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