip: Take time to observe how your partners do something. Notice their footwork, their focus, or how they generate power. This might help you reflect on your own technique and provide ideas for your own journey!

Pad Work: A Two-Way Street! 🎯

When you're holding the pads, the focus is on your partner, but it's an incredible workout for you, too!

Focus & Concentration: Holding pads requires intense focus. You need to present the target correctly, anticipate the strike, and react appropriately. This builds amazing concentration skills that translate to all other areas of your training (and life!). 

A Great Workout: The resistance from repeated powerful strikes builds strength in your core, shoulders, and arms.

Timing & Distance: It helps you understand timing and distance from a different perspective, which will help. Improve your own skills as a martial artist.

Your main job as a pad holder: Be there for your partner. Give encouraging feedback, hold the pads correctly, and be a reliable target. Your focus helps them train better, and their focus helps you train better.

Be the Partner You Want to Train With 💪

As we get up close and personal with our partners during drills and hol sin sool, personal hygiene is important for everyone’s comfort and safety. We want to ensure that you get sweaty in class but it's important that you turn up to training clean and tidy, with a washed Do Bok, and your hair tied back if it's longer than collar length.  It's also super important to make sure you have trimmed fingernails and toenails. This helps prevent accidental scratches or injuries to your fellow martial artists.

So this week, I want you all to think about being the best training partner you can be:

• Offer encouragement: A simple "good job" or "keep going" goes a long way.

• Listen to feedback: We all have things to improve!

• Be reliable and safe: Hold those pads right, control your techniques, and look out for your partner's safety above all else.

We are all part of each other's journey. Let's make it a great one, together! I can't wait to see the positive energy on the mats this week!

Stay awesome!

Kyo Sa Nim Kerry McAtkin