What is preventing you from being a better Martial Artist?

[Danny T]

Something asked in one of our classes last night. As an individual what mentally, environmentally, or physically is preventing you from being a better martial artist? There is no right or wrong answer. This is to inspire you to look inward and to honestly assess yourself.

In my case, there is no real environmental issue other than distance from those I wish to continue to train under. I own my school and it is 10 minutes away from my home. There are physical aspects like age (over 50) and injuries that have begun to slow me down. Strength is still good but I’m no where near as strong as I was at 25-35. My cardio is good but my recovery time is much longer. For example, on Sat. I do 4 hours of instruction. Last Sat. one of my students who trained the complete 4 hours asked, “How do you do it? I’m exhausted!” I stated that I’m tired also; the difference is you are going to go home, take a shower, eat something and then go out to do something. I’m going home to shower, eat and sleep!

Over the years I think the greatest factor limiting my growth has been my comfort level with my abilities. I am fortunate to have been a very good athlete with a strong body and the exercises came relatively easy for me. I still have good flexibility and agility. Due to this I have been able to, for the most part, simply overwhelm most and have learned over a long period of time to feel rather than to force my “techniques”. As the ageing process and the many injuries have begun to weaken me physically I realize how much I have missed in my journey. I have learned to be a bit more cunning and that timing and proper positioning is far more important than speed and strength. Also mentally I tend to stay where I am comfortable. Though I train and instruct several different systems I tend to gravitate to those movements which are similar rather than work more on the ones that are different. I do have an open mindedness toward training but tend to anally work that which I know works for me rather than work something new. If it is new I look to find what is already ingrained and simply expound on that.

How about you?

[Xue Sheng]

Honest anwser and I am not joking

Work gets in the way, it takes way to much of my time both in and out of work. And the nature of my job does not allow me to do anything that is really associated with training.

[Blindside]

My own laziness, I tend to work what I like, or what is new, and don't spend enough time on the "boring basics."

Lamont.

[stone_dragone]

Right now...waiting for the doc to clear me after my ACL reconstruction.

At this time in my life...moving around too much to find a good school that I can settle down and learn or open my own school and teach.

In general...when I get the chance, I'm usually teaching instead of training, so I guess it's my own work ethic.

Overall...me.

[still learning]

Hello, Very few of us can dedicate 100% of our life to just martial arts training.

As a rule of thumb.....we tell our students?

Family comes first, caring, sharing,helping,feeding,supporting, and the list is endless.....taking care of family is "first"

Next: Work/School...these things help support the family, or your education will help you get better paying jobs to support your family and yourself! We need to earn a living to support ourselves and take care of the family. There is a "financial cost" to live in America. Some of you may not need this? ....the rest of us have to "Work"! ...to survive ....!

3rd: This is where you can make "Marital art training a priorty! or other things too? ...fishing? ....tennis? .....golfing? and so on

For those reasons above are a few reasons from preventing most of us giving 100% to training. NOTE: "WE CAN GIVE 100% WHILE TRAINING"

Life is NOT all about just martial art, priorties need to be set.....

EVERYONE: can always improve themselves, So to say what is not preventing one from getting better?

Is just excuses? and NOT wanting to get better! That is why it is good to set "GOALS"

Very easy to get lazy, very easy to give up, very easy to quit! ...anyone can do this!

To get better....take's "HARD WORK", no short cuts, and lot of dedications to meet your goals.....JUST DO IT! ...just one more pushup...just one more kick....keep going....and the going will get better!

You don't have to train like "Bruce lee" ...you need to only train yourself to get better than you were before! Chinese saying: Journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step....

To be a better martial artist....starts within ONE SELF! Your Belief's

[Ceicei]

Hello, Very few of us can dedicate 100% of our life to just martial arts training.

<snip>

Life is NOT all about just martial art, priorties need to be set.....

<snip>

To be a better martial artist....starts within ONE SELF! Your Belief's

I don't think Danny is asking what our priorities are or should be. I think Danny is simply asking what challenges each of us personally have that is preventing us from becoming better.

For me, my barrier is finding a chuck of time each day for practice and to motivate myself to be more consistent.

- Ceicei

[jks9199]

My own laziness, I tend to work what I like, or what is new, and don't spend enough time on the "boring basics."

Lamont.
I gotta agree... Laziness and inertia are my enemies.

It's just so damn easy to stay in the chair, with the TV or computer on, rather than get up and train!

[Steel Tiger]

I gotta agree... Laziness and inertia are my enemies.

It's just so damn easy to stay in the chair, with the TV or computer on, rather than get up and train!

This, too, is the greatest enemy to my training. I find it necessary to go outside, away from any distractions, to get any training done.

