Motivation

Graki_Khan

It was only a few months ago that I started training in martial arts. I've been really interested in it for a long time but, I never really saw myself doing it till I gave it a try. Now I think its a really good laugh and I enjoy training in class a lot but by myself I find it a lot more challenging to keep at it everyday or every second day.
Also, I even though I train and would like to be able to hold my own, I don't think that I'd really be able to defend myself anytime soon, except for the bit of stamina while leggin it away.

But yeah, anyway, everyone here seems mad enthused about martial arts and really really motivated. I was just wonderin what keeps you motivated. Or why you guys started martial arts even?

Cake Fiend

Graki_Khan wrote:

Also, I even though I train and would like to be able to hold my own, I don't think that I'd really be able to defend myself anytime soon, except for the bit of stamina while leggin it away.

It'll probably be a good while before you'll be able to use your MA for any sort of self-defence, particularly if you're in the stereotypical TMA dojo/ang/whatever. Most of the people on this board are mad into their martial arts (and many are pros), so don't worry if you don't feel as motivated as some of them.

You could also try a few different arts to see if there's another style that might interest you more. Some people are into dressing up like ninjas and rolling around, some prefer breaking some bits of wood and yelling, others prefer getting up-close and sweaty with a burly bloke :eek: It's far easier to get yourself to train if you enjoy what you're doing.

crazy monkey

Hello,

I got into martial arts after seeing enter the dragon, I am not that old but I was a kid when I saw it and I went wild for martial arts.

I also grew up with alot of fighters, my dad was an amateur boxer and so were my mother's brothers and most of their sons.

Very few of those guys hold a candle to my mother. You have heard of the one inch punch? WELL trust me on this my mother can knock anyone out with a cock of her eyebrow, the woman is tuff!!!!

So I had to learn to fight as I was a cheeky kid!!!

I have tried a few mostly traditional martial arts but now I train in mma and bjj and what keeps me motivated is the attitude of the guys I train with and the relaxation I feel when I train.

The guys I train with have very little ego [ no BS we al have a little ego inside us ] and they have alot of fun training and it's infectious [but in a good way] and when I see their games improving I just try to keep up and from there I work to be the best I can be and that really does it for me.

I also have a great coach not really a "motivator" as such but he is great at teaching you how to think for yourself. So as you train you REALLY learn and it's all just fun.

So the whole right arm out, 10 straight punches robotic system is gone and I feel freer to express myself or even my style of fighting thanks to him.

Also I've been in and out of martial arts for the better part of twenty years so it's a big part of life.

Motivation:

1 - Humour: never take yourself too seriously

2 - positive mindset: learn and pass on your knowledge, try to be encouraging to your gym buddies, always find some area of your training to improve

3 - a healthy sense of competitiveness: you can find your own level on this one mate

Take it handy

dlofnep

I'm not very motivated at the moment, for numerous reasons.

Musashi

crazy monkey wrote:

we all have a little ego inside us

Or you could have a little Igor .....................

I'll get me coat

Wes98

One could say - Its what makes us tick! :cool:

Cabelo

Dolf, sad?

Baggio...

Hello,

I'm the same as most people...I grew up watching Bruce Lee movies.

I started off in Shotakan which I thought was cool. But after about 4 years I got SO BORED of the same robotic movements up and down the cold Dojo floor. I felt it required no thought at all, once you learned the mechanics. Throwing side kicks and reverse punches into the air seemed so boring and pointless to me. I felt like I was constantly on auto pilot.

So I left and went on a search of different styles from:
Kung Fu, Ninjitsu, Wado-ryu, Kick Boxing, (which actually turned out to be “Sports Karate”) Boxing (which I have lots of respect for despite what Roper thinks). But I thought they were all the same old stuff (not including boxing in this) – up and down the Dojo floor, yawn... Reckon I would have given up on Martial “Arts” if I had not found American Kenpo.

When I started A.K. (which I thought was a breath of fresh air). The whole training vibe was completely different, and all the movements seemed to have a purpose. The syllabus was really large and varied. You were constantly using your mind and learning something new all the time (as opposed to constantly throwing out reverse punches over and over again:( ) Unfortunately Kenpo is only slightly more functional that the other forms of TMA. I still really enjoy the Kenpo training and love going over the curriculum – but I don't practice “Martial Arts” any more per se.

Combatives (CQC, CQB, call it whatever... the name is irrelevant) is a Martial Science and that's what keeps me motivated. Everything is constantly changing and evolving so you have to constantly think and adapt to every situation (well, try to:) ). So you use your brain all the time. Also, it is a fluid system – It is not powered by “static defenses” (which won't work anyway in a live confrontation). It is based on functional concepts and principles. The training is very realistic (well, as realistic as possible) with scenarios that relate to realistic situations, as opposed to abstract movements in TMA.

Just on the self-defense aspect. People say you need to study Martial Arts for years before you can defend yourself. That's crap....You can defend yourself immediately if you have the right mindset. Okay, the more you train the better your chances. But I hear that all the time “It will take you years....blah blah”. There are more reports of average people defending themselves with NO training under extreme circumstances. You can have all the physical skills in the world, but if you don't possess the mindset they will be useless. So my advise to anyone would be get the mental side sorted, before the physical side.

So that's what keeps me ticking. But just do whatever keeps you happy, whether it's TMA, Boxing, MMA, whatever...

Baggio.

