25 Life Lessons from Martial Arts Practice

At 41 years old, I have now been training in the martial arts for over 30 years.  It does not seem like it’s been that long!  Some days I look at the huge expanse of knowledge and history that is real budo and feel dwarfed by its enormity.  Other days I feel like I have a really solid grasp on it.  But that’s the nature of the training.  As Hatsumi Soke has said on many occasions, “If you think you have it, you don’t…”  This is one of the many lessons learned through martial arts training.

I have always viewed my training in the martial arts as a way of training for life.  A kind of micro of the macro, if you will.  The lessons learned inside and outside the dojo form and shape us.  Many things are taught and learned (if you are paying attention) that transcend the narrow space of technique and apply broadly in your life.

As Musashi said, “From one thing, know ten thousand things.”

Here are 25 lessons I learned from martial arts that have prepared me for life:

1. Fall down 7 times, get up 8.
2. Persistence and perseverance alone make the difference.
3. When going through hell, keep going!
4. It may hurt badly, but it won’t kill you.
5. Strength comes through adversity.
6. Adversity shared among comrades binds you closer together.
7. Confidence in all things!
8. Roll with the punches to lessen the blow.
9. No matter how fearsome an opponent you face, there is always a way to win.
10. Technique alone is never enough to win.
11. Strategy first. Tactic second. Technique last.
12. If you face just one opponent and doubt yourself, you are outnumbered!
13. Timing is everything.
14. Sometimes half the battle is just showing up.
15. Water, over time, will wear down rock.
16. Awareness is fundamental!
17. Hard, consistent training will always yield the best results.
18. Sometimes training smarter exceeds training harder.
19. Mastery is both effective AND efficient!
20. Never flinch!
21. Sometimes you get kicked in the groin – deal with it!
22. After being punched in the face, many other situations are much less frightening.
23. Successful training, like a successful life, must unite body, mind, and spirit to yield the greatest results.
24. Becoming a completed human being (tatsujin) is more important than becoming a martial arts master.
25. Seek out and eliminate your weak points!

What lessons have you learned?  How do you apply them to your life?

Jon

Jon Haas, "The Warrior Coach" has been training in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu for more than 25 years and is currently ranked as a Kudan (9th degree black belt) under Jack Hoban Shihan. He has also trained in Okinawan Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Russian Systema, BJJ, Krav Maga, as well as Internal Martial Arts of Yiquan and Aiki.He is a certified Underground Strength Coach-Level 2, a certified Personal Trainer as well as founder of Warrior Fitness Training Systems. In 2008, Jon wrote the book, Warrior Fitness: Conditioning for Martial Arts, and since then has created numerous other online training and coaching programs helping people around the world become the strongest, most capable versions of themselves!

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