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"Karate is just like hot water. If you do not give heat constantly, it will again become cold water."
I believe, Funakoshi was talking about perseverance...
...and continually practicing and improving ones karate skills...
... always seeking perfection, knowing full well that one will never reach that perceived perfection.
Here's some awe inspiring quotes about perseverance...
"“As in the case of making a mound, if, before the very last basketful, I stop, then I shall have stopped. As in the case of leveling the ground, if, though tipping only one basketful, I am going forward, then I shall be making progress."
~ Confucius
"“He who labors diligently need never despair; for all things are accomplished by diligence and labor."”
~ Menander
"Persistence prevails, like a stream that is temporarily blocked by boulders and then collects force enough to overflow onward."
~ Vernon Howard
"“Victory belongs to the most persevering."
~ Napoleon Bonaparte
"“When I have finally decided that a result is worth getting, I go ahead on it and make trial after trial until it comes."
~ Thomas Edison
Once Karate or the martial arts gets ahold of you, it will never let you go...
...you can stop your practice for a while maybe even for years, but you'd be better off continuing and persevering, even if it doesn't feel right to you at the moment.
Because sooner or later, you will either regret your actions or you will be pleased with your perseverance...
...just like in mindfullness meditation, by continually coming back to your breath you'll build mental strength, so should your karate through continual practice build physical and spiritual strength.
RJF