PS - I'm not trying to have a go at TMA – it's just not for me, I prefer a different style of training.

LAAngel

Hi,

Have to say that i agree with you baggio about the fact that you can't put a time on how long it will be before you can defend yourself, it does have alot to do with your midset. Although I do think that the more you learn the more prepared you are when you need to defend yourself.

I started Kickboxing because I used to watch Karate Kid alot and loved Rocky. When I was younger there were no boxing clubs that allowed girls and thought Kickboxing would be cool. I started judo at the same time and just to go straight from judo into kickboxing, but I liked kickboxing more than judo so I gave up Kickboxing. The main motivation for me going to the kickboxing club that I did was cause my cousin was there and there was a girl there I used to dislike so I went to spite her, found out I wasn't bad at it she left and I've been at it since. When I started going with my fella and we had our daughter I died off from Kickboxing for a while but I used to miss it so much, and our club has always been like a family, and the fact that I keep thinking of the level I could be at if I kept at it. I see some of the fighters now training for world pro titles and I wish that was me doing it with them so that also motivates me. I think MA is really taking off now and I love the buzz of it and being apart of it too.

dudara

I'd always wanted to do a martial art, but shyness and so on got in the way. A year into my PhD studies, I knew I was putting on weight, so I made a deal with myself that I'd try out the first class I saw a poster for.

I went to TKD and I got hooked. These days my motivation is somewhat different. Fitness and weight aren't the issues that they were. These days it's about learning and getting better, striving to be the best that I can.

I also instruct now, albeit in a minor role, and that has added a whole new viewpoint to MA for me.

Motivation then in summary: fitness, desire to learn and improve, and passing on the skills.

LAAngel

Elytron wrote:

That's certainly first.

Q: Why did you start training in martial arts?
A: There was this bitch that lived on my street, I really hated her. She was a member, so I joined so I could beat her up in class and not get in trouble.

Haha, I never did get to fight her, although I have actually talked to her since and everything was sorted. I suppose I have alot to thank her for because I realised I loved doing it, and met some great friends there. AHH the things you do when your young.

Miles Long

I'm half way up the TKD belts now with AIMAA. I started in the first week of college (3.5 yrs ago) I guess cause I took a chance with TKD almost by default, that and I was naive enough to think I'd be good at it cause I was really tall ! I am the only person who has been there from the start (The Club started the day I joined), it's nigh on impossible to have that group effort thing going on when the student turn over is quicker than the McDonalds! But now the club has 15-20 constant "goers" so that motivates a lot across the board!

I have no time to get complacent cause I'm grading pretty often now and getting comfortable fighting cause I feel that the levels of self control are better as you get closer to BB (just my take on things ). That gives me more incentive too.

I've never had the urge to change styles or clubs. Sounds like I'm lucky or stupid, I'm hoping it's the former... I guess I train cause there are a million MA things I can't do but figure myself capable of with the right training, I'm just not gonna stop til I know my bound and limits.

I don't have "King of the World" aspirations w.r.t. MA but I know it's all out there if I change my mind.

Baggio...

I'm not surprised by your reaction Elytron.

HAH!:D

Graki_Khan

Elytron wrote:

That's certainly first.

Q: Why did you start training in martial arts?
A: There was this bitch that lived on my street, I really hated her. She was a member, so I joined so I could beat her up in class and not get in trouble.

Heh, yeah. I think I just need to get me one of them.

dlofnep

Cabelo wrote:

Dolf, sad?

Tied down with work which leaves me either a social life or a training life. I have horrible hours which even leaves me with neither option some weeks.. Inconsistent training isnt worth the bother to me.. all thats going to change this september though. I go back to college so Ill have more time for both

Black Swan

Graki_Khan wrote:

But yeah, anyway, everyone here seems mad enthused about martial arts and really really motivated. I was just wonderin what keeps you motivated. Or why you guys started martial arts even?

Started very young. Fear is a great motivator. Now fear has been replaced with respect for the sport, and an interest to perform better as a person. Also found competing in tournaments to be fun. Love to spar! Try a new technique in combination with others, first in training, then on the mat. Fun!

Roper

I started to get laid.

I had boxed so I wanted to do that again once college was over but my mate was involved in a TKD club and there were women there. So I went along to flash my biceps and get some. To my surprise, I liked it. It was great fun and the women were hot.

Then I married one of them and I had to stop thinking about flashy things to impress ladeez (that particular avenue of pleasure has been closed off). I had to start thinking about things like "will this work". So I quit. And now I'm motivated by things like performance and improvement.

Miles Long

*zing*:D

john22

Whenever i lack motivation i usually watch a martial arts movie or ufc/pride
After 20 minutes of watching Ong-Bak or a Wanderlei silva fight im off trying to elbow everything i see again.:cool:

Miles Long

Yeah that first knee at the start of Ong Bak... (sniff) inspirational!:D

The Shane

Everything you do will someday be forgotten.

Everything you build will someday crumble.

you are nothing.

Accept these things and train anyway.

Also, you will feel like s**t during and after a workout, but in 10 mins that feeling will fade. If I don't put in a good workout it ruins my whole day. It's a simple trade off.

ninjaburr

I work insane hours at a soul destroying job where I am looked down upon so that my two kids and my missus get all they deserve out of life.
But for two hours on a tuesday,Wednesday and thursday I learn how to break people and become a better and more tolerant person for knowing it.
MA is my motivation.