Most people know what martial arts is due to famous movie stars who brought it to spot light, like the legendary Bruce Lee. But still, most don’t. You think everything you see in the movies apply to martial arts in reality. Well, I disagree and I’ll tell you why as we progress. For those who don’t know what martial art is, let me tell you.
What is martial art? Martial arts is a broad field, not just a fighting technique as most think. It comprises of fighting techniques, physical exercises and mental discipline, among other skills. Originating from ancient culture in Asia, though some other martial arts originated from other places. They are used today around the world for self defense, exercise, health, spiritual growth and athletic competition.
Now that you know what martial arts means, I want to tell you about all it entails in matters of commitment.
Most people who want to learn martial arts expect to see Kungfu skills on their first day. It’s not that way. A babe doesn’t become a man in a day. Patience is the first lesson and key to become a good martial artist. If it was so easy to learn the art people wouldn’t spend 4 years trying to get a black belt. You have to be patient to learn everything. There will be pain, reshaping, injuries, you will even be beaten once in a while. But all these are part of our gradual grooming. So if you’re not patient, then don’t bother.
Pain and endurance
Now, this is the part people tend to run away from. I agree that no one loves pain but you can’t see gold in it’s true beauty except it’s passed through fire. You must accept the fact that you have to be broken, transformed, remodeled. To attain a good level of flexibility and durability during a fight you have to pass through extensive and core training. In a fight, you might take a few punches. Your level of endurance determines how much you can take and how long you’ll last. So you see, it’s for your benefit. In a fight, your opponent doesn’t care if you’re hurt, he actually wants to inflict more damage. So, you have to be well guarded.
Another important quality you need in martial arts is perseverance. It’s not for quitters. You have to keep training no matter what. Even though you fail or miss a step, you just have to keep moving. We in martial arts put away any discouragement or opposition, because considering these won’t get you anywhere.
Training and constant practice
Without these two you can’t be a martial artist. Constant training is required on a daily basis. All these help improve your fighting qualities such as stance, stamina, endurance and speed. Constant training and practice is essential to achieve maximum efficiency. We engage in training until it becomes part of us, a habit and lifestyle.
Many martial artists focus on just aggression and speed. They leave behind a very essential factor which is composure. Whatever challenge you encounter, your composure matters. You don’t want to show your opponent you’re scared or tired. In fact, a well composed person hides his/her weak points well. If you are not composed and relaxed, you give your opponent information he can use against you. It’s not all about speed and aggression, extreme cases might not require much of those.
Lastly, a good martial artist must learn to accept correction. Your mistakes in a fight shouldn’t depress you. Instead, it should give you time to correct it, change your style and move on. Nobody’s perfect, we learn everyday. See your loss as a chance to improve your skills. This makes you a better martial artist.
So, if you think it’s easy what we do, it’s not. Why we are able to impress you in competitions or movies is because we’ve gone through all these process of brewing, to give the fine quality you admire and love to watch. It’s our commitment.
Martial arts isn’t just fighting. It’s a lifestyle.
Dark Tales of Understanding 