🥋 Karate Kid Dojo Retrospective
Welcome to the Dojo! Channel your inner Karate Kid as we reflect on our project’s training montage—celebrating victories, learning from missteps, and committing to stronger moves ahead.
Template Columns
🥇 Mastered Moves
Share the techniques and approaches that brought us winning results in our latest sprint.
Base column: What Went Well🥴 Stumbling Blocks
Reflect on the obstacles or missteps that swept our legs, so we can learn and grow.
Base column: What Went Wrong🧹 Wax On, Improve On
Suggest skills or strategies for the team to keep honing, just like Mr. Miyagi taught us.
Base column: What We Want to ImproveAbout this template
The Karate Kid Dojo retrospective draws inspiration from classic training montages, encouraging the team to highlight successes, discuss setbacks, and identify areas for skillful improvement.
When to use this template
Use this retrospective when you want to energize your team, reinforce a culture of continuous learning, or after a challenging sprint or project phase.
How to facilitate
Set the stage by welcoming everyone to the Dojo, briefly explaining the Karate Kid theme to establish an energetic and constructive atmosphere.
Invite team members to add notes to each column: Mastered Moves for successes, Stumbling Blocks for challenges, and Wax On, Improve On for potential improvements.
After silent idea collection, ask each participant to present or group similar notes, ensuring everyone’s perspective is shared.
Facilitate a discussion around the Stumbling Blocks and Wax On, Improve On columns, encouraging the team to propose solutions or new practices.
Prioritize a shortlist of action items together, focusing on improvements that are realistic and impactful for the next sprint.
Conclude by reflecting on a team takeaway, celebrating a 'Sensei moment,' or expressing gratitude for growth—reinforcing the dojo’s spirit.
Pro Tips
Prompt quieter team members by asking for their expert moves, helping everyone contribute to the Mastered Moves column.
Relate team discussions back to the training theme—what are our individual and team 'kata' (routines) to perfect?
Use light-hearted Karate Kid references to keep energy high but ensure the focus remains on actionable outcomes.
FAQ
What if the team is not familiar with Karate Kid references?
Briefly explain the theme at the start. Focus on its universal lessons—celebrating wins, learning from mistakes, and constant improvement—so everyone can relate, regardless of prior knowledge.
How can we ensure tangible improvement actions?
Connect insights from the Wax On, Improve On column to specific, time-bound action items, and assign responsibility to maintain accountability.
What if the group gets stuck only on setbacks?
Refocus attention on the Mastered Moves column, celebrating wins and balancing critique with appreciation, to keep morale strong.
At a glance
- Duration
40–55 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective