This is a question we get asked often. Some times people want quick fixes, some times they just want to show some belts or accomplishments in their life and lots more. But what is the ideal number of days, months or years that one should really give towards martial arts training, is something many don't even understand.
Everyone has different reasons for training. Parents usually join their children to get in some physical activity with other benefits like improved concentration, discipline etc. Grown ups may join to get fit, or for learning self defense, or to fullfill their desire to learn and lots more. Reasons can be many and so the time line will vary too.
If one is just looking at getting fit then maybe a few months or a year should be enough. But if staying fit and getting fitter is your goal then a few years or more would be great. If one is looking at training for self defense, I recommend a minimum 3 years, to get fairly good at it. But if it isn't practiced regularly, the skill starts diminishing over time.
Children benefit a lot from regular training. Nowadays children don't get in much physical activity, not even from school. They need to exert and tire themselves to develop physically, mentally and emotionally. Physical activity also breaks the monotony of studying all day at school, then again at home or at tuitions. It's like a recharge for the body and mind. Especially with the addiction to devices nowadays. Children training start showing improvement and suddenly they reach 10th or 12th and all activities stop. Studies are important but not giving a break is just going to make the children dull and unhealthy. We need to find a balance between academics and physical well-being. I suggest that children that are joined in martial arts be allowed to train till they grow up and can continue even after that. It is the best investment for a child's health and all round development.
Ideally speaking martial arts training is a way of life. So there is no time limit for training. One can keep training and growing till they are breathing. We have students who have been training with us for more than a decade. It is a transformative process. Not just teaching one to defend themselves but teaching them how to breathe, how to live, punctuality, discipline, resilience, compassion, responsibility, humility and lots more. It is a quest that lasts all through your life. The quest to improve to become a better human being. To be better than you were yesterday.
Don't look at it as some course to do and finish but as an activity that complements and improves life itself.
The path to perfection is endless.
Train like a warrior to be a warrior!!!
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