Oddly, I’ve had students, over the years, that quit training because of the repetitive qualities of learning martial arts. I experienced the same thing when teaching music. Now, either I’m boring, or they are!
Seriously, this is the diminishing of our culture – the quick fix, instant grat- seeking folks who want a lot for a little – or, want martial arts to match the speed and excitement of a video game. Living isn’t a video; it is a significantly different pace without the instant gratification of a “high score” or the quick “defeat of the next video game beast.” Life has one opponent, and not an easy one to defeat – one’s self.
Developing oneself takes time – lots of it. It takes effort – lots of it. And, it takes repetition – lots of it. A student of mine used to say, “Shut up and train.” He isn’t far wrong; in fact, more politely said of course, he is absolutely right. Whatever you want, go for it without excuses. Don’t complain because complaining reveals more about personal inadequacy than it does about personal strength.
Pursue. Repeat. Study. Repeat. Train. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat …
repeat ……..
It might be “too soon” to be bringing up current events, but I can’t help but think deeply on this post and be reminded of the recent tragic mass shooting in Santa Barbara. I found myself reading a great deal about the shooter, who was a deeply troubled person. He recounted in his “manifesto” trying many pursuits and giving up on them shortly afterward, because he wasn’t experiencing instant success/validation, including martial arts (karate.) Of course psychopaths like this are not “normal” or representative of our culture as a whole, but I see part of the diminishing of our culture that you mention, in his story.
I know Adam and I want to raise our son with these qualities in mind: “personal values, acting with integrity, feeling empathy for others, exercising compassion and treating people with dignity and love.” And I want him to train martial arts (and music) for precisely the reasons you discuss in this post.
Really thick, delicious and chewy food for thought. Thank you sir!
You’re welcome!
Immediate gratification is unhealthy .. It is like eating instant noodles all the time. It satisfies your hunger at the moment but does not nourish your body, making you weaker in the long run. Immediate gratification is for the impatient. Impatience is incompatible with living a meaningful life – it is like only existing but not actually living .
Thank you, Grandmaster!
The peace of repetition is a pathway to freedom.
Thank for these words of encouragement.
When one reaches the Black Belt level. the word “Repeat” becomes the name of your next KATA, your next animal technique, punch, block or fighting angle. Repeat in fact is my training partner, the very iron that sharpens Iron.
once we get past the idea of repetition being bad, we begin to take comfort in those basics and see it in another light, revealing subtlety.
I won’t lie, we all have those days, I refer to days when I’d rather be doing other things than training as days when I “drop myself off” but we just show up and train anyway.
One day we wake up and something changes. Greatness, well, it’s found by accident..the accident of polishing away the rough.
That’s what I’ve found anyway? 🙂
Thank you all for your thoughtful comments. I read and re-read them . . . and learn.
peace and blessings,
gmb