growing

Ten Tigers has helped me realize how much potential I have as a martial artist. A few months into the program, I was a bit stressed because I felt like I was falling behind. I'm down on my push up reps, and how will I get caught up. I'll never get caught up. Oh no!!! Yet, I simply took time to slow down and analyze the situation. It occurred to me that many martial artists never find the time, or more accurately, make the time to train outside the studio. I've seen these practitioners in action, and I did not want to be that person. I wanted to be the student who always takes the attitude of the student in a positive manner, which I believe to be that there is always more to learn. More importantly, I want to learn to the best of my ability. In order to do that I must find the time to train outside the school. If I don't, I will never truly grow. Ten Tigers has help me change for the better in regards to time management. Since becoming a part of the program, I've practiced stance work, done push ups, and forms in the oddest places. I remember one of my early teachers tell me how people would laugh at him for practicing his forms in his office. People would drive by and see him through the office window kicking and punching. He did not care. He knew that was the only time he had to put in the hard work to get the positive results. When on the phone, I will often work on stance work. I work in sets of push ups and sit ups when my daughter plays on her mat.

Not only have I started to analyze my workouts more to reach my full potential, I've started to analyze my overall martial arts studies. I used to try to fit in as many forms as possible before my training time ran out. Now, I focus on quality and not quantity. Honestly, I've forgotten a lot of forms and that's a bit frustrating. Yet, most of them are weapons forms, and I don't plan on using a sword or spear in public anytime soon. So, I focus on what little I do know in regards to application. I do not practice as many forms, but really slow down the ones I do know in order to concentrate on what I can use and in what situation. I think of self defense, sparring, and film fight choreography when I practice. It keeps me interested and gives me purpose. That's probably my biggest change in my approach to things. What is the purpose of this, and will it work for me? Some things do and some things don't. Some techniques work on some days and some days they don't. For example, right now, I have a pulled hamstring, so a lot of kicking techniques are not working for me. My body is not allowing it. Therefore, I need to figure out an alternative or back up plan. For me, this is growth. I'm changing with my body, but still getting the same result in regards to application. I've always thought this to be a significant step in martial arts. I've seen "masters" simply count in Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and watch over a class. Where's the teaching in that?! Great, you know how to count to ten in a foreign language. What's the purpose...educate your attacker? I admire the masters of their art who stay in the best shape they can, and they continue to participate. They do what they can still do well. They have a self awareness of what works for them, and they make sure they truly know that information. Someone who used to have a fantastic roundhouse kick may now be more of a puncher. If it is still effective, who cares? My approach has changed to basically what works best for me today. The important part is to be honest with myself, and never forget, that I will always have more to learn.