What motivates you to keep on with Martial Arts?

Self doubt is not a bad thing. We all experience it. I have had many periods during my martial arts career where I was feeling down and felt like quitting. but I never did. I always found the determination to keep going. It has been over 43 years now. There are sometimes long periods of time where you may feel that you are not making any progress. But that is not true. You are always making progress. Much of it is not easily seen in your techniques. But on a sub-conscious level, your mind is always learning how to do things better. Your sub-conscious mind is learning how to understand and apply what you do physically better. The hardest part of becoming good at the martial arts, for me, has been to just keep training when I had those feelings. They are normal. Those that keep training get better. Those that don't will lose their skills.

I wish you the best with your training, and hope that you continue. Looking back over the last 43 years, I'm glad I kept training.

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You're probably on overload right now, especially with Black Belt testing coming up. Don't fall into the trap of why should you keep going once you get your black belt, that's just the beginning. Knowing the basics and truly mastering them comes later. Try mixing up your schedule for awhile, do a little more sparring, or less if you currently do that a lot. Do more forms classes or more calisthenics classes. Change is good and will help keep you refreshed in your martial arts.

This is an easy question for me. I like martial arts for the lifestyle of it, rather than the competitions and the trophies. If you're a traditionalist and you love the art for the art, then I think that'll be enough to keep you motivated. Sometimes you'll get discouraged, but I think the best you can do there is sit down and have a talk with your instructor or class mates. Maybe if it helps, watch some movies that are martial arts related. I don't know if that'll help you, but it helped me.

There isn't just one thing that keeps me motivated. I am self motivated. I enjoy working out. I enjoy the arts. I wanted to learn martial arts for many years before I had the opportunity to learn. It was worth the wait. Also, now I look to those they went before me. The founders of our organization. There is only one the is still alive today. Today we celebrated with him in the form a a semi-surprise birthday celebration. I don't know him well. I have met him only a few times. But in those short moment he and the one of the other founders that passed recently have inspired me. It was a semi surprise because he knew students were coming over to his house. He has a judo class in his basement a couple of Sundays a month. Today was not a normal day for this class. But they tricked him by saying it would be a make up day because there was no class on halloween. His birthday will be on Monday. He will turn 80. Over the last few years he has had health problems, but he continues to teach and inspire us all. He and the other founders were truly examples of what it means to be a Sensei. Sensei - one that goes before. They lead the way and show that martial arts is a lifestyle. Both were military. Both were policemen. Both were responsibly for teaching law enforcement officers hand to hand combat. They are inspirational. I have never seen them try to make themselves great. They have always esteemed others higher than themselves. I realize that I have a long way to go to be half the martial artist that they are.

Try to take your focus off obtaining rank. Focus on learning. Learn all you can, not just martial art, but all that life has to offer.

I want to be the best martial artist i've ever met, I know I can never reach that goal because it is literally impossible, but it gives me something to strive for. I see how other people move, what makes them great, what makes what they do work, and I make it part of my technique and what I do. but there is so much to learn out there and i'm constantly working on my knowledge and technique. I can see and feel the flaw in my technique and I strive to perfect it.

what motivates me:

1) all of the history (in depth history of what i'm studying)

2) to be the best (i'm not so then its the why that I seek, and the how)

3) perfectionist with my techniques (I want perfect balance with all my techniques)

4) determination (to always try harder, get better, and move forward

5) knowledge (various styles, techniques)

6) concepts (different things for body mechanics and strategy)

7) the different opponents that I can face and the way they move

8) if I stop the thought of not being able to protect my family

9) I want to teach when I feel I am ready, (another 10 years or so till then I want to learn more)

10) teaching adults and kids (mostly kids, with all of the various games its just fun)

11) and most importantly, I enjoy martial arts, its fun to me, frustrating sometimes but fun.

belts have lost meaning, I think in terms of white and black belts. and achieving the higher ranks no longer means anything. you don't become better by adding a stripe to a belt you can get on amazon. you become better by training day in and day out by striving to perfect your technique.

I know exactly what you mean. What kept me motivated was the fun I was having along with the challenge of each opponent. I took a break from my martial arts school for a month b/c the instructor was getting greedy...So after a month I went to a new school. Just push through it and you'll be fine.

For motivation, remember what fun it is to learn new techniques and the thrill it is to go up against an opponent.

Can someone answer mine?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgU59...

There are a few reasons for me but the top three must be that I love it, I made a promise to my little brother I would become the best and that seriously I want to make everyone I meet who scoffs at martial arts realize how great they are

you have to remember what got you into the sport into the first place. was it intriguing, exciting what kept you going up until now? i think you should take a break after your black belt test to really do some "soul searching." i remember being discouraged after my last wrestling season where i got to state and failed to meet my goal of placing. I took some time off to figure out what went wrong and why i should continue with the sport anymore. i plan on going to the national tournament in three years. you just need to rekindle that fire for the sport you love. hope this helps and good luck on your black belt test champ.

What motivates a lot of people is getting the black belt. What motivates me is nothing, because I am not into martial arts.

I watch cool fight scenes and listen to music like the fight scene from The Transporter when Frank Martin raids the WallStreet house. The song is called Fighting Man by DJ Pone & Drixxxe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O6kUw0aksA

Sometimes i tell myself "srsly i wanna kick some *** now! it's more exciting than sitting around."