TRAINING STARTS WITH INSPIRATION, BUT CONTINUES WITH...

Remember your reason for reaching out...sending that email...making that call...or just coming to the club? What was it that drove you to walk through that door? Or to bring your child?

• To learn a martial art?

• To get in better shape?

• To become bully-proof?

• To compete?

• To learn effective fighting skills?

• To be part of something special?

These reasons, and many others, are all valid. However, despite the reason for taking that first step, let me ask you something...does it still inspire you to continue?

As a martial arts practitioner for over 35 years, I'll be the first to tell anyone...inspiration is somewhat fleeting. One minute it's there, igniting your passion to learn and train. Then after time, which is different for each individual by the way, it begins to wane. You find yourself missing a class here or there. Then one class turns into one week, and then one month, and so on. Until you find yourself no longer attending classes. You know who you are. You probably have already come up with an excuse to justify the decision. You're not alone. I'm here to say this has happened to me as well throughout my martial arts career. Unfortunately, it took me several decades to figure out the "cure", or more appropriately the correction, to losing my drive time and time again. Simply put, it's purpose.

Inspiration is defined as "a sudden brilliant, creative or timely idea". It wasn't meant to be sustaining. Purpose, on the other hand, means "have as one's intention or objective". It's what keeps us coming back. Without it most people will not continue doing whatever it is they set out to do in the first place. If inspiration gives a reason life, then a purpose is what sustains it. So, if you were inspired "to learn a martial art", what was the purpose for doing it? What was the purpose for becoming bully-proof? Why are you competing? Hopefully, you get the idea.

Can your purpose change? Of course! We're human after all, so there will always be change. My inspiration for learning martial arts was based off of my interests in martial arts movies and Kung Fu Theater (showing my age). When I met my first instructor he gave me a purpose to come back after our first private lesson. It was to learn Karate, and all that it offered as a martial art. After awhile I realized it was actually a ton of hard work, so my purpose changed to becoming a better student. Then once I became better at doing it my purpose changed again to actually understanding what it was I did. Purpose helps drive you, so it's okay for it to change.

So, if your inspiration to train in the martial arts has dwindled and you're having issues getting to class ask yourself, "What's my purpose for training?" Once you have an answer make that purpose a reality.

Learn. Drill. Roll. TRANSFORM!