A question comes up often when people ask about doing Martial Arts: Do I have to be in shape? I need to make that part of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). The answer I tend to give is “Start from Where you are. I will request a lot of push ups or sit ups. If you can only do one, do that one. Do the one until you can do 5, 10, 25 etc. You always start with one. No one will judge you as we all have had to start low.”
The beginning of any journey starts with the next step. Why is this so hard to understand? Why do we expect so much from ourselves when we haven’t begun to do any work? We don’t know what is expected and yet, we have such grand expectations! Yes, all of this sounds like some fortune cookie: enjoy the journey; the destination will take care of itself. But, it is true. For anything you do, you must understand that you begin at the beginning.
Starting from where you are allows room for not being any good at the chosen task. If you can accept that you are not any good, then you have room to grow. We must start “some where”. A question came up in class: How not to be frustrated with not being able to do ____________? The first thought came to mind was: Accept that you do not know. Over the past several years, I have begun learning new Arts. What has brought me the most peace was accepting that I do not know it. This opened the door to learning and having fun! If I don’t know anything, I am not expected to be “good” at it. I can’t be embarrassed because I don’t know and am trying to learn. This state of mind/being puts all of the responsibility on the teacher!!
Take all of the pressure off for being any “good”. Accept that you do not know. Accept that you cannot do exercises. Be a beginner. Give yourself time to learn. What’s the hurry? I have seen so many watching class, thinking: I can’t move like that. They are working so hard… I can’t do that. For some reason they seem to forget those students have been working on the movements for months and years. For some, they have been working for decades!! And yet, they compare themselves, a minute in, to not being as good? And feeling bad for not being able to do? We all have to agree that is absurd.
Start from where you are. Everyday is a new day. Everyday we must begin again. Each day you try, the task becomes easier. Learn what to do, then you can practice it. After taking the time to practice, ask for an evaluation. Listen to the feedback. Understand the feedback. Go practice some more. That part: taking time to practice. How can you be good at anything if you don’t take the time to work?
Start from where you are. Right now. Maybe you feel good today. Maybe you are a little sore, ill, or busy. DO something. Do something that brings you closer to learning this new thing. Do something that brings you closer to understanding. Do something, no matter how small.
Almonte Covington
Other Thoughts:
The Obvious
Frame of Reference
Tension