Self-Image for better or worse....

[doctrdev]

How do you feel you 'fit in' with the martial arts world? Obviously many are not as good as you...many are better than you.... do you feel on top of it...or inadequate.......or back and forth...and how does a martial artist cope with this?

My philosophy is to focus on the self, make myself as good as possible, know that I love the art, and leave comparisons out of the picture.

Agree/Disagree?

Thanks!

[Kof_Andy]

I agree with you 100%. Theres always a mountain higher than the next. Comparing with other dosent really cope. Were all different in some ways, wether it is weight, height, or martial art experience. Just because I'm better than someone else , it dosent make me good. What I do is I compare myself with the yesterday's me to determent wether I improved or not.

[Kinjiro Tsukasa]

Originally posted by doctrdev
My philosophy is to focus on the self, make myself as good as possible, know that I love the art, and leave comparisons out of the picture.

I completely agree with this. It's hard to avoid comparing oneself to others (hmm, how long did it take him to go from white belt to 9th kyu green) but I try not to do it. That would be setting myself up for failure, since I am a lot older than most of the students in my class, and not in such good physical condition yet. I simply have to take things at my own pace, adapt some techniques to my physical limitations, and so on. This is not always easy -- there's always a nagging little doubt -- do the others take me seriously? Do they think I'm slacking? Have to drive that little voice of negativity away to salvage any kind of decent self-image out of it.

[doctrdev]

I agree! Martial arts are interesting because the stress is on self-development...

I think one of the best lines ever is from The Karate Kid, when Mr. Miaygi gives Daniel the "two sides of the road" speach.."Karate do 'yes' ok... Karate do 'no' ok...Karate do 'guess so' squish! Just like grape!" Either you do it, or you don't do it! Leave comparisons at the door, and you are on the road to greatness.

[Kof_Andy]

Haha thats cute. :love: Which Karate Kid is this? I seen a few of them, dont remember hearing that from him. Tell me! I'll look it up.

[cal_JJJ]

Hello Doctrdev;

1)"Obviously many are not as good as you...many are better than you..."
Yes, since the day I started and until the day I die.

2)"do you feel on top of it...or inadequate.......or back and forth..."

Back & forth, hopefully I will never get an over comfotable or "being on top of it" feeling because I feel that will bring stagnation.

3)"how does a martial artist cope with this?"

You answered that one just fine....

"My philosophy is to focus on the self, make myself as good as possible, know that I love the art, and leave comparisons out of the picture."

[doctrdev]

Looks like we all have reached a consensus. The Mr. Miyagi quote is from the first film..I think. Negative mental programming is something that all athletes need to eliminate. Building a postive self-image and establishing new, positive self-talk requires as much practice and conditioning as our physical workouts in the martial arts. I think that we need to train our minds as much as we do our bodies, this takes dilligence, but it sure does pay off!

[pgm316]

I don't really want to fit into the MA's world. I don't like how being a MA'ist generally involves fitting into an organisation that often gets politcal and messy, distracting from the simple task of training.

But who's better or worse, is not as easy to know as you might think. Thats if you judge someones fighting ability by how good they are at learning one style ;)

[doctrdev]

Yeah I would have to agree with that. You should not be struggling to fit in with the MA world, just look at how it works for you. What does the world around you have to offer you. People do have strengths and weaknesses as well. I remember observing that those who were better at sport fighting typically were weaker in kata, etc. We all have our individual strengths and weaknesses.