DISCIPLINE AND PERSEVERANCE

SENSEI Cecilia Salbuchi

We tell you the secret to success in the AA.MM.

Any long-standing practitioner who sees this title will think "if it says anything other than training consistently, then it's a hoax." And any young man who is just beginning the path will enter to see the note to see if he finally finds the shortcut to become the best fighter in a few months of preparation. Be that as it may, what we share below is the only way to become a great martial artist. The key: discipline and perseverance. No, they are not the same. We are going to break down these terms to clarify, because by better understanding the words we constantly use, we realize that the meaning they contain is very enriching.

According to the dictionary, discipline is "the method, guide or knowledge of a person, especially in relation to moral issues. The concept is also used to refer to a scientific or artistic branch." That is why it is so common for karate, taekwondo, kung fu, etc. to be called "disciplines". As well as it is also used to name sciences such as physics, astronomy, chemistry, etc. It is not subject to the world of the MAs or the military, as is commonly believed.

So the first step to becoming a good martial artist is choosing the right discipline for what I'm looking for. But that's not enough. Discipline includes, as a method, a set of rules to respect: I must go to the selected place at a certain time punctually, go with the described uniform and once inside the class address my teacher and classmates in a certain way. The discipline, the method, also involves this type of regulations. Now, suppose I chose to do karate in order to walk my path to becoming a great martial artist. I know days and times, I have the clothes and they presented me with a study program that, planning through my instructor, I will go through to reach my goal.

That is where the second problem appears: constancy. According to the dictionary, one of the meanings of constancy is "unbreakable and continuous will in the determination to do something or in the way of doing it". All readers will surely resonate with this part: "unbreakable will." Sounds great, but how many get to do it?

I like much more to say that you have to aim to be persevering ("Firmness and constancy in the way of being or acting") because ultimately I take my discipline (karate) as a lifestyle, then it becomes deeper commitment. Going back to the subject of the choice of discipline, it is very important to know how to recognize and point out the "why" I am looking for something. Am I looking for personal defense and feel more secure in my daily life? Am I interested in the slow and steady path of traditional martial arts with all its content? Am I a lover of a martial discipline from the cultural point of view? Do I want to do it as something recreational? Do I like competitions and the "sports" side? With the "what for" well defined, and being serious practitioners, we will be able to plan accordingly. We establish goals, times, we measure results. And if, on the contrary, we do not establish any goal or times, but we are in a good place, we will gradually obtain results according to our teacher's work plan. But yes or if we need perseverance... an iron perseverance!

Practice until the mind forgets and only the body remembers.Maximum Samurai