The Stairs We Can't See

"Faith is taking the first step

even when you don't see the whole staircase."

-Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

One of the most influential figures in 20th century America never got to witness the full scope of the changes he set in motion. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., cut down years before many of the civil rights victories he fought for came to fruition, never saw the first Black president take office. He never witnessed the generational shifts in perspective he helped catalyze. Yet he kept moving forward, kept organizing, kept speaking, kept acting—even when the destination seemed impossibly far away.

In The Dojo, we talk constantly about the journey. About showing up. About consistent effort over time. But let's be honest—when you're a White Belt looking at a Black Belt, the distance can feel overwhelming. The staircase disappears into the fog.

And that's exactly the point.

The martial arts journey isn't designed to be seen all at once. If you could see every challenge, every plateau, every moment of frustration and doubt ahead of you, you might never begin. The whole staircase would look too daunting, too steep, too long.

But you don't need to see the whole staircase. You just need to take the first step.

Then the next one.

Then the one after that.

Faith isn't about blind optimism. It's about trusting the process even when you can't see the outcome. It's about believing that the work you're doing today matters, even if you can't yet measure its impact. It's about understanding that transformation happens in increments too small to perceive in the moment, but unmistakable when you look back.

Dr. King didn't need to see the mountaintop to know the climb was worth it. He understood something essential: we don't move forward because we're guaranteed to reach the destination. We move forward because moving forward is what changes us—and through us, the world around us.

Every time you step onto the mat, you're taking a step you can't fully see the consequences of. That class might be the one where something clicks. Or it might feel ordinary. But either way, it's a step on a staircase that's building you into someone stronger, more confident, more resilient than you were before.

You don't need to see the whole journey. You just need to show up for today's piece of it.

Take the first step. Then take the next one. The staircase reveals itself as you climb.

See you on the mat.