Very often we hear people say that martial arts, is a way of life. Why is it so? What does it mean?
One may start training in martial arts for numerous reasons. For some it could be just a form of exercise, for others it may be for self defense, or a childhood passion or anything else.
It starts with just training physically but as one starts training over a few months, they either notice changes or they don't notice much change. Irrespective of that, in both cases one wants to get better. This desire to get better slowly starts creeping into various aspects of life. We start looking at all angles and aspects of our life, to find ways to get better at training.
If one approaches martial arts training in a disciplined manner, the discipline enters other aspects of our life too. For example - one gets scolded for being late to class, may be the instructor sends us home too for being late often, now either we will stop going to the class or we will start being punctual. This practice of being punctual for class gradually becomes a habit of punctuality in your life too. Similarly to get better we may start eating better or having a better sleep cycle etc.
This is how discipline starts creeping into all aspects of our life. Just like punctuality and discipline there are many other character traits that martial arts training instills like rectitude, being humble, consistency, benevolence, loyalty, courage and lots more. These again don't remain within the confines of class or training but starts spreading into all aspects of our life.
Slowly over time it takes control of us and what started as a habit ends up becoming who we are. It is no longer something we do but it is who we are. Our every breathe, our every step becomes in sync with the warrior's code and it becomes a way of life.
This is why training in martial arts is called - A way of life.
However just merely joining a martial art class and training few times a week will not make it a way of life. It requires us to be dedicated to the art, surrender and be disciplined to the training and the instructor. A good instructor is synonymous to the martial art itself. Both are the same and inseparable. Many times people want to train but not listen to the instructor about everything or somethings, this is like wanting to grow fruits without having a tree or a plant. This small shift of surrender transforms a students training and general transformation by leaps and bounds. Just like merely wanting to be on top of a mountain won't take you there, it is the step after another that makes you reach the summit. Similarly many may train in martial arts but it is only the few that live this way that become martial artists or warriors. The choice is always ours to make.
Train like a warrior to be a warrior!!!
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