Why You Should Be Training

It’s an unfortunate part of the times that we are living in. But self protection is a necessity, now more than ever..

How often do you turn on the television and see yet another robbery or worse, someone has lost their life due to a crime?

Look, I’m not saying that training in martial arts will turn you in to a super ninja and you’ll be immune to crime. But what it will do is help you increase your odds of surviving and even better hopefully avoiding the conflict all together…

Training will at the very least, increase your self confidence. Why is that so important?

Law Enforcement of all kinds have been interviewing criminals for many years. And the overwhelming response of the question “ why did you pick that person to attack”? ANSWER…They looked like a “Victim”.. What does that mean?? You walk around with your head down, not looking at all confident. You hide in plain site, your head is in your phone and you not paying attention to your surroundings. In other words… You look like a victim! Increasing your self confidence will give you the strength to walk around with your head held high. You’ll feel better about yourself…. Looking less like easy prey, and more observant of your surroundings..

Crime statistics show that a rough average of 13,000 crimes happen in any given year here in Virginia alone. Now, not all of them are violent crimes. But, yes, unfortunately some are from firearms. Although if you combine the numbers of crimes committed with either blunt objects or a knife, the numbers nearly double those of firearms incidents. Which brings me to this point…

Train in a school that addresses weapons, as well as empty hand attackers. I’m a firm believer that good training gives you better odds. Ultimately the style of training you do and the school has to fit you and your personality. If you’re someone who would never carry a weapon that’s ok.. But it’s important you understand that others don’t feel the same, and you should educate yourself in the defense of the weapons. You need to understand how they move, the ranges of attack of the weapons and above all, how to avoid them.

You are your best defense. Becoming the strongest and most trained version of yourself can only help you learn to protect yourself and possibly your family.. Take care of yourself, and GET SOME TRAINING!! See you on the mats !!!

When taking a break becomes permanent

Chances are If you trained for any length of time you have met quite a few people that take “A Break” but they never come back. How many of you have someone that says they trained “ back in the day” and wish they had never stopped? My first question is always, why did you stop? Why didn’t you keep going? The main answer I get….. I’m not sure…

Lets face it, sometimes life can get in the way. There can be money issues, health issues and just a lack of time. As we all know with the recent pandemic, things can and will happen to keep you from training. But you shouldn’t let it become permanent, especially if it’s something you really love doing. With the new technologies in place we have access to training like never before. You can take classes in-person as well as online. The amount of access we all have to quality training now is unparalleled. Whether it be in your home or in a school, now’s the perfect time!!

What you need is dedication. Most of us have days where we are sore or tired or days that you’d rather just sit home and relax. We all have days where we lack motivation. You have to be willing to get up and get going. You need to push yourself to create good training habits. Even though those habits can be hard to create, they are worth it. A good workout can help you burn steam and refocus even on your worst days due to the fact that it releases something called “Feel Good Endorphins”. Quoting The National Library of Medicine.. “Elevated serum beta-endorphin concentrations induced by exercise have been linked to several psychological and physiological changes, including mood state changes and 'exercise-induced euphoria', altered pain perception, and the stress responses of numerous hormones”. In layman’s terms… You will become tougher, you won’t be so stressed, over all you will feel BETTER!!

Training in the martial arts can be a great thing if you stick it out. Don’t give up! When you reach your goal I guarantee you won’t look back and regret the time you spent …

New Years Resolutions

Here we go…. It’s time for the resloutions!!

What’s the most common New Years Resolution?? With over 50% of the vote….. GET IN SHAPE!!

What does that mean? Have you ever thought about “ Getting in shape” Being mental as well as physical?

How do you plan on doing that? I might be biased, but I would suggest Martial Arts…

Martial arts is something that you can do for the rest of your life in some shape or form. And It will help keep you in shape. There is something called the 10,000 hour rule. It simply states that it can take 10,000 hours to master a skill. Albeit, that is a general rule to go by. But even as a general rule, give or take a couple thousand hours, that’s a lot of exercise!! What happens during that training is the magic.

