Be You…If You Dare!

Be you.

Sounds simple enough. Yet it’s probably the greatest challenge of your life.

Sure, it was easy to be you when you were a child. You could scream and cry. You could run around without your pants. You could lie down on the floor at the mall. You could grab a crayon and draw whatever you imagined.

You didn’t judge yourself or care what anyone thought.

But then you grew up. And now you judge. Now you do care.

Which isn’t totally bad. After all, we have to live together, so we agree to play by some rules to get along. But don’t let that make you forget–

You are more than just a set of rules.

In martial arts, it can feel like teachers don’t want you to be you. You feel the pressure to do things “correctly” or to “look right”, especially when performing a kata or form. But there’s a big problem with that.

While principles and techniques remain the same, people are different.

We will never move, think, or feel exactly the same way. Rather than try to hide that fact, or correct it, or be embarrassed by it, we should celebrate it. Here’s why–

Accepting what makes you different increases your power and points you towards success.

In martial arts, if you try to move or think like someone else, you’ll get hit.

Self-delusion is a threat. Self-knowledge is a weapon.

In the chaos of a fight, accepting your strengths and shortcomings isn’t just encouraged, it’s demanded!

Unfortunately, many students forget that martial arts is an art. They worry more about what looks right, instead of what feels right. Even when a technique isn’t working! But here’s something far worse–

Many people forget that life itself is an art! Think about all the time and energy you spend worrying about what to wear, what to eat, what to do, where to live, what to drive, what to say…

AGHH! What a maddening waste of you!

That’s why all students of every discipline should never forget–

The secret of success is not learning rules and techniques, it’s learning how to make rules and techniques work for you.

Short story…

I once attended a Kung Fu seminar. The teacher impressed everyone by demonstrating one slick technique after another. He was impressive not just because the techniques were slick, but because he looked slick doing them.

As he watched us practice, he grew angry. He stopped the class and made everyone sit down.

The teacher commanded us, “Don’t look like me. I don’t want you to be mimics.” Instead, he advised that we find the principles behind the techniques and fit them to our own personal capabilities. In short, be you, not me!

Makes sense, right? YEP!

Obvious, right? NOPE!

In front of me was a man taking notes. An older man. I looked over his shoulder…he was actually writing down, “Don’t be like the master.”

Wow. Seriously? You have to write that down?

I remember starting at the back of his balding head, thinking, “How can a fully grown man like you not have figured out the power of being yourself by now?”

I’ll tell you why.

Because being you is difficult.

Because it’s scary.

Because we’re all schooled to follow along.

Because it’s difficult to have faith in your own voice.

Because it’s easy to believe others are better than you.

Because it’s easy to let someone else make decisions for you.

Because—and this may be the biggest reason of all—being you takes more than courage… it takes work!

To be you, you must spend time with you. You must pay attention to you. You must challenge you. You must be honest with you.

But doing the work is worth it. When you fire up your strengths and break free from your shortcomings, you’ll be ready to fight. You’ll be prepared to take your best shot at success and happiness.

So, paint your picture.

Sing your song.

Walk your walk.

Throw your punch.

Fight your fight.

Be you.

If you dare.