“Discipline,” he said, “was the cornerstone attribute for accomplishing all that we wish to, as it prevented us from falling out of focus with our goals and mission. If one has the discipline to brush their teeth daily, dentures are not in their future. But a lax attitude towards such a simple and seemingly small task can lead to huge health risks later in life.”

As a college student in Michigan during the middle of winter it can be challenging to train. There were many days when I felt too tired, too sad or too lazy to make the sixty-minute drive to Canton to train with Sifu. Throw in a nice snowfall with a grueling day of classes and running home to a warm bed seemed so much more appealing.

I confess there were days where that’s exactly what happened.

However, there was many more days where I remembered Sifu’s lesson, got in my car and drove to our training sessions. Sometimes ready, sometimes not. Invariably I would leave such sessions feeling invigorated, having learned new skills and often putting in one or two more hours of shadowboxing or karenza at home.

In the years since, I have followed Sifu’s advice and have accomplished many good and worthwhile goals. I can also look back and clearly see the things I missed out on and the things I regret. It is crystal clear that the lesson was not always applied to my life.

It is easy to lament about what could have been had I only done this or that. But it is far more rewarding to put forth the efforts, no matter how big or small each day and look back not only with a profound sense of accomplishment but also with a goal fully realized.

Looking back at what might have been, what could have, or what should have been is painful and it never goes away. Looking daily in the mirror knowing that I did all I could do, suffered the pains of discipline when my have wanted to slack off is ultimately more rewarding.

At Martial Arts Unlimited, I make a distinction between resource material and actual training options that will improve your understanding and application of your chosen art. Although books, DVDs and the ever popular YouTube will always be available, it is the hands on experience of working with a trained instructor that will bring the most out of your training and in the quickest time possible.

There are four primary training categories that will enhance your game better than any Internet resource: Group Classes, Private Lessons and Solo Training. After a cursory look at each option here I will address, in future articles, how to get the most out of these methods as well as your supplemental resources.

Group Classes are the most cost effective and time tested way to learn an art. In my opinion, they provide the technical instruction and structure that most students need in order to learn and master the material. It is through the hours of work and dedication in these classes that a student may finally achieve the goal of a black belt. In addition, Group Classes offer the opportunity to work with a variety of fellow students possessing different skill sets, physical characteristics and experience levels. It is this type of training that will allow you to fully apply your art under various conditions through drills and free sparring.

Private Lessons offer a distinct advantage over Group Classes in that the art can now be broken down and tailor made to you as an individual. It is estimated that students learn from between 7 to 70 times faster in private classes than in group settings. The one-on-one attention offers the instructor the time to focus solely on your needs and goals in a way that is seemingly impossible in group sessions.

Seminars are a great way to meet, learn from and in some cases even get the hands on experience of training with the true masters of the arts. Martial Arts Unlimited makes a point to bring out the heads of our associations in the form of Master’s Seminars. In addition to seeing the technical aspects of the art, students have the opportunity to learn about the history and personal stories of the Masters and their journey through the arts.

Solo Training is the absolute finest method of internalizing an art form. Whether performing drills, shadow-boxing, shadow-grappling, pre-arranged sets or forms, Solo Training allows you the student to focus solely on technique without distraction or interference. It allows for maximum retention of material as you can review a set of techniques as many times as necessary. In addition to the physical aspects of training, another important and useful tool to Solo Training is note taking. By writing and re-writing your notes you can more fully internalize and memorize the techniques to be applied in drills and sparring.

In future posts I will more fully explore how to get the most out of these four categories as well as discuss more supplemental training options such as videos/DVDs, books and online resources.

Until next time Get in the studio and Keep Training!

This one-of-a-kind class is designed to calm the mind and body while going through a gentle series of Yoga postures and breath work.

Join Mala, assisted by Nick, every Wednesday at 8:30 PM for a relaxing 45 minute class. Bring a towel, water bottle and yoga mat (if possible). We look forward to seeing you in class.

Namaste.