(Approx 2 minute read)

Is doing your best always enough?
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In my view – yes. There’s nothing more you can do than your best. That doesn’t mean you can’t improve. It means that right now, with what you know and understand, you’re giving everything you’ve got. Your “best” is a flexible, honest commitment to continuous improvement using the tools you currently possess.
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As long as you’re honest with yourself.
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This isn’t just about training. It’s about how you approach every part of your life, how you speak to others, how you handle setbacks, how you tackle even the smallest tasks. The dojo might be where we learn it, but life is where we live it.
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And sometimes, even when we give everything we’ve got, we still get it wrong. That’s part of being human. Effort doesn’t always guarantee success, but it does guarantee progress. The real measure isn’t perfection, but the integrity of your intent.
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Learning something new or adding to what you already know deepens your understanding, even when it challenges your current thinking. That’s growth. That’s evolution.
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Whether you’re a beginner, an experienced student, or a teacher, “doing your best” means just trying as hard as you can, whether it’s principles, technique, kata, language, culture, or how you present yourself in and outside the dojo. But it also applies to how you write an email, wash the dishes, or clean the car. It should encompass everything you do.
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It doesn’t mean you have to be perfect. Striving for perfection in everything can lead to frustration. Not everyone will reach the highest skill levels in all areas, but everyone can choose to try their best.
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When you’ve truly given your all, even a disappointing result carries the dignity of knowing you couldn’t have done a single thing more.
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For me, it’s important to do your best every time. Why? Because doing your best, no matter how menial the task, makes you feel good. You can be proud that you did all you could. And let’s face it: a lousy job usually gives you a lousy result.
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Nobody gets better accidentally. You have to show intention.
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Teachers can teach. Coaches can coach. But what you do for yourself is what really matters.
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If you teach, and you choose to do your best, you, and your students, get all the benefits. If you choose mediocrity, if you only give 50%, you won’t reach your objectives anytime soon, and it may even prevent that deeper understanding that we all aim for (or should).
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Doing your best at everything you attempt just makes good common sense, doesn’t it? Why would you want to do things half-heartedly?
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Find meaning in what you do, then give it everything you’ve got. Don’t settle for “that’s good enough, it’ll do.” Don’t take shortcuts.
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Be more.
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Written by Adam Carter – Shuri Dojo