Often students come to Kempo excited to start. Doubt and worry will creep into their minds when they get to school. They think they are too out of shape to begin lessons, so why even start if they won’t last?
Nothing is further from the truth. I often refer to studying martial arts as a journey, and the study of martial arts is a journey.
“A journey of a thousand steps begins with the first one.” –A Taoist saying
This quote applies to martial arts as a journey. If you are out of shape, start small, start simple, but do start. You can’t do a push-up; do a wall push-out. You can’t touch your toes; then bend over. Have trouble moving? Just take a single step.
Success in Kempo is not measured by how many trophies you win. Instead, it is measured by how much you have overcome to become an outstanding version of yourself. No two Black Belts are the same. Each Black Belt needed to overcome different obstacles in their life to continue the struggle toward their goal.
Kempo training and our focus on goal-oriented results mean you can use the training to improve yourself one step at a time. Measure yourself against the first day at Kempo class, not after the most athletic student in the class. They are on their own journey and are further along their personal quest than you.
We all run up against challenges and difficulties. Don’t think of challenges as stopping blocks or impenetrable walls. Think of the challenges as hurdles and milestones to get over. It takes years to get out of shape, and it takes years to get back into shape. It would be best if you allowed yourself time. And it would help if you also had a plan.
“A failure to plan is a plan for failure.” –Famous quote.
Our San Diego Kempo schools offer an at-home course so you can start your journey in the privacy of your home. When you feel comfortable with a private lesson under the professional guidance of our trained coaches and instructors, you can schedule an appointment for a private lesson in person.
You can continue these small steps until you feel comfortable and confident enough to join our group lessons. Working out with supportive friends and classmates makes our courses fun. Fun things are easier to do and easier to learn.
There is no need to put off the training. There is no reason to think you cannot become a Black Belt. Everyone can become a Black Belt; however, most people lack the will and determination to do it.
Will and determination are skills you can learn. A plan and a team help support will and determination. Doing things alone is more complicated than doing things as a team. Our skilled coaches and instructors want to be on your team.
That goal of Black Belt only seems overwhelming from your vantage point. As you progress along your journey and pass each milestone, you’ll see that goal come into view. It will be attainable. Like most things in life, you need help and a guide. Our curriculum is that help, and the course is the guide.
There is no timeline for reaching the goal of the Black Belt. Each student can take as long as they need. Procrastination and self-doubt are the two biggest obstacles to success. Sidekick those obstacles away and punch your way to your first primary goal, Yellow Belt, then keep going to the next milestone. Then achieve the next one and the next. Keep going until you earn your Black Belt.
It would be best if you had a goal in your journey, a target towards which you venture. This journey of doing your first real push-up and breaking your first board makes the struggles worth the time, effort, and pain. You will be sore. You will feel defeated from time to time. There’s a saying in Kempo Karate that “winners never quit, and quitters never win.”
We want you to win.
Start that journey to the best version of you that you can be.
Take that first step.
Enroll now.
And Be Extraordinary.
