Welcome to Episode #33 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Smaller Slower Weaker.”
Ever feel that you’re not big enough to stand up to the big guys? Not fast enough? Strong enough?
Me, too!
It’s easy to feel intimidated, frustrated, and overwhelmed… not just in a martial arts class, but in every part of your life. It’s even easier to give up on your goals altogether.
But that’s a mistake! The issue may not be that you’re smaller, slower, or weaker… the problem may simply be how you approach your goal.
In this episode, I share the mindset that not only gives you a chance to survive against the giants of this world… it can help you win!
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Thanks for listening!
Ossu! Great podcast! I admit I have been taking extra fitness classes to be stronger, but I’m really looking to boost my kata and kihon 🙂 My fighting – I know I won’t ever become a big, strong, young, monster 🙂 Oh gosh can I ever relate to not feeling like going to class. Thursday evening, that’s where I was, especially as X, Y, and Z had happened that day. But then for some reason the big, strong, young, higher-ranked monsters who regularly trounce me weren’t there. Just when I was thinking that someone upstairs loves me, a petite lady Sensei chose to spar with me and yep, I got the snot beaten out of me (but she had some great insights for me, so it was well worth it).
Ha! Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the dojo… POW!
I suppose we should neither underestimate someone smaller, nor overestimate someone bigger. Everyone can be taken down! And you can do it!
Keep fighting and thanks for listening, Jo!
Ossu! That was quite a lesson for me – it wasn’t the easy class I was expecting, but then again, if it had been, I don’t think I’d have gotten nearly as much out of it 🙂
Exactly! May you have many more excruciating classes! 😉
Another score, Sensei. We (ahem), “experienced,” “vintage” martial artists need to remember why we’re involved in the first place! I recently watched the film “Creed,” and I was struck by the scene where Rocky has Adonis shadow-boxing in the mirror and points to his reflection and says– “There. That’s the greatest opponent you’ll ever face. I believe that in fighting, and I believe that in life.”
Yeah.
G.
Nice to hear from you, Gregg!
Yes, I just saw “Creed” as well… and you picked out the best line in the movie.
“Vintage”… HA! Keep fighting, sir! 🙂
I accept the challenge to name one goal that has holding me back, and I will change it.
For me, being faster to learn is a goal that holds me back. Not a good goal, especially at work.
I blamed the amount of time I often needed to learn and be aware of situations before taking the right action.
I will now take even more time, being even more detail oriented to completely and properly size up situations from the very beginning and then I will experience my own decisions, instead of abiding blindly to other people’s routines in hope to save some time!
Investing in more time is how I will respond to the challenge I just accepted.
Awesome, Ingrid. There is great power in writing down our goals. So let it be written, so let it be done!
Yeah! This morning I watched 6 of your YouTube videos that I had already downloaded, and took note of a lot of advice so I can make progress. Then I went to the public library, got a card and checked my emails on their computers. Thanks for replying to all my comments. I had to change my plans for my stay at the beach because I hurt my knee. The brain still works so I’ll take this opportunity to fill it with as many lessons it can handle!
Is the brain able to train like a muscle?! LOL!
Wow! It sounds like your brain is on overload! Keep filling it! 🙂
No, my brain isn’t overloaded!
It absorbs, digests and sends all the good advice to my unconscious mind. to my reflex arsenal zone!!!! Repeatedly.
With training and reinforcement, all those techniques will pop up without me wasting time on debating! Perception will induce reflex with appropriate reaction. That easy!
I trust my way of learning.
But, learning without training and practice is worthless.
Training is hard!
And training is tested through exposure: facing circumstances challenges your abilities. When I listened to J. D. Mierzwa in episodes 26 and 27, I was wondering what he meant but now I know that being DETACHED emotionally does not mean to ignore the situation, but rather to be trained to handle any situation while not being bothered by feelings because we can control them by training appropriately.
I heard somewhere else that when we do something over again and again, we become that thing!
Watch out for the cherry pies!!!! Or the donuts!!!!
My dream is to turn into a cherry pie! 😀
Be careful what you wish for, it might just happen!
I know another reason why many teachers don’t participate themselves in class: Not all of them are afraid or out of shape! They are instructed this is bad for teachers and they shouldn’t do it, because if they observed they would be better able to see students’ patterns and give them better feedback. I heard a teacher say that if you spar with someone yourself, you’re “too much in your own body” to be able to give the other person good feedback. Which is also true in some way. But to me this is only half of it.
I think these are two different modes: One is coach mode, and the other is sparring mode, which are BOTH great ways to give feedback! Teachers should just consciously choose. And not only repeat what someone else told them would be best for “the students”.
I do not agree with someone only admitting one of the two sides. I think both are valid and legitimate ways, and can be combined.
But I think that you, Ando, are right when you say “Great teachers are also great students”. I’m a teacher myself and I regularly put myself in uncomfortable situations where I am a beginner to never forget the feeling of feeling stupid 😀 I think this is vital.
And YES: I recognize my own martial arts teacher in your words – he said, when I told him that I liked about martial arts that you’re never ready and that it would be a life’s task: “Well… if you’re in one of the martial arts you basically know most of it after 10 or 12 years of training.” To this day, I do not agree. You are right that he must be focusing on the physical development only (honestly he’s an excellent “technician” and has great fighting spirit, but he is very immature and takes his moods out on us, but that’s another topic).
Thanks for taking the time to read 😀
Last comment: Love your statement “Train like a wise, old man, not like a young barbarian”. LOOOL!!!
Karin!
There is much wisdom in your comments… thank you for taking the time to share it.
I LOVE how you think for yourself. We are all on our own journey, so it’s only natural that our opinions and experiences will differ from our teachers.
I also love how you are unafraid to feel stupid. 😀 That’s the first step in learning anything! The more often I feel stupid, the better I get!
Keep thinking! Keep feeling stupid! Keep fighting!
Thanks for your kind words and the encouragement! Wow.
I’m very much into these thoughts because I see many things I wonder about. Also I feel that certain teachers do not like independent students. I’ll listen to your show on “arguments” next – I love the way you talk about the meaning and connotations of the words. It’s very important to question the images that come to mind.
Yes, I’ll do that!
Hi Karin!
I’m so happy that you’re finding something to think about in these podcasts.
I think you’re right–not all teachers like independent students. But the good ones do! Just be you! 🙂