You have seen martial artists performing fancy forms, jacked-up kicks, wild flips, beautiful techniques, or simple strong movements that highlight the intricacies of the art. Although you appreciate these very physical activities, you also know that they require a level of proficiency that takes years of work and practice.

What if I told you that there is a component to martial arts that everyone can learn? You can practice it any place at any time. Your physical limitations do not matter. Your size makes no difference. Your age, heart health, and other issues do not hinder you in any way. Would you be willing to try it?

It is a skill that can help you through your entire life.  You can even teach it to others.  Yes, you can be a martial art teacher of sorts because, friends, martial arts are not  just physical.  The other half of the equation is mental. All you need to apply are a few specific steps to bring out the  “martial artist” in you.

1.  Mind over Matter

There are many times when you tell yourself that you cannot do something, for various reasons.  I’m too old to learn how to run now.  I’m not smart enough to take that test. I don’t want to try that because it looks too difficult.

I have the very same thoughts, at times. That is how most of us are wired, with negativity just inching its way out of the gate whenever it has the chance.  What you do with these thoughts, and how you dispose of them, is the key to engaging your martial art mindset.  Very simply, when a negative thought enters your mind, tell it “no” or “stop,” and then replace it with a positive thought. This exercise in positivity allows the martial artist to pursue his goals without question, and will help you achieve yours, too.

Just the other day I was driving and I started to dwell on a problem.  It was so easy to fall into a funk about how difficult the issue seemed.  At that instant I realized that I was headed into a negative black hole.  Delving too deeply meant that a lot of time-consuming, over-thinking would take place. Fortunately, I caught myself and thought it through.

Hey, wait a minute.  What about all those good things going on? Your blog and your writing have a great readership. Your positivity outreach touches the lives of thousands. What in the world is there to be upset about?

Talking to myself worked (I probably looked crazy talking to myself in the car!).  I recognized the negativity, nudged it out-of-the-way, and substituted it with a reminder of all the good things going on. I changed what could have been a very negative reaction, to a positive one.

To move ahead in the ranks of any martial art style, or in life, you need to tell yourself that you can do it. Let go of the insecurities.  Nothing is beyond your capability.  Each skill is right within your reach. Try substituting the negative with the positive.  Try it over and over until talking yourself out of negativity starts to be an automatic response. Believe, and you will achieve.

2.  Minding your business  

There are times when the negativity of others invades your space, and you can’t avoid them even if you want.   The only person in this equation whom you can change is you, so you may need to politely bow out of a downright negative conversation, to free yourself.

The best approach  is just to stay on the path you wish to follow.  Make sure it’s a path constantly moving forward toward new challenges and rewards, goals and ideals.  Keep your eyes forward and don’t let what others say or do deter you.

In martial art class, I constantly tell my students, “Stop looking around at others!   You know this!” Because of their lack of confidence, they naturally want to look at who is beside them while practicing.  What if their neighbor is doing it wrong?  In their quest to be right, they may end up learning a skill completely wrong!

The same thing happens if you focus on the negativity of others. Before you know it, you are following along, and that is exactly what you want to avoid. Don’t watch or dwell on those who are negative, because you will start to think and feel the same. In life and in martial art class, mind your own business and you will avoid the negative impacts of those around you.

3.  Mindful Thinking  

All of this positive stuff takes a lot of brain power.  For a different approach, have you ever tried to think of…nothing?  It is much more difficult than it sounds!  At first, you believe that thinking of nothing is effortless. You expect a break from all of the other thoughts swirling in your mind. The yoga magazine shows that if you curl up in a pretzel, relax, close your eyes, and clear your mind, you will find peace. That sounds fantastic, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.

Just today, I was relaxing by a pool on a comfy lounge chair.  It was a good time to refresh. I tried clearing my mind, but I found my thoughts wandering about what was next on my  “to do” list.  I remembered what a yoga teacher had shown me previously.  Breathe in deeply for a count of five through your nose.  Exhale completely, even more than you think you can, through your mouth. This helps to exhale the stress and thoughts away.

The interesting thing is, when you are concentrating on getting your breath in order, you think of nothing else. In the simple act of trying to breathe more thoughtfully, your entire mind focuses on that, and nothing else.  At least for those few moments, you  enter a space of mindful thinking.

Forms and patterns are good examples of mindful thinking in action.  A martial artist focuses on the movements, how to breathe, and when to use power. He falls into his own rhythm. Every form has its own interpretation by the practitioner. During this practice, the mind often clears of every thought except power, breath, and focus.

Personal reflection is a great way to begin mindful thinking.  Talk to any expert in this subject, and he will tell you to start small, for perhaps just one minute. Trust me, one minute feels like an eternity when you are trying to think of nothing.

Martial artists learn to control their thoughts and their breathing through their practice. Give your mind a break, and refresh.

4. The Mind-Body Connection

Your body does nothing unless your mind tells it to.

If my mind didn’t tell me to  “kick higher” I would probably be shooting for a shin.  If my mind didn’t tell me that I could be productive, I would probably be sleeping right now instead of blogging.  If my mind didn’t push me to try new things, then I would give up just about everything, before I even started.

How you think molds and manipulates your physicality. In order to have good physical wellness, you need to equate what your mind tells you, with what you want your body to do.  This is how I excelled in martial arts class.  I listened to my mind.  It said that I should punch and kick as hard as the next guy.  It told me to not be afraid to work with different partners, or learn different things.  It said that if I tried something new, I would enjoy it. There are always two ways to approach anything.

If I attend a workout class with thirty other people, my mind can drift in one of two ways. I have two variations on what I might think:

There are a lot of “regulars” in here and I’m never going to be able to keep up. 

OR

I’ve been working out all my life.  This will be a fun challenge to see how I do in this group.

What if I am in class and others are more advanced than me?  Should I tell myself that I am not as good, or should I put forth the effort I need to reach my own goals? I’ve  mastered some good physical health because I focus on my own goals and aspirations.  My physical fitness, and my overall health, are not  just attributed to working out and martial arts, but to my mindset.  They go hand in hand. The mind-body connection works together. When you find balance there, you are on your way to achieving a healthy martial art mindset.

Putting it All Together

The  concepts mentioned here make for a strong martial art mindset, and an understanding of positive, forward-thinking, that leads to success in your life.

• The first step to your martial art mindset is to eliminate the negative thoughts from your mind,  and replace them with positive thoughts.  It’s an age-old lesson, yet most struggle with it.  Once you learn to be more effective at making the negative-to-positive switch, you can apply it to everything, including your profession, relationships, and your hopes & dreams.

• Slow down from the hectic pace for a moment. Take time to breathe and empty your mind of the accumulated negativity. Once you find a way to relax your thoughts, even briefly, you will notice a huge difference in how you feel.

• Finally, recognize that your mind and your body are interrelated. Your overall health and well-being are connected to your way of thinking.  You can do anything, if you  set your mind to it.

Friends, you can improve your martial art mindset by applying the principles listed here.  My life took a positive health-filled turn when I began martial arts, but even more, when I started positive and mindful thinking.

Where will your new, mindful approach take you?

xoxo

Andrea

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Pick up my motivational books and stay inspired!

The Martial Arts Woman https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Arts-Woman-Motivational-Stories/dp/1544916213

Martial Art Inspirations for Everyone https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Inspirations-Everyone-Andrea-Harkins/dp/150297830X