THE IRON SENSEI JOURNAL
Karate. Health. Fitness. Psychology. Philosophy. Reflections from a Life in the Martial Arts.
No More Atomawashi
後回し Stop Putting Your Life Off
By Jonathan Lowell – The Iron Sensei
Sensei Peter Urban had another expression he used often.
He called it "shunting."
To him, shunting meant pushing something off to the side. Delaying it. Finding something else to do instead of what really mattered.
The Japanese word is 後回し (atomawashi)—"getting around to it... later." to put something off until later.
Every one of us has done it.
"I'll start Monday."
"I'll lose weight next month."
"I'll write the book after I retire."
"I'll buy the domain later."
I almost waited to buy TheIronSensei.com.
Then I caught myself.
That wasn't planning.
That was atomawashi.
That was shunting.
The enemies are always the same:
Procrastination — waiting for the perfect time.
Laziness — avoiding effort.
Fear — avoiding failure... or even success.
Excuses — the stories we tell ourselves.
The answer is simple.
Roll up your sleeves.
Put on your hachimaki (Headband).
Take one step.
One phone call.
One workout.
One paragraph.
One decision.
Sensei Urban often said:
"Discipline is freedom."
I believe he was right.
No more atomawashi.
No more shunting.
Build today.
證 — Let the work be the proof.
About the Author
Jonathan Lowell, known as The Iron Sensei, has trained in Goju-Ryu Karate-Do for more than five decades. A student of Peter Urban and Morio Higaonna, he has competed, taught thousands of students, and operated his own dojo for over twenty years. He is also a licensed massage therapist, author of The Hallandale Diet, and founder of the online coaching program Iron Rebuild, where he helps men and women over 40 lose weight, build strength, improve their health, and regain confidence. Through The Iron Sensei Journal, he shares the history, philosophy, and living traditions of karate while drawing on a lifetime of training and continuous study.