subject: Step by step approach to becoming a better martial artist [print this page] Step by step approach to becoming a better martial artist
What's your "plan?" to improve your martial arts?
Do you have a Plan for how you're going to become a better martial artist? What are you going to train today? Tomorrow? Next week?
If you don't have a plan for your martial arts training, I can guarantee that you're at least somewhat frustrated with your improvement. Here's why...
Can you take a trip to somewhere you've never gone... not knowing how you're going to get there... with no map... and expect to get there anywhere near the time you want to want to arrive?Of course not.
Well, your martial art is a journey, too. And, like any journey, it's ridiculous to think you're going to "arrive" in a reasonable time without any type of plan for how you're going to get there.
It's a known fact that most successful people in any field plan their days out. Each minute is scheduled out like clockwork, with very little unforeseen events. Initially, you might think this sounds boring and un-inspiring, but you need to understand that this is just status quo among the most successful people, regardless of the field of endeavor.
This isn't to say that you can't change your plans, altering your route along the way as you learn more and more. On the contrary, the better your martial arts becomes, the better plan or "road map" you will be able to create. So, feel free to change plans when it makes sense.
Just the mere act of creating a plan will cause you to improve. Thinking through all the required steps to becoming a better martial artist will give you a deeper understanding which must always occur before making big improvements. Decide what skill you want to accomplish and exactly how you plan to reach that goal. Include what tools you need. Are you going to train with a partner or get afree standing heavybag?
Here's a way to start. Write down what martial arts skills you want to accomplish in the next month or two. Now, assuming you need to perform at least 500 repetitions ofeach punch, kick or other tactic to make decent improvement, schedule out your training for the next 4 to 8 weeks, stating specifically how many repetitions of each move you will perform each day. Now start that schedule today.
Even if you "fall off" your schedule, it will be much easier to get back on track if you already have your plan in place, rather than coming back and trying "a few of these, a few of those..." which will only lead to frustration.
