As a Martial Artist, you should always strive to improve yourself and your skills.  Martial Arts is a diverse and broad set of teachings which seek to improve the Martial Artist as a whole.  When setting yourself to learning anything, your teacher or master is vital to how you experience and acquire those skills.  I have learnt that a Martial Arts centre is the direct result of its master and the master’s perceptions.  The Martial Arts centre is a manifestation of the vision and intentions of its master.  So, what should you be looking out for in a Martial Arts centre so that you can maximise your skills and reach your full potential?

An enduring quote by Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju-Ryu Karate Do.  It applies to all people and speaks to our ability to engage our minds at higher levels of cognitive capacity.  To control ourselves and act rationally at all times.  Self-control and regulation of emotions is the highest achievement for all Martial Artists.

If you are a Martial Artist, chances are that you would have had to test your combative skills against an opponent.  Regardless of your level, there are always feelings of nervousness and anxiety.  You may feel fear because you are new to combat, or it may be that the intensity of fighting increases as you reach higher levels.

This fear is completely warranted as there is a good chance that you will be physically hurt in the confrontation.

Martial Arts like anything, if done long enough, can become tedious and equated to one of those chores that we just must do.  Why wouldn’t it?  Martial Arts is taxing on the mind and body, but you feel so good after a tough training session.  It is completely normal to feel this way and feeling guilty about this, only serves to make you feel worse.  If this resonates with you, you are not alone.