3 Steps to a Martial Arts Life

Hello there People, Martial Arts (MA) as ‘a way of life’ is the best and most rewarding way to take part in this art... 

Here I’m giving you 3 steps to a Martial Arts life.

1. Fundamentals

Learn the basics; get into the habit of daily practice, even if it’s just for 5 minutes a day. It all adds up. Encompass the whole spectrum... Stretch, kick, punch, kata, self defence, work your cardio and meditate.

2. Inclusion

One of the ways to make MA a way of life is to apply what you have learned to all aspects of, or as many aspects as you can.

It works like this; when stressed at work, you automatically use your breathing exercises to gain control. Stretch in the mornings. Practice your stances when queue, people may think you’re crazy, but you’ll be getting valuable practice time in. Meditate and be still.

When practicing your techniques, visualise your movements and breathe in time with them... When you have extra time, visit the dojo and practice with others, the equipment, kick pads, focus pads, punch bags and dummies.

Dojo

3. Kaizen

You’ve learnt the basics, made time in your life outside the dojo to practice. This has led to MA being a way of life whereby you don’t have to be in the dojo to train...

In fact you’re just as happy at home doing a few light kicks or stretches, to doing a full blown session out in the garden alone or with fellow martial artists... Brilliant.

Now what do you do?

Take it to a higher level... Look at what you do and work on improving one or two

Aspect’s of your art at a time, till you get it just so. Then move onto another one or two aspect’s.

For example, in 2011, I had the idea to get my left leg to kick as well as my right leg (the dominant one). If you are reading this thinking both my legs are of equal kicking ability, then you are the exception.

I gave myself a year to get them singing the same song. Bear in mind I’d been doing MA for over 20 years with the right leg being dominant.

What did I do? 20%more kicking on the left leg always lead with the left leg, all complex kicks on the left and when asked to show or perform kicks of any sort, I would use the left leg. 

3 months into the year and it was yielding. With this encouragement, I continued and I’d say halfway through the year they were evened out. In fact to me it felt like the left leg was faster and more powerful.  Maybe because I used it more.

That’s Kaizen – never ending improvement...

Accomplish the impossible

The 3 steps to a martial arts life, when practiced over time allow some martial artists in their upper years to accomplishing what seems like the impossible. Yet most of the time they don’t brag about it.

Really simple when you think about it... If you are anxious, contemplating and just can’t see the long term benefit of Martial Arts. Hopefully this has given you an insight...

Life doesn’t have to stop for martial arts... Instead, you weave Martial Arts into life. For spectacular long term results.

Please leave a comment, feel free to share if you believe it will help... Incidentally, the idea behind this post can serve as a metaphor for other areas of life.

Thanks for taking the time