On a swampy, muggy planet in the remote part of the galaxy, there you are. You found that old, cranky master to teach you the lost art. The little guy with big ears tells you to use your skills on a difficult test. His only words of encouragement are, “Do or do not. There is no try.”
In the movie Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back, Master Yoda gave that now-legendary quote. This message is also applicable to martial arts training. If you’re going to do something, do it as well as you can. Excel at all your endeavors, even in practice. Most importantly, believe that you can do it and execute knowing that to be true.
“Just do it” Nike’s slogan is so simple. I often tell my students the secret to success is showing up. The other secret is to do the work. Again, the message is “do.”
“Seek excellence”
There is no sense in practicing your material in a half-hearted manner–which means quickly or in a lazy fashion. Endeavor to practice each move and each step with clear intent. You don’t have to perform each action at full speed, but you have to execute it with a serious mind–with purpose. Do a low stance. Punch with snap and power, even if it is slow or half-strength. Use the proper steps when there is room. Make each movement proper even when there is no room—adjust to the combat environment.
“Perfect practice makes perfect.”
We do what we practice, so we must practice perfect moves, or as perfect as you can do them. We are training our body and mind to react and interact with danger. You perform the movements as you train your body to perform the actions so that sloppy input will result in sloppy performance. The defense must be correct for it to work.
“You do what you practice.”
If you lazily practice your techniques, you will lazily perform them because that’s what the body remembers. When you move to perfect yourself, the body will perform it perfectly just as you rehearsed it.
“Success shows up in overalls and looks like work.” – Ford.
There is no shortcut to success or value. Work produces results, and work takes time. Want to perfect your skills? Sign up for private lessons at the front desk. Available time slots go quickly, so reserve them now.
