Don't Let Your Ego Stop You-Martial Art Journey #5

Keep your ego in check and your eye on your goal. This applies to success in martial arts and just about anything else. How so?

I can’t tell you the number of times I have screwed up simply because I let my ego get in the way of things. In another words, I often times have been my own worst enemy because I lost focus of my goal.

Approximately 10% of all people that enroll in martial arts actually obtain a Black Belt. A good Master or Instructor will challenge a student in character building traits when he reaches the higher belt ranks.

During belt testing, sometimes I was tested in self-discipline and temperament. Normally during testing for a higher belt, there is a lot of pressure and tension. During special challenging moment for me, the Instructor would say something to me that he knew would really piss me off.

I soon learned to swallow my pride and bite my tongue and take the criticism in a positive manner. I did this because I wanted to pass the belt test and please my Master. This self restraint and discipline soon becomes a habit. I wanted that Black Belt very much. And, I was determined not to screw up my chances of getting it, by blurting out some stupid thing at the moment-like loose my temper.

Not realizing it at the time; but, this was excellent training for other aspects of life. Self-control for business client interaction or just plain getting along with people. In fact, I felt that getting a Black Belt was equivalent to getting a Phd degree in Self-Control.Traditional Training

One of the end results of my martial art journey was learning to keep my ego in control. In another words, making my emotions work for me, rather than against me.Get What You Want

Martial Arts Shows 5 Ways To Live Powerfully!

*FOCUS-You get power of intense concentration from martial arts. People can be jumping up and down around you, screaming and yelling, but you, stay focused on your opponent. That’s right. You don’t take your eyes off your opponent. Because you know he has one objective in mind; namely, to knock your head off and or place a well connected kick into your solar plex.

The more earnest the contest, the more you remain calm and focused. This is the Way in martial arts. You can’t afford to give up self-control to your opponent. If you do, most likely he will score on you.

*SELF CONTROL-Sparring in Tae Kwon Doe requires tremendous physical stamina and self-control. The exertion caused from leg thrusts, rather it be side kick, back kick, front kick, spinning kick, axel kick or whatever takes a lot of strength and energy. The force of impact, when you are on the receiving end of one of these kicks can be very traumatic. So, self-control is essential. Just a few minutes of intense sparring can leave you exhausted.

No matter what, you must stay relaxed and focused when performing in martial arts.

*RESTRAINT-You must always keep a governor on your emotions in martial arts.You can’t let your emotions have the right away. If you give into the pure emotion, most likely your opponent will capitalize on it and score on you. In another words, if you opponent gets a good lick on you, you can’t let your anger cause you to loose your objectivity, the need to score points on your opponent. You do that only by keeping a cool head and presence of mind which means living powerfully.

*RESPECT-“What goes around comes around”. This certainly applies to giving Respect to people. You may not like them or agree with them, but, if you want to do yourself a favor, try giving respect to people. You may get the surprise of your life. Even those difficult people, yes, give them the benefit of the doubt, give them a little respect.

I am personally very impressed with this powerful tool-respect. I have given respect to some very obnoxious people. What happened? Generally speaking, I was surprised. These difficult people turned out to be often insecure sensitive folks looking for some attention and understanding. Once they felt they could trust you, they turned out to be very nice people.

I turned around my marriage. I figured if could give respect to total strangers; why not give respect to my own wife. So, I made a deliberate effort to show total respect and courtesy to my spouse. This occurred years after we were married. You know how it is. After awhile you start taking someone for granted, after you have lived with them for awhile. Well guess what, at first my wife looked at me like was he for real. It didn’t take long, and our entire relationship improved. This means to me living powerfully and loving powerfully, giving respect in martial arts and in life.

*COURTESY-this is a very under valued and important criteria. Show courtesy to everyone, both in martial arts and life. Treat other people just like you want to be treated. If you show courtesy, it tells that person you value them as an individual. Now who wants to argue with that? The Samurai of ancient times lived and shared their lives in temples. They all carried their swords with them all of the time. If you mistakenly bumped in to someone or insulted him, you could find yourself split open and gasping for you last breath on the temple floor.Get what you want

Consequently, Samurai decorum required all adherents to follow the strictest standards of Courtesy, careful not to offend someone, a very practical standard to follow in the 21st Century. I am referring to the good will you create by being courteous. Guess what? People respond to you most often in a reciprocal courteous manner. It makes life more enjoyable living powerfully from the lessons of martial arts