Timing: A key concept for both karateka (空手家) and emergency physicians

The importance of skills learned through extracurricular activities to medical education, including both athletics and the arts, is undeniable. In this reflective article we draw parallels between the skills learned through the practice of karate, specifically sparring, and those required to perform a patient-centered medical interview in the Emergency Department.Although a collaborative style is traditionally used for both undertakings,there are often good reasons to vary the timing and approach.A high level of situational awareness is necessary to perform either of these tasks effectively.