Learn something about yourself. Train harder!!!!
Guys,
Now the virtues of martial arts have been lauded the world over, and nobody really denies or doubts what the martial arts can do for us. But I think that sometimes, people assume that these virtues will magically manifest themselves, just because they are going consistently to class.
I am here to tell you all that this is not the case. It is not just going to class that makes the martial arts almost mythical. It is the search. The search for the truth inside yourself. Like a wise person once said: Success is a journey not a destination. Anyone can throw 25 roundhouse kicks. But have you ever thrown 25 when you only thought you could throw 12? Have you ever been absolutely leveled by a right cross, and got up with absolutely no breath left in your lungs, to try to fight again? Have you ever heard a bell ringing in your ears after a ridge hand strike knocked you loopy? Did you get up afterwards?
I dont need to know the answer, because you do. What I am getting at is the perseverence. It is the same kind of grit that will help a kid get through an all-night study session. The kind that will get a kid out of bed even though he works two jobs and goes to school full time. Maybe the kind that will help a small woman gut out the rigors of being a fighter pilot, or of becoming a high ranking policewoman in a city full of smirking chauvanists. Whatever goals we have, the rigorous training that we should be getting in martial arts should suffice to prepare us for them.
If you cannot draw a direct line between how hard you push in martial arts, and how hard you push to succeed every day, than I think there is a problem. I have trained until the least skilled person in the room shelacked me royally. I have trained until I could not hold my fists closed anymore. I have trained until I have NEEDED my training partners to help me stand. When I took my black belt test, I could taste my own blood , after someone kicked it into my mouth from my stomach. But since then, everything else in life has been much easier it seems.
They say in the Marines, "Those who sweat in the gym dont bleed in the street." There is a good thought behind all of that. Train as hard as you can in your dojo. You will be amazed how easy the rest of your life will seem.
Now the virtues of martial arts have been lauded the world over, and nobody really denies or doubts what the martial arts can do for us. But I think that sometimes, people assume that these virtues will magically manifest themselves, just because they are going consistently to class.
I am here to tell you all that this is not the case. It is not just going to class that makes the martial arts almost mythical. It is the search. The search for the truth inside yourself. Like a wise person once said: Success is a journey not a destination. Anyone can throw 25 roundhouse kicks. But have you ever thrown 25 when you only thought you could throw 12? Have you ever been absolutely leveled by a right cross, and got up with absolutely no breath left in your lungs, to try to fight again? Have you ever heard a bell ringing in your ears after a ridge hand strike knocked you loopy? Did you get up afterwards?
I dont need to know the answer, because you do. What I am getting at is the perseverence. It is the same kind of grit that will help a kid get through an all-night study session. The kind that will get a kid out of bed even though he works two jobs and goes to school full time. Maybe the kind that will help a small woman gut out the rigors of being a fighter pilot, or of becoming a high ranking policewoman in a city full of smirking chauvanists. Whatever goals we have, the rigorous training that we should be getting in martial arts should suffice to prepare us for them.
If you cannot draw a direct line between how hard you push in martial arts, and how hard you push to succeed every day, than I think there is a problem. I have trained until the least skilled person in the room shelacked me royally. I have trained until I could not hold my fists closed anymore. I have trained until I have NEEDED my training partners to help me stand. When I took my black belt test, I could taste my own blood , after someone kicked it into my mouth from my stomach. But since then, everything else in life has been much easier it seems.
They say in the Marines, "Those who sweat in the gym dont bleed in the street." There is a good thought behind all of that. Train as hard as you can in your dojo. You will be amazed how easy the rest of your life will seem.
posted by Anthony, freestyle kenpo teacher | 10:55 PM
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1 comments
