A hint of things to come. This article will be in our first NRC Karate newsletter! Enjoy. - DCP

 

flex·i·ble:1)Capable of being bent or flexed; pliable. 2)Responsive to change; adaptable. Synonyms: pliable, supple.

Getting more involved in martial arts has improved my flexibility. Each person is unique. Things that come naturally to you will be more challenging for another, and vice versa. Flexibility doesn't happen by accident; it must be developed. To increase your range of motion, assess your personal strengths and weaknesses. This is not comparing yourself to others, but realizing where you are in relation to where you want to be.

Flexibility applies to more than just bodies. For example: extroverts and introverts communicate differently. Extroverts tend to think out loud and respond quickly; introverts tend to think silently before they speak and take an average of seven seconds to respond to a question¹. Extroverts can become more flexible by silently counting to ten after asking a question. This honors the introvert's need for processing time. Introverts can become more flexible by immediately acknowledging a question before processing, perhaps using a phrase like “let me think about that for a minute.” This honors the extrovert's need to feel the other person is truly engaged in the conversation. We increase our flexibility by acting in ways that challenge us.

“By becoming more flexible, you will have more influence and impact upon others.”

-Dr. H. Norman Wright

¹ Dr. H. Norman Wright, Crisis & Trauma Counseling (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2003), p. 50.