[bydand]

About 40 extra pounds. Plain and simple. No excuses, no reason, except pure laziness in keeping fit over the past years.


I am working on it now though.

[exile]

What's keeping me from being a better MAist is... my lack of knowledge, and the inherent limits on my ability to solve the decoding problems involved in high-quality bunkai—clearly an ability necessary to translate the hidden information in MA patterns into their real-time damaging street applications.

I'm also limited by a very bad sense of spatial relationships in three dimensions. So learning techniques is harder for me than for many other MAists, I'm pretty sure.

[terryl965]

Well this is for S_L my life is completely Martial Arts and yes I mean completely. The whole family is involved and I spend every waking minute in that mind set.

As far as the question Better health at this point in my life would be a blessing, My mind wants to train but sometimes tha body just break down.

[Drac]

My job..I'm usually working my part time job when Father Greek is teaching..On the few nights I am not I catch up on some sleep...

[bdparsons]

ME

Respects,
Bill Parsons
Triangle Kenpo Institute

[dubljay]

Lack of dedication, and the erratic lifestyle of a college student.

[searcher]

My dietary and WORK. I have plenty of time to train others, but it holds back my own workouts. I have a hard time keeping my eating clean.

[HelloKitty]

Something asked in one of our classes last night. As an individual what mentally, environmentally, or physically is preventing you from being a better martial artist? There is no right or wrong answer. This is to inspire you to look inward and to honestly assess yourself.


I had a big surgery last December, I'm still under medication and besides I haven't trained in several years, so I really need to get used to the rythm of the classes and get more stamina. So, I hope it's matter of time ;)

[ejaazi]

It is the lack of time to train. Between work and family life, I just don't have the time to train as much as I would like. If I was able to, I would train at least 5 days a week. But due to my schedule, I am only able to train 3 and sometimes I can't even do that on a consistant basis.

[Shotochem]

Wife, kids, too much work and a pair of knees that often betray me.


Marc

[Adept]

Motivation. I'm at a stage of my life where I'd just as happily spend my time sitting on my couch, in my underpants, playing video games and eating cheeto's.

:(

[Grenadier]

My day job, plain and simple.

If I were to quit my job, and commit myself full time, to the dojo, then I know that my techniques would get sharper, and my knowledge would certainly increase due to having many more training hours.

However, I am not about to quit my job, since it pays the bills (and I have a very nice health plan with them), and I really do enjoy scientific research. There's always the great feeling of accomplishment when your work gets published, or when you present your material to your peers at the various meetings.

For now, I am content to split my time between the lab and the dojo, and accept the fact that I am the one who is holding back my full potential. That does not, however, mean that I slack off in my training hours. If anything, I make sure to continue to train hard, so that I don't fall into a deadly pattern of complacency.

[jim777]

I'm a full time student in University of Phoenix online, and I have a 5 hour total daily commute to and from my office in Manhattan. And I have 4 children and a wife who would like a bit of my time as well. I have no free time; every minute spent kicking my wavemaster or training in some other way takes time away from my schoolwork, my wife, or my children.

jim

[Kreth]

I think most of the members here are improving in their training. Just being here shows more than the average interest in martial arts. Of course, we all have those plateaus in our training where we feel like we're not getting anywhere.
Having said that, I think a lot of higher-ranked martial artists get caught in the instructor trap, and their own training stagnates because they can't drop into student mode.

[Nomad]

Physical shape and conditioning. I'm working on it, and have just set a goal to drop the 20 or so excess pounds in the next 3 months that have been plaguing me for the last few years. I have had joint and injury problems before, and also believe strongly that lightening up a bit will greatly reduce further stress on my joints and help prevent further/reinjuries (as well as overall making me stronger, faster, and better than I was before).

Number two (though not completely disconnected with number 1 above) would be turning the TV off more, and using the time to study, practice, or work on family stuff more. I'm finding that the perils of DVR is that there actually usually IS something on I want to watch... before DVR, I'd probably just miss half of "my" shows. I am cutting back here as well... life is too short.

[newGuy12]

turning the TV off more, and using the time to study, practice, or work on family stuff more.

Hear, hear!

[still learning]

Hello, When one have children....your goals in life changes a bit.

Our goal (Wife's too)...was to raise our one son and daughter to be good people thru encourgements from the time they were born. They play alot of sports, experience martial arts, many different things including traveling to new places, we wanted them to experience much of the new world.

We were brought up to spend "tons" of time with them, we knew by the time they are teenagers...they life goes into another phase.

We did alot of camping,fishing,swimming,kids sports,martial arts and traveling as a family. Today...our kids are well rounded and have an easy time getting along with everyone.