When you look back after just one month of training, you will notice that physically your stamina and strength are growing. You can pick up the pace and you’re not quite as winded as you were in the beginning. But just as important, mentally you will be more focused and feel better about yourself. Just imagine how you’ll feel at month two? And after one year of training, you are a different person!! If you push yourself, you will be in much better shape physically and mentally. You are a tougher stronger, and in most cases, better and more relaxed version of your former self. And just as, if not more important you will have developed the skills to defend yourself. With everything that has gone on in the past few years with the pandemic and so many people behaving at their worst, the importance of that can’t be overstated..

So if you’re considering a New Year Resolution, I’d suggest you give martial arts training a shot. I can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed…

Training with injuries

At some point in your training, you might get an injury that will slow you down or even stop you for a bit. It happens to all of us that engage in physical activities. What do you do when it happens? Do you keep training? Do you take a break? Simple answer is…. Listen to your doctor, and to your body!

If you sustain a serious injury, take the time to heal correctly. If not, you will most likely extend your healing time by a considerable amount. But does it mean that you have to quit training all together? Simple answer…. NO, you don’t have to quit. Depending on the injury you can most likely find a way to safely train a little until you’re back to normal. Just make sure that you’re doing your due diligence and attending to your injury the way that your doctor suggests. You can still learn without going full out and risking further injury. Maybe just come to class and go slow. Just walk through the motions. Or just go in and take notes! Make sure you let your instructor know that you have an injury and will need to take it easy for a bit. We’ve all been there and we’ll understand. And if you find that your instructor doesn’t respect that? Time to find a new instructor!

Another thing can happen after an injury is that your confidence can be shaken. It makes you realize that you might not have been as bullet proof as you thought you were. It can even make you wonder if you should keep training. You need to find a way to see past that. It doesn’t mean that you will get hurt again, or that you aren’t as good as you thought you were. It just means that accidents can happen. We train in as controlled of an environment as we possibly can and accidents can unfortunately still happen, especially if you engage in harder training like sparring. That only shows you that maybe you need more training in a certain area. You can use an injury as a tough lesson. A motivation to get better. It can also give you valuable knowledge that can help someone else if you see them making the same mistakes. After all, sometimes knowing what NOT to do can be as important as knowing what TO do.

You can in most cases continue your training after injuries. You are still able to learn, even if it’s just by watching and taking notes. Who knows, you might even notice some things that you haven’t before. But don’t let it stop you. Especially if you started your training with self defense in mind. Just because you stop training doesn’t mean the “ bad guy” will just leave you alone because they know you’re injured. You owe it to yourself to keep up your training and stay as ready as possible. Don’t let something like an injury stop you from achieving your goals.. Now, GET BACK TO TRAINING!!

Being a better Instructor

What makes a good instructor??

How do we get better??

As always, there is more than just one way to answer to that question. But to begin with here are some things consider.

First thing is compassion. As an instructor you should always have the best interest of the student in mind. And care about them, in class and out. Listen and Get to know the students!! Not every student learns the same. As a matter of fact, here are 4 types of learners…

Visual Learners- Visual learners retain the information better when explanations include pictures, videos or live demonstrations. Even seeing themselves performing the techniques in the mirror will help them pick up the info much faster. With visual learners try to give a more detailed look at the technique. Make every demo as clear and concise as possible so they can see all of the moving parts..

Kinesthetic Learners- Kinesthetic learners have a need to understand what the movements feels like. Once they have that understanding , they can use it to reference all future attempts at the technique they are learning. It’s almost as if they are creating a concrete personal experience with each technique. Using cue words like “feel,” “move,” and “experience” will help them to develop a sense of what the the correct movement is supposed to feel like.

Analytical Learners- Analytical learners approach the techniques in a problem solving fashion. Almost taking a scientific approach to learning. Using words like “analyze,” “why” and “how” will help them understand the movements. When demoing the technique show “why” this is done, “how” the body moves when performing and/or receiving a technique. Then through their own analysis it will begin to make sense.

Auditory Learners- Auditory Learners learn better by sound or rhythms in the movements. Using words like “listen,” “pace” and “tempo” will help them learn the patterns. Tell them to listen to the sounds that the pads make when they are hitting. Or the pace of the clicks they are hearing when hitting kali sticks with their partners. All of this will help them to retain the movements.

