Motivation

Motivation

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Motivation - Mar. 9th, 2007, 1:10:03 AM

MrRobato

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Joined: Mar. 8th, 2007,
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Motivation

Printed From: Kenpo Thoughts
Forum Name: General Talk
Forum Discription: General discussions on various topics on Martial Arts and Kenpo/Kempo

Topic: Motivation

Posted By: Rookie
Subject: Motivation
Date Posted: 12 March 2006 at 8:25pm

I've been feeling this way for the past couple of months. Do any of you ever have to take a "break?" By that I mean, like does anyone ever lose that sense of motivation to train? I know that I've been kinda slacking lately. It's just that with so much going on in my life (work, grad. school, family), it seems as if it's been a little harder for me to stay motivated to train. I don't know if I'm explaining it correctly. It seems as if I've hit kind of a plateau and I need to bust through it. Any ideas? Anybody else feel this way? Ever? I may be a big dork, but I'm just going through this lull.
It would be so much easier to train if this whole "work" thing would just go away...

Any thoughts?

Replies:

Posted By: timh
Date Posted: 13 March 2006 at 8:03am

What you feel is normal. All students reach plateaus, perhaps a break is what you need to reenergize yourself. Another thought is to change up your training. What I find happens with students is they tend to train in the same manner for an extended amount of time and then inevitably get bored and quit. I am not sure of your rank so it is difficult to provide specific ideas, but it basically comes down to challenging yourself in different ways.
What I try to do is to create new scenarios, techniques, drills, live training, etc. to challenge myself in different ways and to keep my training intense and variable.
If now is a busy time in your personal life, then take a break (not too long) and return with a heightened focus and recomitted motivation.
Hope this helps.

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Be Aware and Stay Safe!

Posted By: Rookie
Date Posted: 16 March 2006 at 8:56pm

Thanks for the help Tim. I too train at Mr. Sav's. I spoke briefly with you one morning about how your teaching (in Orland Park) is going. Speaking of, how is it going?
It's weird that I feel this way now as I recently achieved my Brown II. I just think that the recent pressures of grad. school and work have kinda worn me out. You know? I am taking some time off to recharge. Hopefully, I'll come back soon.
I've thought of things in my head with what I want to do (new scenarios, techniques, etc). I do like your idea about challenging yourself in different ways though. It's just a matter of it coming to fruition.
Thanks for your help with everything. I appreciate it.

Posted By: timh
Date Posted: 17 March 2006 at 4:30am

At Brown II you should have your sights on Black Belt; it's not too far away.
What degree are you pursuing? I understand the committment with regards to time and engergy needed to complete an advanced degree, but I would think training could be a positive outlet for any stress accumulated from school (it was for me).
Teaching is going slowly, however, training is going very well. What I mean is that I have only a few students, but they happen to be good (not to build their egos) and we have had some very good training sessions. I have a different appoach to things then what you have likely experienced. I focus a lot on conditioning (strength/cardio) and striking (we do a lot of striking drills, I always have liked to and benefited from hitting things). We also incorporate quite a bit of live training (sparring - standup, clinch, ground). Since I have a wrestling background (as does one of my top students) I incorporate some wrestling drills but with a martial art focus, i.e. 3 man rotating sparring (2 in, 1 out), live drilling, standup sparring followed immediately by ground sparring (with a fresh guy), etc.. Anthony, Brown I from Mr. Sav's, comes by on Sundays for additional training and conditioning, he said it helped him on his Brown I test.
Keep in mind, it is usually easier to come up with excuses not to train. Perhaps a break is what you need at this point, just be sure the break is not for too long!

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Be Aware and Stay Safe!

Posted By: Rookie
Date Posted: 19 March 2006 at 9:58pm

I do have my sights set on my black belt. I've just got to get out of this funk.
I teach junior high, so this degree is towards something in curriculum. Believe me, there are several times I've gone into Mr. Sav's and pounded on the bags because of the day I had with my 8th graders

! I've just got to make use of the time I have.
Glad to hear that your training is going well. If I may ask, what are some of the things that you do for conditioning? I remember in my last two brown tests, I was gassed by the end. I've tried everything to help with my cardio (circuit training, interval training, etc.). Also, what do you do in terms of strength training? I've been using weights for a while, but to be honest with you, I'm getting kind of bored. As you said before in your other post, I probably need to change things around. Any tips/ideas that you've used?
Thanks again for all your help. I really appreciate this...

Posted By: One Warrior
Date Posted: 22 March 2006 at 6:15pm

I can surely identify with motivational challenges. I have been through several periods of "damn, I just cant seem to focus on training". We all have had or will have these challenges in our martial arts lives. What makes a serious martial artist is the ability to work through it. Like as stated already, if required, it may require some actual time off. But the critical point is to stay connected in some way. even if its just calling up your classmates or instructors and chew the fat. As we live out our busy lives, we must constantly remind ourselves as to why we started training in the first place and also what are the greatest benefits! just keep rockin!

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~ One Warrior ~
Don't block with your face!

Posted By: timh
Date Posted: 26 March 2006 at 8:08am

Rookie,
Sorry for the delay in responding to you but I was on vacation. Conditioning is a broad topic and difficult to cover in a single post. You first need to identify what it is you want to improve upon; I would assume from your post it is cardio and strength conditioning. In regards to cardio, you need to train for 'sprinting' as opposed to 'marathon' training. Another words, Brown and Black tests are very high intensity over short periods. There are endless possibilities as to how you can achieve this, but I like to change it up to avoid boredom. I do traditional cardio interval training but I go at a high intensity level for shorter times and mix it up. I also will do martial art training but again at higher than usual intensity levels. I will use multiple partners and run through base techniques and variations. I also am a big advocate of 'live' training (there is no better workout than 'live' training).
In regards to strength conditioning, I do traditional weight training but also incorporate specific MMA exercises to develop more 'functional' strength.
I am not being specific because there are too many details to cover in a forum. If you are interested come by on a weekend to train with me. Just be ready to workout!

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Be Aware and Stay Safe!

Posted By: Rookie
Date Posted: 28 March 2006 at 12:40pm

One Warrior, thanks for the pick me up. I needed that.

timh, I like all the info. you've given me. I like your info. on the multiple partners and things like that. I too am an advocate for functional strength and have tried to incorporate that into my weight training.
I may take you up on your offer to train over the weekend. When I see you at class next I'll talk to you at length about it! Thanks!