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How to Increase Your Self-Discipline Through Martial Arts

Martial Arts Karate Kung Fu — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:09:34 +0000

Discipline: mental and actual.

One of the primary reasons many people take martial arts isn't necessarily for the self-confidence, but for that other hyphenated phrase, self-discipline. Self-discipline is one of the foundations for success: the ability to get yourself to do something you don't necessarily want to do because of the desire for comfort can be very important. That's why martial arts can be a great skill to learn for the less disciplined among us.

But how exactly do you extract discipline from these classes? Sure, you'll be respectful during class, but when the class is over, don't you simply head home and act like you normally would? The truth is that self-discipline will have to come from within. Although the classes can help, you'll still need to find the answers from yourself.

To do this, start out with a blank piece of paper and a pencil. Ask yourself some of the ways you can incorporate mental discipline in your life, starting with the martial arts classes.

One idea may be that you always attend classes on time, and use this new standard of punctuality in every area of your life, always arriving to work on time.

Another idea may be that you come up with a new routine, point-by-point, that you can use every single time you go to the martial arts class. Routines can be great for self-discipline, as they take the mental guesswork out of your menial tasks and make them more automatic.

The more you think about self-discipline, the more you'll recognize the different areas in life you can change around through some simple course corrections. For example, because you need to be in shape for martial arts classes, you now have an excuse to eat healthier and work out more frequently. You'll also have an excuse to keep your nails trim, so that you don't accidentally cut a sparring partner. And you might notice that the sparring helmet is more comfortable if you're trimmed and clean.

Soon, you'll probably come to see that the way you act and take care of yourself is a reflection of your self-esteem. After all, if you believe in yourself, doesn't it make sense to always have a clean martial arts uniform? If you want to be a top student, doesn't it make sense that you'll always show up on time - even early?

Self-discipline comes from within, but the martial arts class can make a great reinforcement of your new routines. Don't be afraid to ask your instructor for self-discipline tips, as well as any "extra credit" you might be able to do outside of class.

Photo Credits: parhessiastes

Originally posted 2009-08-18 03:04:07.

Five Etiquette Tips for the Dojo

Martial Arts Karate Kung Fu — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:18:02 +0000

The art of war.

For the undisciplined who sign up for martial arts in order to gain greater self-control and awareness, etiquette around the dojo often comes as a surprise. But don't forget that the word "martial" in "martial arts" refers to war - the art of war. Martial arts dojos are like miniature barracks that help people train for combat. Along with that mindset comes certain rules of etiquette that should be adhered to. Here are five tips to help you keep from making those mistakes on your first day.

Allow plenty of time to get dressed and be ready. If you get dressed at the dojo, make sure that you arrive with plenty of time so that you're dressed and ready for when the lesson begins. Being on time doesn't mean you're in the door when the lesson starts; it means you're out there on the floor, dressed, and properly suited up.
Be mindful of your superiors. You might be the boss down at the office, but when you enter the dojo, you enter a different kind of ranking system. Be mindful of the people who outrank you (you'll be able to see simply by the color of their belts). This doesn't mean you have to submit to their every whim, but it does mean you should show respect and common courtesy.
Keep your uniform clean. Have you ever seen a dirty uniform in a martial arts class? If not, then you don't want the first to be yours. Make sure that your uniform is clean for every martial arts lesson. It may require that you adhere to specific cleaning instructions, but once you get the hang of these washing instructions, you won't even have to think about it anymore.
Trim your fingernails. Believe it or not, this can actually become a pressing issue, especially if you've ever been cut by a sparring partner's fingernails. Keep your fingernails trimmed and clean. Cutting your nails can seem mundane, but if you're doing it because you take martial arts classes, you'll probably feel better about it.
Posture. You'll notice that many martial arts instructors have great posture. Make sure to remain mindful of your own posture - don't slouch or slump back. Stand up straight and show that you're paying attention. Posture is something that can effect the quality of your life outside of the martial arts world, so use this as an excuse to begin fixing it.

Photo Credits: BinaryApe

Originally posted 2009-08-10 03:57:02.

How to Increase Your Mental Presence in a Sparring Match

Martial Arts Karate Kung Fu — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:25:57 +0000

What is mental presence?

Martial arts isn't always about the kick and the punch: it's about the mental capacity you have to intimidate and defeat your opponent. Self-belief is just as important as skill; if you doubt that you could ever beat your sparring partner, there's a good chance you won't. That's why having a larger mental presence than your opponent is so vital. What exactly is a "mental presence"? That's what you're about to find out.

Mental Presence: A Definition

When you're sparring with someone, you usually have two ways of interpreting their presence. You have what you see (the physical presence), and you have what you don't see (mental presence). The mental presence of your opponent will partially be shaped by your own interpretation of him. If you're scared, their mental presence will be larger. If you're confident, it will grow smaller.

Whoever has the larger mental presence will often have the advantage in a fight. Mental presence is often boosted when the opponent is not sure about you - uncertainty can quickly turn into fear. When you are much faster than your opponent originally estimated, you gain a boost in mental presence.

How to Develop a Larger Mental Presence

The more confidence you build, the more mental presence you'll have. Of course, this is easier said than done. In order to build confidence, you'll have to practice being assertive. In sparring matches, concentrate on being assertive even if it's at the expense of your fighting skills. It will be important to isolate one skill - your fearlessness and assertiveness - in order to build it up for a while. Once you feel comfortable standing tall and being assertive, bring your skills back into the mix. You should find that you perform much better.

Surprise is the quickest way to build mental presence. If you don't appear strong but your moves have the added strength of assertiveness behind them, your opponent will be more in the dark as to your true abilities. The more uncertainty and surprise you can generate in your opponent, the more mental presence you'll have.

Remember that mental presence comes from within. It comes through the self-discipline to work on your confidence and skills. It also comes from understanding your opponent's mind and knowing how human beings typically react when surprised or caught off-guard. To have mental presence, it's important that you take action as opposed to reacting.

Photo Credits: thivierr

Originally posted 2009-08-17 03:37:16.