Footprints in the sand

It's a strange quest that we embark on, this martial arts journey; we enter this realm fully aware that we are chasing perishable skills, that are difficult to master, requiring not only dedicated-time in specificity training but also in the general physical preparedness to ready our bodies for the demands and rigours but also staring down our internal mental demon and chaining its collar every time we step on the mat.

It's akin to footprints in the sand, to mark our journey but as fresh as the last print you leave as the foot leaves the beach, the first and original steps have long faded away or washed clean by the ebb and tide of life. The memory long gone, leading to frustration. There are so many things going on with every step. The breeze, the tide, the debris floating in from thousands of miles away, the unknown inhabitants in the deep waters and the path ahead.

They forget what valuable lessons they learned on the first day they put on the gloves, the gi, the specific training clothes. The change from daily wear to special symbolic garments designed specially for that physical activity serves only to reinforce the notion that this is not a constant, daily activity for the majority. The metamorphosis of the everyday guy into a dojo fighter, "weekend warrior" and countless other titles is reinforced in all martial arts gyms.

We are informed, taught, scolded, encouraged and push ourselves because we aspire to that image of how we want to be seen and perceived by others. Sometimes this works, most times it doesn't as we face our real and very physical opponents. Sometimes our internal demon have the better of us and we stay at home in front of the TV instead of working out how to defeat it. The little voice tells us that it won tonight and we try hard to ignore it, and it's difficult.

In spite of the physical demands we are attracted to the mats like moths drawn to a naked flame. We risk getting our wings burnt, the sole method of flight, in hopes of becoming stronger, more confident and better. And are we?

It depends on your motivations for training. It depends on your training methodologies and trainers. Do your internal demons yield to the morbid fascination with paranoia or are you seeking higher understanding through higher levels of physical performance?

Reset and recall the first steps on your beach and try to remember why you stepped into the gym on that first and fateful day. Perhaps you will remember why you train and not be known as a weekend warrior.