I suppose the title to this is a bit misleading. It almost implies that martial artists have some magical power to overcome debilitating thoughts about failure, concerns about the world, or worries about the future. There is nothing magical about it. It is all effort.
Have you ever watched a martial artist compete? They focus so intensely and it seems as if there is nothing else, only that moment when everything else vanishes and they are swept away in their movements. It looks magical, even transcendent, to the audience.
Truth be told, nothing actually vanishes. The competitor makes it look as if all else disappears as they sweep and brush and kick and punch, but on the inside they begin the competition with a simple hope that they do not fail. This is a heavy burden, of course, as failure has a strong grip. As some competitors step upon the mat, they wonder what mistakes they may make and who will see them. Then, they begin.
Physical training is important and necessary. The mental training, however, to push past that point of worry into the moment of action, is equally important.
Martial artists exert effort to overcome worry and move past it. That is how they have an advantage when it comes to negativity. They learn to move past the fears and concerns in order to compete, teach, practice, and prepare. Negativity and worry weave their way through martial arts and through life. You must push through to move forward.
I recall the first time I taught on my own. My husband and I began a program at a low-income community center in town. I was really scared to suddenly be the leader of my own martial art program. I questioned my ability to teach these kids who needed martial art training more than any other group of children I knew. That first class, though, alleviated the worry. Just walking through the door and seeing the families excited to begin this new adventure was enough to give me solace. The negativity slipped away and I never thought about it again. The martial artist in me knew better than to let negative thoughts ruin something special.
Learning to overcome negativity is not a pre-requisite to being a martial artist. Most begin with some concerns about failure or about what others might think. Adults carry baggage from their past that is painful or sorrowful. It inhibits them from wanting to try different skills that look too difficult. The instructor persuades them to just try before they have the chance to worry about it for too long. They eventually succeed. The negative turns positive. They stop worrying about trying new skills as their confidence builds. They begin to focus more on success than failure.
Life is a journey that has many parts and pieces. Some of these you control, some you do not even understand. Like the martial artist who feels the heavy weight of worry about performing, you carry the weight of responsibility for the roles you play as parent, professional, friend, or sibling, all of which require successful “performance.” To find success, do as the martial artist does: accept the moment, give yourself a pep talk, and begin the task at hand. There is no time to be negative if you want to succeed. Simply “do” and carry through until you finish.
Mindset is the best tool a martial artist has. The competitor must believe in winning; the instructor must believe they can teach and mold their students; and the student must believe they are capable of learning and achieving. The mindset controls all. While martial artists question their abilities as much as any other person, they risk believing in themselves and that makes all the difference.
I learned that negativity controls a situation if you let it. A positive perspective begins with facts. If you want to defend against a person, you must learn the techniques. You cannot give up if you are attacked and must turn the switch from fear to full defense mode. It makes sense that to defend against negativity, you must shift from negative thoughts to positive ones.
Martial artists practice over and over.
- Do the kick
- Execute the punch
- Perform the choreographed steps
- Work the techniques
- Practice the drills
That is when they lose sight of failure and begin to think about achievement. The martial artist who prepares to perform surveys the area and sees an audience with many eyes upon them. Then, their focus moves inward and they stop thinking and start doing.
Today, be like the martial artist and take a small risk. You have a desire in your heart to face a new challenge, but fear holds you back. I recently earned my master’s degree at age 56. I had many concerns going into it, since the last time I was in college I actually used a typewriter to write papers! I wrote a book because I thought it was important. I recently began a podcast. I stopped worrying about who will listen and decided that it is worth it because there are martial art women around the world with inspiring stories to share. The moral of the story is that if not for my martial art training and the ability to move past worry and concern, I would never try the things that are in my heart and I would never be truly fulfilled. Take one step at a time. You decide what today will bring and if you are going to be negative or positive.
You see, there is a bit of magic involved, after all. The magic of overcoming negativity is simply, you.
xoxo
Andrea
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The Martial Arts Woman: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Arts-Woman-Moti…/…/1544916213
Martial Art Inspirations for Everyone: https://www.amazon.com/Martial-Inspirations-Ev…/…/150297830X
