Motivation

What is motivation? Motivation is an internal process. Whether we define it as a drive or a need, motivation is a condition inside us that desires a change, either in the self or the environment. When we tap into this well of energy, motivation endows the person with the drive and direction needed to engage with the environment in an adaptive, open-ended, and problem-solving sort of way (Reeve, 2015). In most cases, unfortunately, motivation only sparks the drive to begin any endeavor, be it wanting to lose weight, get better at a task, or get a promotion at work.

Motivation gets us started, but along the way too often do we lose sight of the reason we started, or we get tired of how arduous the task may be. Martial arts are full of motivated and fun-filled classes for new people that walk through the door. Some have started for self defence reasons, others to get ft or a new network of friends. I see so many people excited about people starting out their martial arts journey. The mats are filled with so many different people of all shapes, sizes, and ages, so how can martial artists or everyday people maintain their motivation?

Well, to be honest… You can’t, what you need to replace motivation with is well as Jocko said “Discipline”. This is going to be in different forms for different people.

Motivation for the young martial artist

You can see how excited kids are when they get their new school bag, pencils, and it’s the same when they get their Gi or martial arts uniform, but sometimes kids come home from school tired, maybe had a bad day, and say they don’t want to train anymore, or say they don’t like it. Kids a lot of the time don’t know how to express themselves properly. A lot of the time kids say they feel sick when they are anxious, sometimes about school or perhaps going back to martial arts after a sparring session, or finding it difficult to remember their patterns or kata. At times as parents, we need to look deeper and see through what they are saying. Are they anxious about sparring? If so we want to encourage them to learn how to spar to build courage in a safe environment. If a child is finding training boring and wants to quit. In many cases, this means that they are having difficulty in the task and are frustrated, we want to encourage them to persevere and not quit, to overcome challenges.. or at times they are socially left out due to age or gender on the mats, It can be like School on the mats at times and more fun when your friends are there, so kids should be encouraged to bring a friend to train with them on the mats. The real test to when to move on is when they no longer enjoy training after a month, a month is a good guide but only when they are at the academy. Even as adults, a cold winters day we may want to stay on the lounge and watch tv. We understand that nothing is achieved that way, we want to teach our kids to get on with it and persevere. One of the life skills we want them to learn from martial arts, this is not the time weaken but encourage them through this phase. We know martial arts are good for kids, like fruit and veggies… Sometimes we just have to hold the line.

The athlete or competitive martial artist

The young athlete has a tough ride as well. Most likely started out with a friend after watching some UFC or MMA and wanting to just maybe learn a little bit of self defence. The young athlete starts out doing four to five nights a week and maybe doing conditioning as well. Cause that’s what the pros do. These athletes have to find of balance between being too motivated at first then becoming injured either from over training or going too hard when sparring or in the gym lifting. The lack of motivation can creep in when new guys come and and enter a while they start getting the better of them and the ego can stand it. Other reasons for lack of motivation as not enough competitive sessions with their partners, too far beyond their skill level of not close enough, or lack of training partners all together. Athletes need to be able adapt, proper programming with their conditioning programs that supports their goal of improving in their art be it MMA, BJJ or traditional martial arts. Create more competitive matches by allowing lower levels get the best of them and move with them. Let them in the game so they can push you. When they improve, you build training partners. Lack of training partners can be an issue as you want varied games and bodies, visiting other academies can be beneficial to supplement your training. Understanding the difference between learning and training can also be critical, athletes need to develop a game and drill it constantly to make it sharp, and fast. Conversely they also need to continue their skill set as the martial arts landscape is an arms race where you can’t be left behind.

The mature martial artist

The mature martial artist, starts to get involved as maybe they have kids that are in the academy, or are grown up and have time on their hands. Martial arts off so many great things for the mature martial artist with increased muscle density and maintaining bone density, mobility, cardio health and increased social circles. What kills the motivation is injuries, getting old we just don’t heal as fast and there is nothing like an old injury to remind us. We need to understand that as we age we need to start things out a little slower and build up to things. Maybe two days a week and add intensity as we go. Be realistic in what we want to achieve. Being on the mats is the goal!

In closing motivation gets us on the journey, it will be discipline to keep us going when it’s cold, or hot or when the girlfriend/ boyfriend wants to Netflix and chill. When we stagnate in development and we become frustrated, when the new guy or girl is kicking our ass, or when they one person you had it over all the time starts beating you.

you need to make sure you don’t compare yourself with others, it’s you vs you, when it’s cold, know other people won’t be there, and you are developing and improving and they aren’t! When you stagnate, that means you have a learning opportunity, and you will make a huge improvement when you work through that challenge. When that new guy is kicking your ass, good! Your ego needs to be put in check so you train hard. That girl that’s now beating you, that you use to be able to deal with, good! They are working hard and developing it’s an arms race and it should motivate you to improve.

I will leave you with a few golden quotes

Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn (GM Robert Lai)

Remember don’t compare yourself with others, it’s you vs you! ( Unknown)

Admiral Joe Maguire said “The secret to succeeding in life is just don’t fucking quit”.

And one of the dirty dozen Chris Haurter said “ It’s not about who’s good, it’s about who’s left that counts”

See you on the mats

Craig