Our CTF philosophy includes the statement that “constant and neverending improvement is the ultimate purpose of Choong Sil Kwan.” After a challenging martial arts training session, students may leave feeling like there are so many things to work on, they don’t even know where to start. Improvement is a slow and steady process, with the occasional light bulb moment that makes a technique or principle truly come together. Most worthy pursuits have a level of difficulty and frustration that, in the end, make the accomplishment feel even sweeter.
Become a little better every day.
To be truly dedicated to getting better requires thought, planning, and a willingness to attack the areas in your training that are lacking. Martial arts training requires you to be honest with yourself. Drop excuses, comparisons, or “reasons”, and commit to improving in any way you can.
Create an honest assessment of your abilities and challenges. Try to pinpoint one or two focus points in your training that will facilitate improvement in multiple areas. Find one long term goal and one short term goal. If you approach each training day with the mindset of improvement (and not just working your favorite things), you will begin seeing progress in all areas.
Put in the boring work, the hard work, the grind.
I can’t remember ever hearing a chorus of delighted exclamations when the class worked kicks on the bar. There’s a decent amount of groaning while busting out another set of pushups, and very few people stay after class to rotary jog. It’s not fun, glamorous, or insta-worthy. It’s not fun to work on things you’re not good at. It’s hard. It’s boring.
Do it anyway.
Did you build your foundation?
Often, improvement simply comes with experience. Unfortunately, experience only comes one way. And that takes time! While you work to improve body mechanics, techniques, and body control, you can work on other fundamental pieces of athleticism to help the more difficult puzzle pieces fall into place.
Find a base level of fitness and conditioning. If you find yourself exhausted at the end of class, hopefully that means you gave full effort. However, consistently spending time outside of class to address your fitness will always translate into more focused class time. When you have a high level of fitness, your mind can stay focused on the drill, technique, or pattern, instead of fighting fatigue.
Stay honest during class. Don’t skip on reps. Don’t duck that tall, leggy fighter, the fast-as-lighting phenom, or the guy with never ending cardio. Step up to the challenge… then keep stepping up to every new challenge.
Where to begin?
It is helpful to ask your instructors and seek out individual feedback to help streamline your martial arts training goals. Their perspective can help pinpoint the areas in your training that need additional focus. Having a trained eye watching your sparring, technique, and pattern work is one of the greatest benefits of being in class. When it comes time to partner up, try to choose someone who you know can push you, give you feedback, or whose technique you admire. Anyone can work on their own, or get training ideas from different sources, but you can’t replace one on one personal feedback and partner work.
Listen and watch carefully to how your instructor teaches a skill, and pay attention to the feedback that is given to the class as a whole. You will benefit from learning the nuance of a technique, while also hearing feedback of common mistakes.
Train with purpose!
Now go smash your goals!
Written by Jenna Davis
Photo Credit to Dan Davis