Learn
the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist. – Pablo Picasso
Six
years ago, I walked into the martial arts school with my three
boys, thinking karate classes might be a fun and character-building
activity for them to try. Little did I
know on that day how important the school, the people I would meet, and the
martial arts training itself would become in my own life. I had no idea that I would soon embark on
my own journey – one that has transformed me in body, mind, and spirit, and
will continue to shape the person, the athlete, and the martial artist I am to
be. In these final days leading up to my
test for the rank of 1st Dan black belt, I am reminding myself that
this step marks the beginning, not the end, of my real training in the martial
arts. These last four years have been
very much about acquiring, memorizing, and more precisely executing my color
belt material. I have only begun to
explore the meanings and applications of these forms and techniques, and I look
forward to the years of study and practice where this will be my primary
aim. As I make that step, I take with me
the lessons and wisdom I have gained from these initial years of my
training.
JSD is a Korean martial art
system which combines Tae Kwon Do
(hand and foot way), Hapkido (way of
coordinated power), and Yudo (gentle
way), into a balanced, versatile study and practice which can be applied in a
variety of combat situations. Weapon
training, self-defense, sparring and grappling, meditation and cardiovascular
fitness are also elements of our training at our school. JSD itself means “straight mind way” and its practice is guided by five
tenets: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-control, and Indomitable
spirit. The practice and teaching of
these tenets is pervasive throughout students’ time in the dojang, from the way we address each other as “ma’am” or “sir” to
the way we push and encourage one another to put forth the best effort possible
and not give up.
While JSD is certainly martial, in
that it teaches us how to defend ourselves or fight an attacker, it is also an
art. The history, honor, and tradition
inherent to the study of the martial arts have been a gratifying part of my own
training. The process of learning a
form, breaking it down, working to execute each technique properly and
understand its purpose, then putting it back together into something seamless
and powerful and beautiful to watch takes tremendous discipline and perseverance. I continue to be amazed at how, after several
years of working at this skill, I still struggle with my stances, my timing,
the balance between relaxation and power.
Even the most basic form will always need more work, more practice. For me, the benefit derived from all of this
effort and repetition has not been so much the perfection of the form itself,
but the incidental training and discipline of the mind, body and spirit that
develops along the way, as it has for countless generations of warriors,
training in every part of the world.
Modern
science has its own perspective on this kind of pursuit. Martial arts training is a prime example of what
neuroscience describes as a “flow” activity.
This is best described as a state of optimal experience, doing something
for its own sake and not for extrinsic reward.
Engaging in a flow activity requires full concentration and often
results in a lack of or decreased awareness of time and self. The feeling of being fully immersed in a
challenging pursuit, being “in the zone,” focused solely on the current moment,
engaging every resource in achieving the current goal, has a positive effect on
both brain and body, resulting in feelings of well-being, happiness,
clear-mindedness, and overall health. The
neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine released during both
flow activities and vigorous exercise have powerful motivational and
antidepressant effects. People who
regularly engage in a flow activity know all too well how poorly they begin to
feel when their routine is disrupted. No
matter how unmotivated or lethargic I feel going into my daily practice,
knowing that I will emerge with a boost in these vital neurotransmitters keeps
me going back, despite the aches and pains and frustrations that are part of
the same package.
Dealing
with frustration has been one of the disciplines I’ve had ample opportunity to
practice over the years of my training thus far. Frequently falling short of my own
expectations can be discouraging, to the point that I don’t always recognize
real progress that has been made. During
one such discouraging moment, an influential mentor encouraged me to simply “be
better.” After some consideration, it became clear that striving
to “be better” – even just a little bit better than last time – each time I do
a form or a technique – will eventually lead to more noticeable
improvement. Progress toward a goal in
the martial arts, as in life, often happens in the form of tiny, almost
imperceptible steps, and occasionally in giant leaps. Between the leaps are the plateaus; the
periods of time where the work continues without much visible improvement. Moving off a plateau is extremely gratifying
when it happens, and developing the patience to continue working at something,
even when the progress is not yet obvious, has been a valuable practice for
me.
Similarly, I’ve had to teach myself
not to let the Perfect be the enemy of the Good. Knowing that there are things I will never do
as precisely as I would like, and being at peace with this knowledge and
continuing to try regardless, has been a challenge for me. However, the balance I have needed to find,
and still struggle to find, in this aspect of my training has spilled over into
other areas of my life. I find that I
have become more accepting of myself and others while still strongly
encouraging continued improvement in areas of struggle. The focus becomes less about being perfect
and more about putting forth the best effort possible each time, no matter how
long it takes to see the changes.
Reading
and learning the history and traditions behind much of what we do has added
depth and perspective to the day-to-day rituals of classes, conditioning, and
outside practice. Another of the more
unexpected pleasures of my training has been taking part in the cleaning and
upkeep of our dojang. For centuries, this has been a mandatory
component of a warrior's training, and I have felt honored to
participate in this ancient tradition.
This ritual has not only deepened my connection with my fellow students,
it also unites me with countless martial artists throughout the centuries who
have swept the floors of their own training halls. The satisfaction of leaving a clean dojang at the end of the night knowing
it is fresh and ready for the next day’s classes is an experience I can say
I’ve shared with students all over the world going back hundreds of years.
Given
the amount of time devoted to classes, practice, study, and at times, cleaning
or helping with the Academy’s Demo and Competition teams, I have struggled to
find a balance between this flow activity that has been so good for me in so
many ways, and my responsibilities to my home, family, and career. I am fortunate in the fact that my husband,
parents and sons have been willing to make sacrifices in order for me to devote
so much time to doing what I love, and I owe so much of this particular
milestone to their love and support.
Similarly,
I would not be where I am now were it not for the tireless support and
encouragement of my mentors, teachers, and peers. The hours spent patiently breaking down and
working through a rough spot with me, celebrating movement off a plateau, encouraging
and pushing me past my own perceived limits, and accepting nothing less than my
best effort, have helped me see myself and my capabilities in a completely
different light. As a result, I have
learned to take myself less seriously – and more seriously – in the ways I have
needed to. It is my goal to be as much a support to future students when the time comes, and to follow the example that has been set for me.
Training
in JSD at the martial arts school has changed me in more ways than I can articulate. I am not the same person I was four (or even
two) years ago, and while change is not always easy and there have been growing
pains throughout the process, change is necessary and important throughout life
in order to avoid stagnation and apathy.
Engaging in a flow activity with the amount of exercise and
challenge and social time that I need has made me healthier and happier in so
many ways. I am grateful for every
minute of this training, and for every person it has brought into my life. I look forward to continuing many years into
the future and I look at this milestone as a bridge, taking me from learning
and memorizing the basics to delving into the meanings and applications and
variations of these techniques for a deeper understanding of all there is to
appreciate about JSD and the
martial arts in general.
