The Martial Journey

Everybody that decides to start training in some form of Martial Arts does so for a reason. It could be to learn self defense, build confidence, get fit; the reasons are numerous but how long should you stay on the Martial Journey?

It may seem like a simple question but the response is rooted in the essence of Martial Arts itself – what you learn should not just be a physical art form but a mental discipline; in simpler terms, the lessons learned in the dojo are ones that should carry over into every day life. Legend has it that the Shaolin monks were taught many different fighting styles by the monk Bodhidharma so they could remain awake during their meditation sessions.

The end of the Martial Journey need not be when you achieve the highest rank possible, in fact some people find this to be the start of a much more difficult journey, no – the end of the a person’s time with a Martial Art is when they feel like they’ve received what they needed to from it and are happy to move on.

As with many partings in life, the difficulty comes from the events that occur after. Those that truly learned the life lessons from training can maintain their original goal afterwards. For example if you started training because you wanted to be fit then the discipline of training can push you to commit and excel at another physical activity.

Perhaps it is safe to say that the Martial Journey never truly ends but rather transforms into another endeavor as life is filled with challenges but one who has truly committed themselves to learning Martial Arts, even for a short duration, will have a better mindset and skill set to tackle those challenges.

In summary, a proper dojo will not only challenge you physically but help you to grow mentally as well so that regardless of your time with the dojo you will be better equip to deal with the challenges life throws your way because at the end of the day Martial Arts is not just an activity but rather a way of life.