What does it take to lose weight, get in shape, become more disciplined or master mix martial arts?
Look, anyone can achieve the above goals, yet so few do. You see, that’s the catch.
You’ve got to be willing to make a rock solid, can’t go back on commitment. With that commitment comes putting in a lot of time working hard, hold yourself accountable for your actions and at the end of the day, lots of reps. Reps reps and more reps!
Sounds like a lot of work right? Yes and no. If you love what you’re doing and have purpose + passion, more often then not it doesn’t feel like work.
Most people fall short of their goals because they’re simply not willing to do what’s necessary. Or they lack a sense of purpose with their life.
Step one is to ask yourself this question: What’s my passion in life? Find that passion and along with it comes the purpose needed to get you up and going, day after day.
What’s necessary to be successful and to pursue your passion in life isn’t always fun. After all, it can’t be all sunshine and butterflies.
But if you want it bad enough, fun or not so fun, you won’t mind some crappy days along the journey.
Okay so how does this all tie into martial arts you ask? Read on.
The tools most people need, all the stuff I’ve been talking about in this blog, martial arts training provides those tools. In more ways then one.
A good martial arts program if nothing else should teach you how to be tough, both mentally and physically.
Martial Arts Lessons also teach you how to set goals. Through challenging workouts you’ll learn how to work hard and to dig down deep within yourself so no matter what, you accomplish your goals.
What martial arts training has given to me
I can use myself as a good example. Before I started taking karate lessons at the local rec center, I considered myself to be a pretty lazy kid.
I was overweight, depressed and lacked focus in life. Some other issues too but you get the idea.
All of that stuff I had going on was beginning to lead me down a bad road. It was only a matter of time.
And to be honest, I didn’t want that for myself. I wanted to be someone. I wanted to be different from all the losers in my neighborhood.
Lucky for me (really lucky) I found martial arts. I started taking lessons in the spring of 1990 and right from the beginning I started to see and feel the changes taking place.
Martial arts gave me the focus needed along with a solid work ethic to give me a sense of direction in my life.
I knew martial arts would become my life. I knew this in my heart of hearts at around 11 years old.
The end goal at the time was to one day open my own mix martial arts (MMA) school. In order for this to take place I knew that it was going to take a long time and a ton of hard work.
I did everything I could to become the best I could be. Lot’s of hard training, competing all over the world, learning, massive amounts of mistakes made sure, and many sleepless nights doing what needed to be done.
In the end, I achieved my goal, which was when I opened up my school, Ivey League MMA in Annapolis. Was it easy? Heck no. It was super hard.
But you know what? It was all worth it. Without a doubt. It’s tough but when you finally reach that level you want, it’s the greatest feeling in the world.
The point I’m trying to make is that without my martial arts training, I’m convinced none of this would have happened. I’d have ended up just another loser in Philly.
That’s really how I feel by the way. Martial arts gave me purpose in life along with the tools I needed.
Passion will give you a sense of Purpose. What’s your passion!
My passion these days is to help as many people as I can with my brand of martial arts training. And, with this passion comes my purpose in life.
I want the whole world to experience martial arts and it’s gifts the same way I did. I want it to impact their lives in a positive way, again just like I did.
Don’t be an excuse maker like 99.9 percent of the world. Get out there, do big things, make mistakes, have fun, learn a lot and no matter what, never stop chasing your dreams.
Use martial arts training to help you get to the top of that success mountain. I assure you, it’s a nice view looking down 🙂