Now, how do you know which student is which? Again, GET TO KNOW THEM!… Pay attention to each student, not just the group. And when teaching to a group, try to teach to all types at the same time. Try teaching under the assumption that you have every type of learner in the group. It can be difficult, but it’s definitely worth it. When you see your students discover new skills and build new confidence, you know you are doing your job. Not every student wants to becomes the next great UFC fighter, or wants to be able to take out a horde of ninjas.. They may simply want to become a stronger version of themselves. Some just want to see what the martial arts is all about, and try something new.. We can, and should be willing to help them all find what they’re looking for. They should enjoy the time spent training. After all why should the students continue if they aren’t having fun?? If you have stayed with martial arts long enough to earn your instructorship then you clearly love what you do. Lets help the next generation find that same love for the arts that kept us going all these years…

Hitting a Plateau ?

It’s happened to us all…

The hardest part is starting something new, but once you make that first step through the door the excitement begins. Afterwards, what seems to happen to many of us is that inevitable “ middle of the road” Lull. But why?

Have you ever had these thoughts?

“ I don’t feel like I’m getting any better”

“ I’ve put in so much time, maybe I’ll take a little break”

“ It’s going to take forever to get my Black belt”

“ It seems like others are getting better faster than I am”

“ I just don’t feel motivated to go today”

All of these thoughts are fairly normal, but they are also something you’ll need to take control of… Look, we’re all human. But what separates a Black belt from a White belt is that the Black belt didn’t quit.

If you feel like you’re not getting any better speak to your instructor and ask for advice… If you feel like others are getting better faster than you are, you might be right. But that doesn’t matter to your journey. Everyone has strong points. On the other hand we all have our weaker points as well. You might struggle with something today, but pick up something faster than everyone else tomorrow. It’s just how things are. And the time it takes you to get that final belt, is specific to you. You shouldn’t compare yourself to others, this journey is yours and yours alone.

Along the way you will find many people that want you to succeed. Your teachers are a resource that you should always go to in times of need. You should speak to your instructors if you feel like you are struggling. That’s what we’re here for! Look to your new martial arts family for motivation. All of us have bad days, but for some reason we seem to martyr ourselves and take away the thing that could make us feel better… And that thing is??….. Training! We all have those “lazy days” and that’s ok. But if you push through and make it to class you won’t be disappointed. You will get rid of that devil on your shoulder that makes you want to quit. You will become stronger than the negative thoughts that at some point affect us all and develop that never quit attitude that will take you all the way to Black Belt..

We are all a product of our habits. Habits can be changed for the better or for the worse. Bad habits are quick and easy to develop, but the hardest to break. Good habits are unfortunately hard to develop, but will serve you well for the rest of your life… At the end of the day, pushing through the lull isn’t only about getting that next belt. It also engrains in you that never quit attitude that took you to black belt and gives you strength that most people wish they had. The positive things that come from breaking through that lull are limitless. The physical, mental and emotional strength you gain is amazing. The lull is just a bump in the road. The bumps will pop up from time to time, but if you push through they grow fewer and more far between..

Get to class!!!!

Finding your “Fit”

How do you know what martial arts “ fits” you? It’s a question that can be a simple one and a tough one at the same time.

Is a grappling art the best?

Is a weapons based art the best?

Is a scenario based art the best?

Is a striking or kicking based art the best?

Is a sport based art the best?

How about traditional arts??

Everyone will give you a different opinion on this one. But here are some ideas to consider….

Are you interested in entering a grappling tournament? Then the weapons based art may not be the best for you.

Are you starting from scratch? Then start with something that will give you a good foundation..

Are you looking to add more to the training you already have? Then find something that will point you in the direction of your interests.

Do you enjoy it?? If it’s something you’ve never been interested in, it’s probably not the right “fit“ for you. Even better, did you give it a shot and just didn’t enjoy it at all? Then again, not the right “fit”.

One of my instructors asks “ what’s best, sugar or salt ?” The answer…. Are you having steak or iced tea? There isn’t one answer that fits every situation.

