Why people give up training in martial arts?

Many embark on the journey of martial arts but most of them leave it midway. Some say they lost interest, some feel it is not for them, some feel they can't be good enough or live up to the teachers expectations and lots more. 

Martial arts is a path you should ideally walk all through your life. However many don't approach or get into it with that idea, understanding or discipline. 

Martial arts training will test you, will at times make you feel like you are not improving or some may even feel they are useless. The repetition of techniques, the routine of training may make some feel stuck or lost. This is when one needs to pursue it more, not to prove anything to others around but just to be there for yourself and believe that you can do anything. 

Martial arts training doesn't only test you but it also rewards you with health and fitness, with resilience, determination, confidence, discipline, humility and lots more. 

Many times parents see their child has lost interest and they stop them from training or the student itself stops training both take this step without sitting down and having a discussion of what they are feeling with the teacher, so that some solution can be found to get over the issue rather than just running away from training. 

There are times when a young child is not ready for martial arts or has interest in some other activities, these signs I have always noticed and start asking the child if they have interest in any other activity etc. I usually still give it a try for 2 to 3 months to see if the child starts liking it, while having a regular talk about it with them. But beyond that if the child tells that they wish to do something else or sometimes the child doesn't tell because they are scared that the parents will get informed etc. In both cases I have called the parents and spoken to them to give the child a break and let them explore some other activities for few months. If after a few months they on their own wish to come back they are most welcome. 

Martial arts training connects us back to our primal roots, it may start with being a physical activity but over the years it becomes a meditative spiritual activity. A deeper connection with our inner self. That is why it is said that martial arts is made up of 3 concentric circles. The outer most circle is physical where one is training to get physically stronger and fit. As they improve over years they move to the second circle which is where they develop a strong mind, basically mind over matter or the mind can control the body and push it to train even when the body is screaming to give up and finally with years of training one enters the innermost circle where the spirit controls the mind and body both. This is when the training becomes meditative, when you train there is nobody around just yourself and emptiness. An energy rush through the body that will actually invigorate you even though the body is getting drained physically. This is what all should strive to achieve or reach, a state of calm and peace not just while you train but in every aspect of your life and in every breath you take. 

It is an easy decision to give up, but it is when we persevere through it then we break through the barriers and obstacles both mentally, emotionally and physically. Don't give up in life for it is habit forming. It may start with martial arts training and will move to other aspects of life too. Anything feels tough or testing, you will start giving up on it, may it be relationships or your job, or friends or anything else in life. 

Never give up come what may. 

Train like a warrior, to be a warrior!!!