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06-03-2006, 02:59 AM
Training To Win Means Training To Lose:
In order to grow we must be challenged, we must make
things as hard as possible, with them being too
dangerous. To a few of you this will not make sense,
to others it will. We grow, we adapt, and we evolve.
That’s what makes us alive. We grow stronger when we
need more strength. We become faster when we need to
be fast. This is because in those extreme moments of
fear, pain, or distress we find something inside of us
we never knew was there. Thus we can apply this
knowledge to our lives and our arts (regardless of
what they may be).
When I wrestled in High School my coach decided I
wanted to use too much muscle and not enough
techniques. So he put against someone who was
stronger, and I couldn't out muscle. But in time I did
because I had to. It was only whenl I had to fight a
technically better wrestler that my techniques
improved. I apply this principle to my style as well.
I send my slower students against those faster to
learn speed. I send those in a hurry against those who
are patient and methodical, to learn to be patient.
Even in my own training I put myself against those
who would be my “superiors”. I don't do it for
bragging rights, ego, or anything else. I do it to
become stronger. We can not rise above ourselves until
we have reached our limits and only then can we push
on to break them.
Thus we must train to lose, fight our superiors,
and push ourselves to the next level. No matter what
that might be. We must forget pride, ego, honor, and
all else. Nothing can exist except what we are doing,
be it fighting, writing, being a friend, or making
love. Because when you reach whatever thresh hold you
think you have and push on past it you grow in ways
you can not understand, physically, mentally, and
emotionally...
Remain Well,
Ron Collins
In order to grow we must be challenged, we must make
things as hard as possible, with them being too
dangerous. To a few of you this will not make sense,
to others it will. We grow, we adapt, and we evolve.
That’s what makes us alive. We grow stronger when we
need more strength. We become faster when we need to
be fast. This is because in those extreme moments of
fear, pain, or distress we find something inside of us
we never knew was there. Thus we can apply this
knowledge to our lives and our arts (regardless of
what they may be).
When I wrestled in High School my coach decided I
wanted to use too much muscle and not enough
techniques. So he put against someone who was
stronger, and I couldn't out muscle. But in time I did
because I had to. It was only whenl I had to fight a
technically better wrestler that my techniques
improved. I apply this principle to my style as well.
I send my slower students against those faster to
learn speed. I send those in a hurry against those who
are patient and methodical, to learn to be patient.
Even in my own training I put myself against those
who would be my “superiors”. I don't do it for
bragging rights, ego, or anything else. I do it to
become stronger. We can not rise above ourselves until
we have reached our limits and only then can we push
on to break them.
Thus we must train to lose, fight our superiors,
and push ourselves to the next level. No matter what
that might be. We must forget pride, ego, honor, and
all else. Nothing can exist except what we are doing,
be it fighting, writing, being a friend, or making
love. Because when you reach whatever thresh hold you
think you have and push on past it you grow in ways
you can not understand, physically, mentally, and
emotionally...
Remain Well,
Ron Collins