Today there is a question as to what truly makes a champion. Most times, people equate that word with sports, but it just as easily applies to every aspect of life. While there are certainly many out there who have been born with natural talents, those talents by themselves will often only encourage envy and awe from others. And yes, the steps to greatness are the same as they’ve ever been:
- Be willing to suffer and sacrifice.
- Do everything you can whenever you can
- Set goals
- Never be satisfied
- Practice like you play
- Have a great attitude
- Learn from mistakes, obstacles and setbacks
- Never let fear stop you
But even with all this, it only gets you half-way. To truly be distinguished, and fondly remembered I might add , one must balance the drive, determination and hard work that exemplifies a champion with care and compassion for others. When someone reaches the heights of accomplishment and recognition, it is then time to help build others. Anyone can rise through the ranks and horde the glory for themselves, but this is ultimately self-defeating. As is evident in today’s media, people who focus on solely selfish motives will eventually lose the admiration of those around them. And what’s the point of being the best at something if no one is motivated by it?
Recently stumbled upon an interesting concept and it’s really made me think. I read that in a violent situation, the body’s “Fight or Flight” response can wreak havok on a martial artist’s training.
The basic idea is this: Under pressure, due to adrenaline and thought process breakdown, a person will generally only respond with gross motor skills. This is terrible for the person who has trained for years, but not so bad for the person with no fighting experience at all. The latter one will have no finely tuned motor skills to deteriorate and so, will fight the same way no matter what.
Ex: If all the person knows how to do is throw wild punches, then that’s what they’ll do in every situation.
While I can certainly see some logic in this, I instinctively feel that there’s more to it than just that. I believe the key is that a person who has been exposed to many different challenging situations will be better prepared for them when they arise. Isn’t that why the military, medical, Law Enforcement, and emergency response communities spend so much time training? A level head can overcome any of the body’s natural reactions; up to a point, of course.
Read an article in Black Belt magazine about how to get the most out of training. The basic premise was this: If you’ve been practicing martial arts for a long time, you’ve probably got way more techniques than you could ever practically need in your life. Since we all have a limited amount of time to train each day/week, we should focus on the most basic/effective techniques in our arsenal.
I definitely agree with this philosophy. Even as a full-time martial artist, (which means that MA somehow fits into every one of my days), I cannot possibly practice all my stuff, all the time. There just aren’t enough hours in the day. And here’s the real kicker for me…no matter how often or how long I train, I always feel I should have done more. I don’t know if this is good or bad, but it’s the way I am in all aspects of my life. How many of you are like that?
Just like any part of life that’s in the “important, not urgent” category, there are often so many excuses to put things off. Then we feel so guilty for putting them off, we figure we might as well quit. Sound familiar?
So…the advice I would give my students is to not get frustrated with not being able to train on everything all the time. Pick the techniques and basics that fit their needs and focus on those most of the time. That way, they will always be available if the need arises. But don’t neglect all the rest. I tell them to be patient with themselves. Martial Arts can be a lifetime journey and there’s no rush to get to the end.
Books I am currently reading:
“Meditations on Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real World Violence” by Rory Miller
I will provide a review of it when I am done.
I have been gone for a while concentrating on my training and my small business. We have engaged in a full year’s tournament season this year. Participating in that many tournaments is new to me and the training schedule is hectic. Things are really picking up and I am focused on learning all I can about running a successful MA school.
I decided to change the format of the website as I have severely neglected it for quite some time. My goal was to keep it simple in a way that would not require me to spend much time maintaining it. I hope that the new format will encourage people to take the time to submit the questionnaire. Short of meeting every interested party in person, this is the best way I could some up with to give people the assistance they deserve. I really just want to spend time giving assistance via the internet that I am able to give when I teach. Depending on how many take advantage of this opportunity, I may be spending a considerable amount of time reviewing submissions and giving advice. I would consider this time well spent.
I hope that there are many people out there who are willing to take the time to find out if Martial Arts is right for them.
On a side note: I started using a workout book in the last 5 weeks and have seen tremendous results. I have always put together my own workouts but found it time to have something a little more structured
The Men’s Health Big Book of Exercises: Four Weeks to a Leaner, Stronger, More Muscular YOU! by Adam Campbell
It is so effective that I bought the women’s versions for my mom. She loves it. Just thought I’d share. Check it out!
