Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude!
True!
I watch students that when I turn my gaze, they relax their stance. I watch students going half speed. I’ve always believed that I wanted to look better than the students beside me. Either side. I wanted to look better than the students in the front row. I don’t know maybe it’s an innate competitive spirit or maybe just some pride. I wanted to learn. Yes there were days that I maybe couldn’t do as well as others but I wanted to achieve a certain goal. Actually in the goal area, I had one, just do it! I’m still doing it. 31 years of being a student! I still want to learn more! I still want to compete. I still like to get trophies. I’ve gotten many but it’s always fun. Being last is a learning experience, being first is excitement!
I’ve been very fortunate to have trained with some great friends. Yes friends. My instructors were helping me attain something I wanted.
During class I’ve always tried to be the fastest one doing a combination or technique. If I wasn’t once I’d strive to do it on the next count. During a organized drill called 3 step sparring, where the instructor counts and you are aware of what and when it is coming at you, I’d always try to stand as close as possible to the attacker. Thus forcing me to focus better and move quicker. As a result I’ve gotten hit a few times. That just made me faster or made me more attentive in a few cases or made dummy just back up a little.
When training one should try to think of ways to make it real and faster. Some practitioners of other fighting arts think that air training and katas have no value. Wrong. ie Shadow boxing, speed bag training etc. Traditional training methods have a solid reason behind their practice. Primarily they are good ways to improve you mental and physical abilities without concussions. I’ve had enough of those, I’m trying to save as many brain cells as I can. Also if you use these training methods with the right visualization and attitude you will improve!
Again, Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude! Can’t get better if you don’t want to. Can’t get great if you don’t have the right attitude!
Written by:
Shihan Perry Culver
