You are a martial artist! That is really great. You are ready to apply new concepts of defense to your body and your mind. The physical challenges are good. You are surrounded by others who have the same hopes, ambitions, and goals. There is power in that.

There are literal ways in which you can become a better martial artist. Practice helps. A couple of times a week, I warm up with jumping rope, and practice some patterns. Some of them I am still learning, and they need fine tuning, but the big movements, and the flow and direction are there. Practice equals improvement.

Belts, sashes, or just a pat on the back from your instructor, also serve to keep you inspired, but are not your only motivators. Inside, you yearn for more, and you want to escape being average, or ordinary. You want to believe in your individuality. Don’t limit your martial art greatness to just the physical components of your practice.

Here are a few great out-of-the-box suggestions on being the best that you can be:

1. Imagine

When you were a child, chances are that you believed in some power outside of yourself. A superhero, cartoon character, or even a special adult who seemed like they could cure anything, defeat evil, and bring every life to justice, held your attention. As an adult, you lose that innocent faith, until you practice a martial art. Suddenly you are renewed again that, like the superhero, you are capable of achieving what you never imagined.

It is the imagination aspect, above the physical practice, that makes you a grow as a martial artist. You can practice skills and techniques, but to really get better, you must delve further, and beyond the literal. You must seek your own superpowers. They are well-hidden in the depths of your mind and your soul. Only when you push yourself beyond what you thought you were capable, both mentally and physically, will they ever be revealed. Your imagination can change how you see yourself and how you approach your training.

2. Become

When martial arts are as much a part of you as the nose on your face, you are becoming a better martial artist. Think about how you can touch the lives of others through martial arts. How can you gain momentum in your own life though your training? Become the kind of martial artist who encourages the talents of others. Many times I have written articles about other martial artists. In weaving their story, I learn how they became who they are today. Even Bruce Lee started somewhere, using imagination and talent, to become a hero.

The best martial artists I know have awesome physical abilities and knowledge, but they are kind. They are also extremely generous. This is not how they started, but what they became, through patience and maturity in their practice.

3. Teach

If you want to get better at being a martial artist, then teach. Make others feel at home in their learning, see them for who they are, and challenge them in a positive and helpful way. These top the list of great instructor strengths. The biggest benefit is that one day your teaching may come full circle, when your students have their own students. Through your positive approach, they too, will engage and not intimidate, listen and not dictate.

As an instructor, you still grow as a martial artist, but in a different way. To teach is to communicate, and the art of communication is necessary in everything that you do. Teaching means slowing down all of the movements through which you normally rush. Step by step, you start to analyze what you are doing, and why, more than ever before. Your students learn, and so do you. That is a win-win.

4. Support

I’m not talking about financial support here, although I’m sure many martial artist school owners could use some. Social media are a great place to support and encourage other martial artists, instructors, school owners, and beginners. Every social media outlet has a forum for martial artists.

Beyond just scoping out their pages, though, give them a “like,” send a message, or share something they have posted. I can’t tell you how great I feel when I get a personal message from someone who says, “I love your positivity,” or, “Keep up the good work.” Suddenly, my martial art trials and tribulations seem worthwhile. The feedback makes me want to continue in my journey and helps me to realize the power of who I am.

You can also support your peers by co-teaching a class, attending a seminar, writing about them in a magazine, or organizing a joint event. Have one of your favorites as a “guest” instructor to your class, for a change of pace. In many ways, your support of others helps you become a more well-rounded martial artist yourself.

5. Create

Becoming a better martial artist can include aspects of creativity. Your personal interpretation of martial arts contains its own spirit and drive, and that in itself is a creative outlet. Whether practicing a pattern, a form that’s been around forever, or creating a new one, there are an abundance of ways to put your own spin on tradition.

You can also parlay your martial art creativity into other activities. A couple of years ago, I started this blog.  It was an opportunity for me to combine writing, positivity, and martial arts. This has become such a part of my routine, that I rarely go a day without writing something.

What creative parts of you can combine with your martial art? Drawing, singing, writing, speaking, or just being a good friend, can all have martial art undertones. Be creative and you will find that you will never get bored with being a martial artist because it is intertwined in your life in so many different, and creative, ways.

6. Listen

I touched on this earlier, but listening is essential in order to become a better martial artist. If you are an instructor, listen to the needs of your students. What art their fears? What do they love? Is their breath exacerbated, or peaceful?

As a student, listen to your instructor. He may ask you to do something that has more than one meaning. Many times, he is not looking for skill, but for commitment. He wonders if you will follow a simple request that will confirm that you are a willing listener. If, as a black belt, he asks you to perform the first, basic martial art form that you ever learned, will you obediently comply, or question him? He knows you can do it. It’s more about listening.

7. Believe

In order to become a better martial artist, you must believe in yourself, your instructor, and your style or system. For some, it takes a while to gain self-confidence. If this is you, just remember that you are just as good a student as any other. You have the capability to learn, practice, and excel. It takes time, effort, commitment, and focus, but every person has the ability to achieve his own personal potential.

If you do not believe in your instructor, his capabilities, mindset, or teaching style, then find another. I admit, I don’t want my main teachers to be a lot younger than I am. Even if their skill set is exemplary, their life experiences have not matured. For me, an experienced instructor of many years makes a lot of sense because I know he’s experienced the ups and downs of life. This interprets well in his teaching. For others, this is not as important.

Finally, give your style or system 100% of your trust and belief. Like anything, if you do not apply yourself fully, then you will never reap the benefits. When you try a new style, give it time to make sense and settle in to it. Whether for defense, fitness, or even sparring, every style has its own reasoning, and it should gel with your goals and beliefs, too.

8. Succeed

Success is an overrated word. What does it mean? It is vastly different for each practitioner. To some, it may mean learning a new form. Others see success as achievement of a belt. Many believe success is difficult to ever achieve.

If you are a martial artist, you are already a success. Newbie, or living legend, and everyone in between, martial artistry is a successful version of you. You could have ignored martial arts, or allowed awkward reasoning to keep you from pursuing this goal, but you did not. You could have falsely told yourself that you were not good enough, too old, or not athletic enough to begin, but you did not. Because you made this choice, to be a martial artist, you made the choice to be successful.

Every version of success that I have ever envisioned includes pushing past mind games, worry, or fear, to become victorious on the other side. Success is about overcoming, and you will find that in every class, practice, or martial art journey, you will always overcome something. Success is yours if you want it. As a martial artist, there is no reason to measure success. When all is said and done, it will measure you.

Conclusion

Martial art concepts are very physical, it’s true. Along with your physical practice and exploration, however, are numerous out-of-the-box attributes that you can apply to your martial art life. Each one helps you with a different aspect of your practice. Always ask yourself how you can grow in your practice and in your life.  Through teaching, listening, creating, supporting, and becoming, you will find personal success, and the value of your martial art practice will be revealed. Don’t be so literal. Employ many layers of learning and training to your martial art, and you will become a better martial artist.

Andrea