Everyone goes through it. Anyone at any age that has practiced martial arts for any significant amount of time has gone through a phase when the training may become a little more challenging, overwhelming, boring, hard work, or maybe even too easy. Whatever it is, it causes us to become frustrated and perhaps a little disinterested in continuing our training. We call this a training plateau.
This is a time when students quit training, or "take time off to try another activity". Kids might even tell their parents that they don't like martial arts anymore and get upset when it is time to go to class.
This is normal. People (especially kids) usually do not realize that they are going through a normal and natural process. And, most beginners do not know that this time is crucial to their training both on a physical and mental level.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Remember, one of the most important character traits learned in martial arts is PERSEVERANCE.
Perseverance is needed to get through this phase. I always encourage parents to keep their child training until their next promotion. Many times, seeing the reward for their consistency and labor, the student will find new motivation and be eager to continue learning. What's more amazing is that the student will usually have a breakthrough before the promotion actually happens.
I encourage my teen and adult students to make training part of their regular routine. I also remind them that the dojo is a type of sanctuary for them to help relieve stress and clear their mind of the everyday clutter. Stay at it, and the breakthroughs will come.
The breakthroughs come in different shapes and sizes. Sometimes it is a technical aspect that connects with and handful of techniques. Sometimes it is a strategy that ties together the entire game plan. Other times, it may be a philosophy that brings new perspective to light. Whatever it is, the student is enlightened and motivated to make use of these new ideas.
As a student gains more experience, he/she will realize that plateaus and breakthroughs are all part of the growing process of the martial artist. By the time we become a black belt, we will have gone through this process many, many times. The highly experienced martial artist greets this process as a welcomed challenge. However, plateaus do not end with attaining black belt. It is never-ending part of the growing martial artist.
As parents, we sometimes have to persevere for our children. It's a little harder for them to understand what is going on. We can't give up so easily. What kind of lesson are we teaching our children if we encourage them to quit or give up whenever the going gets tough? Don't teach your child to be a quitter. Hard work pays off.
Those that learn perseverance in martial arts will also persevere in school, career, personal relationships, and life in general.
L.W. Keith
This is a time when students quit training, or "take time off to try another activity". Kids might even tell their parents that they don't like martial arts anymore and get upset when it is time to go to class.
This is normal. People (especially kids) usually do not realize that they are going through a normal and natural process. And, most beginners do not know that this time is crucial to their training both on a physical and mental level.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Remember, one of the most important character traits learned in martial arts is PERSEVERANCE.
Perseverance is needed to get through this phase. I always encourage parents to keep their child training until their next promotion. Many times, seeing the reward for their consistency and labor, the student will find new motivation and be eager to continue learning. What's more amazing is that the student will usually have a breakthrough before the promotion actually happens.
I encourage my teen and adult students to make training part of their regular routine. I also remind them that the dojo is a type of sanctuary for them to help relieve stress and clear their mind of the everyday clutter. Stay at it, and the breakthroughs will come.
The breakthroughs come in different shapes and sizes. Sometimes it is a technical aspect that connects with and handful of techniques. Sometimes it is a strategy that ties together the entire game plan. Other times, it may be a philosophy that brings new perspective to light. Whatever it is, the student is enlightened and motivated to make use of these new ideas.
As a student gains more experience, he/she will realize that plateaus and breakthroughs are all part of the growing process of the martial artist. By the time we become a black belt, we will have gone through this process many, many times. The highly experienced martial artist greets this process as a welcomed challenge. However, plateaus do not end with attaining black belt. It is never-ending part of the growing martial artist.
As parents, we sometimes have to persevere for our children. It's a little harder for them to understand what is going on. We can't give up so easily. What kind of lesson are we teaching our children if we encourage them to quit or give up whenever the going gets tough? Don't teach your child to be a quitter. Hard work pays off.
Those that learn perseverance in martial arts will also persevere in school, career, personal relationships, and life in general.
L.W. Keith
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