| In many martial art schools, you'll see a sign that says | | | | slowly, until he could develop better self-control. He |
| "leave your ego at the door with your shoes". What | | | | didn't want to be perceived as a "wimp" in the eyes |
| this really means is that if you want to be successful | | | | of his classmates and told us that he was going to |
| in the martial arts, you have to get out of your own | | | | kick "real hard" or not at all. Obviously, he had his |
| way. | | | | own agenda in mind. We were more concerned with |
| Most martial arts instructors have experienced those | | | | preventing a serious injury! |
| students who enter the dojo bent on | | | | All this attitude does is sabotage a martial arts |
| self-destruction. They're all excited about training, but | | | | education. Students like this one are too competitive |
| their behavior is an obstacle to achieving their goals. | | | | and try to do too much all at once. They have their |
| In other words, they become their own worst | | | | own preconceived notions on what should be taught |
| enemy. | | | | and how. They want instant results. In the long run, |
| These students only focus on the physical aspect of | | | | they either get hurt or burned out. Unfortunately, |
| the martial arts. They jump into training and are all | | | | they drop out and blame the school for not achieving |
| about the "results". Success in the martial arts is really | | | | their goals. |
| about the journey. There are mental and spiritual | | | | Many adults don't like to be told what to do. As |
| aspects of training that unfold in the course of the | | | | instructors, we can make suggestions, corrections |
| physical work. Patience, balance, perseverance, | | | | and teach what we know, but in the long run, adults |
| humility, and focus are just some. It's also about | | | | have their own agenda. We have to realize that |
| conquering fear and insecurity and achieving your | | | | there is only so much we can do. Sometimes, it's a |
| personal best. It's about calming down the mind and | | | | good idea to step back and let the student's own |
| trusting an instructor who has hard years of | | | | behavior be the "teacher". |
| experience to take you to the next level. | | | | So if you want to achieve in the martial arts, be |
| Recently, an overzealous student who lacked | | | | humble and let the style you have chosen and your |
| flexibility decided to practice some hard roundhouse | | | | instructor lead you down the path. Many great martial |
| kicks on the bag. He did this against our | | | | artists have walked the path successfully and so can |
| recommendation. He needed to work on his | | | | you if you just get out of your own way. |
| stretching and we advised him to practice his kicks | | | | |