Teamwork

Teamwork in sport

The recent NRL Grand Finals, the Paralympics and the Olympics have had me thinking a lot about “teamwork” and how it also applies to martial arts, which may seem to some to be a largely solitary personal pursuit.

Teamwork – Synergy – Community

 Rugby League

The NRL Finals series for rugby league had great teamwork themes:

• the Canberra Raiders – a tight knit team from the national capital, motivated by an ‘us versus the rest of Australia’ attitude;
• the Cowboys from Townsville, led by a mercurial and charismatic player – Johnathon Thurston, probably the best player in the world;
• the Melbourne Storm, the consummate professionals – reinventing the game, disciplined and driven, leaving nothing to chance; and
• the fairy tale Cronulla Sharks, denied a Premiership for so long, holding the dreams of large swathe of Sydney.

I must admit (as an objective Novocastrian) that I was glad for the Sharkies fans to have a success to celebrate after so many years in the wilderness!

These teams can be both positive influences and, unfortunately, occasionally negative role models.  However we can all learn from their commitment to training, working together and turning up week in and week out to have a go.

Paralympics & Olympics

In the Paralympics I was awed by the skills, ability and achievements of our great Aussie representatives.  Some of the following are household names now, and they thoroughly deserve every acclamation!  If you haven’t heard of these athletes then do yourself a favour and check out the links below:

• Kurt Fearnley – Wheelchair racing/marathon superstar who has also ‘walked’ the Kokoda Trail  – CLICK HERE Kurt Fearnley – Paralympics 2016
• The Steelers Wheelchair Rubgy Team including Ryley Batt who defeated the USA in the 2016 Paralympics – CLICK HERE – Wheelchair Rugby Paralympics 2016
• Rachael Watson – Swimming – CLICK HERE – Swimming Paralympics 2016
• Maddison Elliott – Swimming – CLICK HERE – Swimming Paralympics 2016

Some of these are team participants and others are individuals – but even individual sportspeople have a team behind them to help them pursue their goals!

And of course the Olympics had its stars and teams as well, and Darren and I recently discussed these in a recent blog on what the Olympics have taught us – here.

Teamwork & Martial Arts

To some martial arts may seem like a largely singular and personal pursuit, however at Quantum and as part of the broader Northstar Ju Jitsu network, we embrace a spirit of community and service that means our training is a team experience.

Our Senior Instructor MLP always refers to the group as “Team” and personally it embodies for me the synergy of what we can achieve together.  I have observed the life changing benefits of what the Quantum Martial Arts community and the broader Northstar Ju Jitsu network offer to our students – transformations of mind, body and spirit.

We rise as a group and the service that we offer to each other in our approach is fundamental to the Quantum community – both children and adults.  The students are introduced to the concept of service as they progress through the belts.  We partner with other students in the class and groups do extra practice outside of normal hours.

Anyone who has achieved a Black Belt will attest to the teamwork that underpins that milestone in their life – not to mention the support of partners, family and friends they will have received as they challenged themselves with that aspiration.

The majority of the adult trainers and assistant trainers who take a leadership role in our community provide their time, skills and assistance out of service and commitment to the team.

So this week at training recognise the importance of our training partners, the community and volunteer trainers!

Embrace teamwork and see you on the mats! Ben

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