Using about half of his speed, the instructor threw a
backfist at his student's cheek. Without flinching, the
student easily blocked the strike. Good. Lets try again,
the teacher said. I'm going to pick up the pace a
little. The Student smiled and nodded confidently. The
instructor threw a backfist at three-quarter speed, but
this time the student wasn't fast enough. The instructor
pulled the punch just before it smashed into his
student's face. Frowning, the instructor said, Okay.
Lets do it again.
Remember, I'm going to do it faster. Try to react
quicker. The Student smiled confidently. And again, the
instructor had to pull his punch. I guess I can't go any
faster. The student said apologetically. Again, the
teacher said. The instructor threw the strike at about
one-quarter speed, but the student managed to block it.
One more, the instructor said. This time the strike was
even slower. And again the student barely managed to
block it. The student shrugged his shoulders. I'm just
not that fast, I guess, he said sheepishly. Wait, said
the instructor. Wait? the student wondered. Wait for
What? Without emotion, the instructor bowed, turned,
walked to the safety equipment and slipped a large foam
safety pad onto his hand.
As
he approached the student, he threw several blindingly
fast backfists in the air. The student's smile faded as
the instructor bowed. Okay, we'll do it again, the
instructor said. But, err, but·Why are you·what's the
glove for? So you don't get hurt too badly if my strike
gets through, the instructor said nonchalantly. I am not
going to hold back. I am going to hit you in your head.
The student's eyes bulged. Before he could say another
word, the instructor's backfist flashed at him at about
half-speed. The student blocked the strike with ease.
Again, the instructor ordered, as he threw several more
strikes in rapid succession. The wide-eyed young man
blocked each one. Again! This time the strikes were
almost full speed. Yet the student blocked each one,
even though his techniques were somewhat poor and
sloppy.
Nevertheless, the student's movements had
suddenly developed a new vitality. There was energy and
spirit in each block. The instructor stopped. He stepped
back and bowed slightly. Ok that's enough for now.
Somewhat bewildered, the student returned the bow and
stared at his instructors back as he walked away. He
couldn't see the smile forming on his instructors face.
AS many of you know, I have been training and teaching
for more than 25 years now. Martial Arts has become my
full time profession and way of life for the past 10
years. How does a person stay motivated to be involved
in the Martial arts for the rest of your life, or to
stand up every morning and faithfully stick to your
training routine? How do I not become part of the
majority of people who give up their training in a few
years time?
If someone asks me what a human being ought to
devote the maximum of his time to, I would answer
TRAINING. Train more than what you sleep. I put my
non-stop dedication to the arts down to one phrase
Mister Mo. Mister Mo is the reification of
motivation. I have added Mister to show respect. Mister
Mo means no retreat, no surrender. No
retreating from the hard effort, no surrendering
to laziness or sloppy form. I believe Mister Mo should
be the most important person in your life, even more
important than your teacher, your classmates or your
students. It's good to have an end to journey toward,
but it's the journey that matters in the end Mister Mo
is the one who urges you to attend class when you'd
rather stay at home and watch TV. Mister Mo is inside
you when you do the extra kick, punch or block. Mister
Mo wipes the sweat out of your eyes so you can crank out
a dozen more reps of that technique that has been so
difficult for you.
Motivation
is what keeps us training month after month, year after
year. It is what drives us to face our own physical and
mental limitations. Mister Mo makes us confront our own
laziness, fears and failure and fears of success. It is
what makes us walk the endless path of the martial arts.
It encourages us to push ourselves to our limit and then
beyond. It helps us tune out pain as we drive ourselves
to victory over oneself.
Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
Avoiding pain might be the biggest motivational factor
there is. For example, having proper Defense to avoid a
broken nose is an example of an external motivation.
Most people who train in the martial arts do so, at
least initially, because they want to learn
self-defense. They don't want to get hurt if they are
attacked. For those who enjoy the sport aspects of the
arts, external motivation may be the next tournament
trophy. For some it is the next belt. For example
students quit when they reach a particular belt rank.
The belt was their goal. Once they earn it, they no
longer have motivation. Mister Mo departs from their
thinking.
Unlike external motivation, internal motivation is a
more difficult concept to understand. Internal
motivation is the desire to excel for the sake of
pursuing excellence. Internal motivation means you are
competing against yourself not others. It means wanting
to do as well as you can, regardless of how others do.
Internally motivated students tend to persist in their
training. While they are satisfied with each belt
promotion, they are also driven to succeed beyond
ranking. These students train because they want to
improve, not to impress others.
If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where
else do you expect to find it.
How can I stay motivated?
-
Search for that drive to succeed.
-
Become mentally motivated. Mister Mo is in all of us.
You can call on him at any time when things get tough.
-
Don't worry what others are doing. If you are trying
to surpass someone else, you are limited to what that
person has done. You must have no limits! Always
strive for excellence.
-
Set yourself more challenging goals and record them in
a journal or diary. Then set your time to review your
goals so you can evaluate your progress. Then set new
goals.
-
Focus your growth and development as a martial artist
and as a person.
Learn joyfully, and then share joyfully. Daily
improvement in every aspect of your life is the overall
goal. Don't just think positively, act positively. Be
yourself, but be the best of yourself !
And when you feel discouraged, call on Mister Mo.