Beginnings

The goal of any endeavor is to be better than you were before. For the most part we want to live happier, better lives... even if we aren’t seeking some total transformation of mind, body, and spirit. But in the back of our minds we wonder if it’s all worth it, if we are in the right spot. The hard part isn’t in wanting what’s good for us, it’s in doing what’s good for us. More than anything, we lack clarity. When we set out on the path of martial arts, we are training ourselves to be ready for anything that life throws at us. Martial arts can be a tremendous tool. If approached correctly, it helps us grow; if not, we can stagnate and even cause injury.

In the past, I tried to outrun everything: injuries, a lack of understanding, poor fundamentals. Each of these trials has put me at a new beginning. Over time, I’ve realized the importance of training correctly: listening to your body, cultivating real skill, and focusing on steady progress. This approach has helped me avoid further injury and abuse of my body, improve naturally and gradually, and change the breakneck pace I used to rely on. It hasn’t changed my desire to be good and skillful at what I do, only tempered it.

Above all, martial arts is for developing the whole self. It’s for creating strength in the individual, using that strength to help others, and passing on knowledge so others may benefit from our experiences. This blog is about exploring that process honestly and sharing insights in the hopes that someone may benefit. Each entry, including this one, will be kept pretty short. They’ll take around 2 minutes to read because I want to give you more reason to get out there and test these ideas for yourself.