What Does “From Within” Mean in Martial Arts?

For the beginning martial arts student, many of the concepts related to martial arts seem difficult to grasp. The value of self-discipline and self-confidence seem vague and unimpressive; if they were so great, couldn't they be taught, like a technique? What's more, one answer that seems to keep coming is that these are the types of things that should come "from within." What? Aren't you here to be taught those things?

Like it or not, true self-confidence and self-discipline does come "from within." But what specifically does this mean?

We can start by learning what it doesn't mean: confidence from within doesn't mean that you can lean on someone else's opinion of you in order to justify your assertiveness. In other words, you can't wait for someone to validate your opinion of yourself: you have to view yourself in high regards, independently of what other people think of you. At first, this might seem like you're simply lying to yourself, but with time you'll learn that you can view yourself highly.

This doesn't mean that you should use your high opinion of yourself to prop yourself up over other people. In fact, if you are truly getting your confidence "from within," this won't even be necessary, because you won't feel the need to prop yourself up on other people.

Because martial arts places such emphasis on self-defense, it is recognized that the best form of self-defense is learning how to avoid a fight completely. This means carrying yourself with quiet confidence that doesn't ruffle feathers by becoming arrogance. If self-confidence comes from within, it has a better chance of being a cleaner self-confidence that doesn't rub other people the wrong way.

As for self-discipline, you'll also have to learn that only you can get yourself to push out of your comfort zone. No martial artist can directly transfer his skills to another person; instead, you'll have to go through the same pains and dedication in order to win those skills. That means the self-discipline, at some point, will have to come from within you.

If you don't feel like self-confidence or self-discipline currently do make up a part of you, try to realize that this is simply a limiting identify you've created for yourself. If you dig deep, you'll be able to find inner strength that you didn't know you had. Just keep believing in your own strength and eventually you will find it.

Photo Credits: jackol

This post involves:

arrogance, assertiveness, better chance, comfort zone, dedication, feathers, martial artist, martial arts student, quiet confidence, self confidence, self defense, self discipline, wrong way

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Martial Arts

Posted by Martial Arts Karate Kung Fu on August 7, 2009 in Martial Arts. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.