When you start training you’re going to find out that you will become more frustrated than you’d ever imagined. That’s actually a good thing. Most of your growth will happen outside of your comfort zone. And that growth is just as much mental and personal growth as it is physical.. But you should still enjoy the process. If you’re not enjoying it, find a new art or possibly a new instructor. With all that being said, you need to put in the time and work hard. Don’t quit because it’s hard.. You can’t just decide that it’s not a good art or good fit without really taking the time to understand it. And it can’t be spoon fed. You have to go out train hard and get it! Training through your frustrations and figuring things out during practice will ensure that you own that skill.. Don’t let anything stand in your way. If you take the time to really invest in yourself and your training you’ll find out that a lot of arts share more similarities than differences, and that’s where the growth begins. Remember, you don’t have to choose just one art. At our school we teach several disciplines for just that reason. It gives each student more than one option to find that “fit”.. At some point after you’ve been training for a while you can look back and see how much you’ve changed and just how strong you have become.

Bruce Lee once said “Do not pray for an easy life; pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” Pushing through the frustration will give you more strength than you could have ever imagined….

Finding your “Voice”

What can martial arts do for me? “I don’t ever want to have to fight anyone.”

Well, lucky for you it’s not all about fighting…. But if it’s not all about fighting why would I “waste my time”???

There are many physical benefits to training, but for now lets focus on the mental strength you’ll gain…

Through your training you will learn respect, honor, integrity, loyalty and the development of other personal attributes such as humility, maturity, discipline and inner peace. Another an extremely important one is Confidence. And through that confidence you can find your “Voice”.. But how do those attributes apply to confidence ??? Let’s take a look at just a few ways…

Respect— You will learn that everyone sees life through different eyes and has different life experiences that shape who they are and how they may see and process things differently than you. And learn to have admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.

Honor— Is defined as “adherence to what is right or to a conventional standard of conduct.” “high respect; great esteem”. from here you will learn to respect for tradition and for those that came before us and left us this amazing gift called Martial Arts. And you will develop a great respect for the traditional training of the arts. And respect for the process of traditional learning.

Integrity—Having integrity means doing the right thing in a reliable way. It's a personality trait that we admire, since it means a person has a moral compass that doesn't waver.

Loyalty— You will foster very strong relationships and in essence grow your family in ways you never expected. And with that you will find that you have a whole new circle that you can depend on, and that can depend on you.

Humility— teaches us that we might not have all the answers. It also opens the door for us to ask questions from the ones who might know a better way.

Maturity— lets us take the constructive criticism offered by those that know more than us and get better. And most importantly not taking it personally. (always easier said than done :)

Discipline— keeps you training and always working hard to be better. Regardless of whether it’s physically or mentally. And showing up for class even when you are not at your best. Those are the days that you’ll find that you’ve grown the most!

Inner Peace— An important part of your training. Even if you’ve had a very trying day, you can come and train and burn off all of that frustration. It helps you calm your mind and refocus. You can then go back and see whatever problems you are having through new eyes.

Confidence— This is a big one. Here’s where it all comes together. Now with everything put together you will have grown the confidence to speak up for yourself. And armed with your new found attributes, you can find the best words to say and the best way to say them. The plain simple fact is that sometimes how you say things can be just as/if not more important than what you say. You will have grown in to a person that can clearly identify what’s truly important and speak your mind. Speaking up for what you believe, and helping those around you find their own voice. You will learn to ask questions and seek out the answers even when they aren’t staring you in the face. That way you can make the most informed decisions possible. And you will have gained the maturity to keep your feelings in check. The truth is, facts don’t have feelings. It just is…And in an age where a great many people get their “information” from social media you owe it to yourself to wade through it all and find the true facts.

This is a topic that we could speak about indefinitely, but this will at least give you some ideas on how to BE a martial artist and through it all and find your voice. If you think that training is all about belts and learning to fight you may have missed the point. As martial artist we should always try to find a way not to fight. Armed with a “Voice” you can most times talk your way out of it..

Being a martial artist isn’t just something that you do. It becomes something that you ARE…

BLACK BELT: WHAT IT MEANS (AND WHAT IT DOESN’T)

When someone finds out you study martial arts, one of the first questions they usually ask is “are you a Black Belt?” After all, the Black Belt is one of the best-known parts of martial arts, and people have all sorts of expectations about what it means.