This off course this take time away from training in the martial arts....daughter is in sophmore in High school and is in her second year of wrestling and Judo for the high school team. PLUS a Honor roll student with straight "A's" so far....It's about 30 miles from school...and she needs to get aride home everyday after practice....this takes time away too...

Son is in college...."money" does not grow on trees....so working more is very important for many of us who have kids in college...2 jobs or more..

Time is preventing many of us from training harder ..than again many of us need to learn how to use time?

We live in round world...our lives need to be more well rounded....there is always something more important than just martial arts.....its a big world....it needs our HELP!

NOTE: Thru martial arts we can teach our students to be a better human being! Life skills is more than learning to fight/defend one self...is learning to live among/with other human beings!!!!

What is keeping us from being a better martial artist? ....just our selves....NO such thing as "NO TIME" ..unless you make it so...

Time management....everyone has the same 24hours...some know how to use them...other's make excuse's...

PS: for more time....? .....take from yesterday! ....oops "Pau" - hawaiian word for finish!

[MA-Caver]

The only thing preventing me from being a better ma-ist right now is $$$ for a good quality instructor. (passing the hat around here ... hmm, jes as I thawt... everyone is like me... at l'm getting a good MENTAL MA training on MT :D )

[MarkBarlow]

This may sound contrary but as I get older, slower, stiffer and just generally less able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, my technique is getting better. I don't know if I'm becoming a better martial artist but I think I'm becoming a smarter one. My recovery time for injuries is now measured in weeks and months rather than days so I'm hyper aware of threats to my well-being. I've got a mat full of young, strong and aggressive (not in a bad way) guys who regularly want to see if the old boy still has it. I can't match them in strength or stamina so I have to have better technique and strategy.

I'm still learning but as I get older I'm more particular about where I focus my energies. If it doesn't pertain to my interest or help me train/teach more effectively I don't worry about it. I guess it took 31 years for me to decide what was important to me in the martial arts.

[still learning]

The only thing preventing me from being a better ma-ist right now is $$$ for a good quality instructor. (passing the hat around here ... hmm, jes as I thawt... everyone is like me... at l'm getting a good MENTAL MA training on MT :D )

Hello, You may me laugh here....good point..."money" ....if one had lots one can go to, Japan, China, Okinawa, or where ever!

This is a very "good" reason.(money)..........what size hat? ...hat size can determine brain size? ...um! only kidding here.....

Money...can do so many good things...builds schools, hospitals, feed people, shelters for those who needs them...endless use here....even for martial art training............Aloha

[Kreth]

This may sound contrary but as I get older, slower, stiffer and just generally less able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, my technique is getting better.
I hear you, you waste less movement when you get winded tying your obi :lol:
On a related note, one trick I found to improve my technique was practicing occasionally at an extremely slow pace. It really helps me pick up on the subtleties of balance breaking and applying locks through position rather than strength.

[exile]

This may sound contrary but as I get older, slower, stiffer and just generally less able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, my technique is getting better. I don't know if I'm becoming a better martial artist but I think I'm becoming a smarter one.

Not contrary at all, Mark. Pancho Gonzales was legendary for defeating hot young players who possessed blazing serves, formidable groundgames and all the rest when he was in his mid forties. They had all the pieces, but he had the experience-based shrewdness to see the openings they were leaving for him and the skill, acquired over a lifetime in the game, to play those openings.

A lot of people believe that the reason why the best violins in the world were made 400 years ago isn't just that Stradavarius, Guenari and the others were geniuses; it's also that those violins were made in a way such that as time goes on, their sound quality gets better and better. It's the four centuries since they were made that has led to their almost supernatural tonal quality. Those of us who are no longer exactly young should think of ourselves the same way, eh? :wink1:


On a related note, one trick I found to improve my technique was practicing occasionally at an extremely slow pace. It really helps me pick up on the subtleties of balance breaking and applying locks through position rather than strength.

Same with slow kicking. Probably the single best way to improve kicking technique is to do the movements—chamber, pivot, full extension, rechamber, counterpivot, return to stance—at quarter speed. It tests and trains both balance and strength like nothing else.

[Kacey]

Finding the time to practice... which means what is preventing me from being a better martial artist is, of course, ME! Which is something I'm working on.

There was a Jewish scholar named Hillel, who was challenged to teach the entire Torah while the student was standing on one foot; Hillel's response was "What you dislike, do not do to your friend. That is the basis of the Torah. The rest is commentary; go and learn!"

Well... I've got the basis of TKD; I'm still learning, and I need to devote more time to the practice that is the basis of learning... darn job... darn household chores... darn all the silly things in my life that get in my way! But that's life... and it's why I intend to be a student of TKD for the rest of my life.