Who is your reinforcer

Have you ever discovered your own strength through someone else’s faith in you? What person in your life has so much faith in you that you draw strength from it??

One of my strength reinforcers is Master Radke

When I met Master Anne Radke in law school, I was just looking for a Karate teacher. I didn’t want to jump around from school to school. I didn’t want to be a world MMA, Point or Full Contact Fighter. I wanted a teacher. I wanted a safe space to build on my foundation. I didn’t want any responsibilities. I didn’t want any duties. I just wanted to go to class, learn, work out and go home.

It’s amazing how we think we WANT one thing and find out you NEED another.

When I walked into Master Radke’s dojo, I had decided in my mind what I needed. I felt I needed someone to train me in a different way. I felt I needed someone to improve my cardio and strength. I felt I needed a place to hide in the corner, train, and be left alone.

The truth was, I was the student. SHE is the teacher. I may know what I wanted. She knew what I needed.

It started off simple. I used to attend her kickboxing classes followed by an hour of karate. Early on, she would ask me to do a kickboxing class here or there. Then, she would ask me to warm everyone up for Karate. Then, there were the tournaments. I wasn’t a big fan of competing but she got me in the ring. Then, there was the Karate Demonstration during Christmas.

And then, the biggest milestone came. It happened when we did a Karate lockdown with kids. I can still remember her saying “The only way you do it is if Anthony is there”.

Over the years, she has continually fed my strength by putting me in situations that forced me out of my comfort zone. She never let me hide my skills even when I didn’t know I had them.

Sometimes, we find our strength from someone who continually puts faith in us. And the faith they have is derived by the things they see we can do and the belief in the things we haven’t done yet but will do.

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