Advancement in many martial arts schools in the 21st century follow two general paths; either rapid promotion, or very slow promotion. Both ways have their pros and cons, but both are standard business models used the world over. So, what does that mean for you? How do you navigate through your art form to ensure that you are reaching your goals just as much as martial arts instructor/business owner is trying to meet theirs?
Give yourself a Deadline
Give yourself a Deadline
Set a deadline for when you want to obtain a certain rank. If the rank you are trying to obtain has a standard time limit, then be ready BEFORE that limit is reached.
If you want to be a mover and shaker in the martial arts world, you are going to have to prove yourself worthy of a that rank or title, and you are going to have to do it against peers. Bruce Lee talked a lot of crap, BUT HE BACKED IT UP. To accelerate your growth, your goal should be to work your butt off to a level where you prove yourself to be on the level in front of your peers and instructors. Despite the color on your belt, your actions on the mat will be speak louder than the color of your belt... in a good or bad way.
Focus on your Strengths
Teachers do a great job of passing on their skills, but you must remember that we all have our strengths and our weaknesses. There are some movements that I have learned and teach, but never use. This does not take away from their usefulness or effectiveness, but the movements just don't fit my style of fighting.
In this case when I say style, I don't mean the name of my martial art, but my personal way of expressing it through my body's strengths and weaknesses. Teachers may teach you all sorts of crazy, cool moves, and some will work for you, and some won't. To develop your style of martial arts at a exponential level, focus on your core set of movements and then push the limit with variations and scenarios.
Your basics, or foundation, should remain firm through rigorous training, and when coupled with focusing on your strengths, your personal development will accelerate exponentially,
Less Talking, More Training
Training partners can make you or break you. To be a good training partner, show up to class; to be a great training partner, FOCUS in class on getting better. Don't spend your time jabber jawing. If you have enough time to work your mouth muscles, then you have done yourself and your partner a disservice.
If you have a problem with focus, realize it and fix it, and if your partner is the culprit, model the behavior that they should follow while verbally affirming or reaffirming it from time to time. If they still don't listen, find a new training partner.
Stop Trying to Win... Learn More
Why are people so obsessed with winning, because we are super competitive group, us martial artists. There is a saying that says you win or you learn, and it holds true for this as well. If you are winning all the time, then train or spar with someone who will give you a greater challenge, or change the scenarios; only work on certain movements or find handicaps that you can build in to the training.
Otherwise you get funneled right into doing the same movements, the same limited language over and over, and never develop your skills pass your self-inflicted homeostasis. To accelerate your learning curve, challenge yourself and always ask questions.
Happy training to you and I hope to spar, roll, or have a cup of coffee with you one day. /
Benjamin Moriniere "Sensei," Instrutor Foguete" @CapoeiraOkinawa
