The other inspirational martial artists are the practitioners who struggle, try, and fall, only to rise again. They are students, like me, who have to push past physical and mental self-imposed limits. They have to learn to open their minds, and to strive above who they were yesterday, in order to advance. Where natural ability lacks, there is always effort. I am proud to be seen for my imperfections, because they are truthful. I’m never going to claim to be something I am not. What you see, is what you get, and if that block is slightly off, or that kick isn’t breaking any height barriers, then that is the truth. And, I bet, there are many martial artists who can relate.

My key to longevity in martial arts, is the same as my key to a productive and positive life, moderation. I’ve never been the type of martial artist to train  intently, five nights a week, hours at a time. The opportunity was not there, nor did I want to devote all of my physical training just to martial art concepts. I added in strength training and other cardio work.  The variety helps me remain fit, and that fitness allows me to remain active in martial arts without any physical limitations or issues. This is not the right path for everyone, but I do attribute my 27 years in martial arts to practicing in moderation, therefore,  I did not burn out. So, perhaps I will never be a featured martial artist on YouTube, but I will always remain active and motivated in martial arts because of my consistent committment.

There are  some martial artists who waste time and energy trying to be someone they are not. That’s not me, either. Using a role model as a guide is a good thing, but you can never be the same as anyone else. Look at yourself and realize that your imperfections actually make up the perfect parts of you. No one has the same body, the same extension, or the same execution, as you. There is no true comparison. Your uniqueness stands alone. Every path that you follow in life allows you the opportunity to let your individuality to show. Don’t compromise who you are because you think someone else is better. Remember, there is no perfection in them, either.

You should always have a vision of who you want to be. It may take many years before the vision is revealed. After blending my martial art and writing passions, everything started to fall into place. When I started blogging, the first thing I decided was that, for a while, I would not read anyone else’s blog posts. This forced me to remain true to my own mission and vision.

I did not allow myself the opportunity to compare, or to think the grass was any greener elsewhere. I had to figure out for myself what my unique desires were, what I wanted to reveal to others, and how I would do it. It worked because I established by blog without ever comparing myself to anyone else. That is why some characterize my blog as different, refreshing, or interesting. I relied on my own personal beliefs of what a blog should be.

At the end of the day, the traits by which I want to be characterized include character, humility, grace, and perseverance. These attributes are much more important to me than how high I kick, or if my hand is in exactly the right place. This is not to say that I won’t try to achieve those things because trying is part of the effort, and is required to succeed. I believe in that challenge, or I would not practice martial arts.

The lesson I’ve learned is fairly simple, and I concede that it has taken me my whole adult life to figure it out. Maybe sharing my secret here with you will reveal a hidden truth of yours, as well.  If I had to weigh the importance of trying to live life perfectly vs. living abundantly through imperfections, I will quickly and humbly choose the latter.

Andrea