Friday Recommendation #17

Muttering to myself: “Damn it! I can’t execute this technique. I suck!”

Newsflash: Nearly all of us have struggled with martial arts for various reasons. Maybe it’s a technique. Or it’s a difficult training partner. Work interferes with your training. If so, watch the below video!

The central message of this terrific and relatable video is “It’s okay to be struggling in training.” It’s okay to struggle with anything related to martial arts training.

Sensei Iain reveals that he was not always a natural at martial arts and had to “grind away” to gain proficiency and embark on a martial arts career.

Speaking for myself, it was a struggle not to train for six months due to my recovery from hip replacement surgery and my mother-in-law’s declining health and subsequent passing. While I may not have trained for six months, I took advantage of the time off to think about my training approach once I fully recovered from my hip replacement.

I think there is tremendous value in struggling at something.

It will either make or break you.

Some folks want a struggle-free life. They will break easily.

On the other hand, those who struggle and succeed have tremendous resiliency. They are mentally tough.

Struggling is an invaluable part of personal growth and development. It is through struggle that we push past our comfort zones, confront our limitations, and ultimately emerge stronger and more resilient. Struggling allows us to learn from our mistakes, gain new perspectives, and refine our skills. Whether in martial arts training or any other aspect of life, embracing the challenges and obstacles that come our way enables us to discover our true potential and achieve meaningful progress. The path of struggle may be arduous, but the rewards of perseverance and determination are immeasurable.

From my years of teaching, I’ve learned that every single student has struggled with something, whether it be in the martial arts or in their personal life. Every single student.

All of us have struggled with something. You are not alone in struggling with something, whether it be martial arts or otherwise.

Back to struggling in martial arts; if you are becoming discouraged with your progress or the execution of a technique, keep going! Keep grinding away! You will get through the obstacles you are facing. The struggle is part of the learning and growth process.

The last point that Iain makes in his video is the importance of consistency. YES! Consistency is THE key to excellence in the martial arts. If you train consistently, you will constantly improve. On the other hand, inconsistent training means that you will suck. Most of the time. Just be consistent in your training.

Just keep on going! Have a great weekend!

Lastly, buy me a coffee!

On a serious note, please consider supporting this blog because I need your help defraying the increasing expenses associated with the blog/website.

A huge thank you in advance for your support!