“Can you beat someone up?”

“What would you do if I hit you?”

“Can you break a brick?”

“Wow, I’d better not mess with you.”

In addition to the awkwardness of conversations like these, they also show how little is understood about martial arts and its practitioners — and, sadly, that lack of understanding isn’t always limited to outsiders. How many of us have heard a fellow student ask (or maybe we’ve been guilty of this ourselves), when they can “get their next belt (or stripe)”? How many times do students get frustrated if they’ve spent ‘too long’ at one belt rank, or place too much importance on that newly achieved rank? How many times have you heard a Teacher remind students that their rank isn’t as important as the quality of their skill, only for that advice to be ignored? There are a few realities we need to understand and embrace about “rank” in martial arts. First, we need to understand that the colored belt system is a modern development in martial arts, borrowed from Judo to make progress more explicit. Historically, there were no belts in the martial arts. Students simply trained, and learned, and improved their skill. “Mastery” was determined by your ability, not the color of your belt. Secondly, we should understand that rank has as much of little significance as we put into it. On the one hand, earning a new belt is an achievement worth being proud of. It signifies the amount of time, hard work, and practice that you’ve invested into your training. It’s also an acknowledgement of that hard work and growth from your teacher. On the other hand, it’s just a belt. Bruce Lee famously said, on the subject of belt ranks, that belts are good for keeping your pants up and your jacket closed, and not much else. And anyone who has spent any time in a dojo will notice that although the overall skill level of the students goes up with each rank, there sometimes can be a handful of lower rank students who are more skilled or working harder in class than some higher rank students. In other words, belt rank can be a good indicator of a student’s skill – but it doesn’t guarantee it. Finally, it’s critical to understand that Black Belt is an intermediate rank — not an advanced rank. Many martial arts use the Kyu–Dan system of ranks. Kyu ranks denote ranks below black belt (e.g., colored belts), and Dan ranks denote ranks of black belt. Many styles of martial arts have somewhere between 6-10 kyu ranks and 10 dan ranks, meaning Black Belt lands (sometimes considerably) before the “halfway” mark. Compare earning a Black Belt to getting a Driver’s License. Just to receive it, you’ve had to learn all the basic skills and concepts, drill those basics to develop your ability to use them, and pass a comprehensive test to prove to a qualified instructor that you know those basics well. Most would agree that a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old who has their driver’s license knows how to drive a car, but no one would describe them as an expert driver yet. It takes years and years more practice before “expertise” is earned. A new Black Belt is the same way: highly proficient in the basic techniques and principles of martial arts, but by no means an expert. Their journey is only just beginning. None of this is to say that earning a Black Belt (or any other belt rank, for that matter) is meaningless. Earning a Black Belt is an incredibly meaningful and profound experience, and many who’ve practiced martial arts for decades still remember their Black Belt test as a pivotal moment in their training. By contrast, simply having a Black Belt is meaningless. After all, anyone can simply order a black belt off the internet and save themselves years of hard work, sweat, frustration, and the occasional injury. They’ll have a black belt, but they won’t BE a Black Belt, and therein lies the value of belt rank. Getting to Black Belt isn’t the end of a student’s training, and students who quit their training after earning a Black Belt probably shouldn’t have received that rank in the first place. It’s a major milestone, but only a milestone, on a much larger and longer journey. Done well, martial arts are designed to be a lifelong practice where (regardless of rank, reward, or external acknowledgement) students push themselves to develop their mental, physical, and emotional/spiritual strength — one step further every day. The training becomes the incentive to continue training. Many students don’t progress far enough into their training to develop this deeper understanding and appreciation for the martial arts — but those who do discover that the real rewards of martial arts training are far greater than whatever superficial feelings of success they experience when receiving a new belt. There are, of course, many benefits to the belt system. It is a definite sign that you’ve worked hard and done something that most people hope to, but never do. And a Black Belt remains an outstanding achievement that carries tremendous emotional significance for practitioners — not the act of summiting the proverbial mountain, but simply arriving at a new vista from which to survey the path still ahead. Don’t work to get a black belt, work to BE a black belt!