Motivation and Martial Arts Training!

Jow Gar Kung Fu

In my Kung Fu training, and in observance of you the student, I have come to realise that the different levels we progress through when learning technical motor skills, such as Jow Gar Kung Fu, pose different motivational issues and challenges for all practitioners of martial arts and Kung Fu alike. Whether child or adult, we are all motivated by a feeling of progress and achievement in the activities that we pursue. It is the changes in the type and amount of progress that we achieve which I would like to address mainly in this article. As we move through the process of learning complex movements in martial arts we transition through some very distinct levels.

Novice A novice is all about following rules – specific rules, without context or modification. Competent You start to see patterns and principles (or aspects) rather than a discrete set of rules – rules become “rules of thumb”. Expert At this point you are not solving problems or making conscious decisions about things, you just “do” and it works. “Optimal performance becomes second nature.”

Master Mastery is mostly about style. Sometimes you may have witnessed someone or spent time with someone who is so good at something and gets so caught up in doing it, that you can’t help but feel that you are watching a genius at work. A Master is an Expert who can look back and put themselves in a Novice’s shoes and create the rules, and do the monitoring/mentoring necessary to help them move forward. This progression is viewed as a gradual transition from rigid adherence to rules to intuitive movement that relies heavily on deep understanding.

What does all this mean for your motivation while learning Martial Arts?

Generally it goes like this…….In the beginning you are learning the “big picture” stuff, trying to work out where to put your feet, while your hands are doing something completely different. This, for most people, is a big challenge and produces some very clearly defined goals for them to achieve, which in turn leads to a high level of motivation because you want to “get It”. This is the beautiful beginning stage of learning kung fu, everything is challenging and exciting.

For some, even this amount of challenge is too much and they are de motivated by the thought of having to apply themselves. Unfortunately for these people this will continue to be the pattern of their lives in everything that they do, and nothing we do will change it. But...For the others, who leap in boots and all and apply themselves to learning kung fu, the beginning stages are very exciting and rewarding because of the obvious advancements and improvements that are made.

We then move into the area of quiet and determined struggle for the kung fu enthusiast – competence! This area marks the end of the line for most people in their pursuit of learning something difficult like kung fu. Why? The goal posts shift, even though you have been on this gradual progression of building skill, all of a sudden (said with a smile) you get the big picture stuff. Your feet go where you want them to and both your hands can do something completely different to each other at the same without much thought at all.

So…, the new challenge that presents itself to the Kung Fu student in this level is the refinement and perfection of those gross motor movements. Making the movements as close to perfect as possible and executing them with as little energy expenditure as possible.

No longer is the student leaping forward in improvement or advancement. Rather, there are small and incremental steps forward only through hard work and a determination to focus on the fine detail. Sounds fun doesn’t it?

Well, if you can make the mental shift that is required and readjust your expectations of yourself and find pleasure in the small victories you will find this possibly the most rewarding part of your martial arts journey.

If not….you will join the ranks of the past members and kung fu will be something that you used to do.

I look forward to helping you achieve your small victories, whether it is by my personal instruction or by my constant training and development of the instructors who take each class.

Please remember we are here to help you on your journey and we want you to go as far as you can.

Sometimes it may seem like we are pushing hard or even holding you back, just remember that it is quality we are after... not for us…for you. So you can be proud of your efforts and achievements.

Jow Gar Kung Fu Sifu Nathan Head

Thank YouJow Gar Kung Fu

http://jowgar.com.au