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First, you can't simply know about the True Martial Art, you have to know them. To know about is like thinking about, to know is to actually do. It is the difference between talking about the word 'wet' and jumping in the water.
Thus, if you read books about the martial arts, if you watch movies about the martial arts, if you talk to people about the martial arts, it doesn't work. The only thing that works is to actually go to a school, a dojo, and experience them. To put on a karate gi or kung fu uniform and step onto the mat and find out how they really work.
Interestingly, they don't always work the way they do in a movie. Bruce Lee looks awesome, but he had two separate arts, one was a movie art for the movie camera and creating the WOW in the audience, and the other was designed for real life, down and dirty combat. These two arts don't even resemble each other.
When you take yourself onto the mat for the first time you are walking into a strange, new world. You won't know what to do, you will actually be a in a state of awe, and you will have butterflys in the stomach. You will learn how to dress, tie the belt, and the manners necessary in this strange, new world.
The fun starts when you learn your first moves. Everything you do is going to seem weird, unnatural, but it is really just unfamiliar. You'll do everything wrong, you'll even have to figure out what right and left really mean.
Eventually, you'll be able to do those shadow moves, and you'll face a real opponent. Oh, Lord, you have to actually hit somebody, block somebody, throw them to the ground! How in heaven's name are you going to accomplish this feat without injuring him or you?
Time moves along. You practice, and persist, and things start to make sense. The techniques and forms become understandable, approach second nature, and are even able to be applied in the great chaos of freestyle.
And you learn that the most important lesson you will ever learn is...you won't learn anything if you don't start. What's that old proverb...a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. And the single step you took, into the karate school and onto the mat, will end up being the most significant and important step you will ever take in your life, for this is the step that brought you discipline, good health, confidence, and the ability to take on and defeat any problem in life.
Thus, if you read books about the martial arts, if you watch movies about the martial arts, if you talk to people about the martial arts, it doesn't work. The only thing that works is to actually go to a school, a dojo, and experience them. To put on a karate gi or kung fu uniform and step onto the mat and find out how they really work.
Interestingly, they don't always work the way they do in a movie. Bruce Lee looks awesome, but he had two separate arts, one was a movie art for the movie camera and creating the WOW in the audience, and the other was designed for real life, down and dirty combat. These two arts don't even resemble each other.
When you take yourself onto the mat for the first time you are walking into a strange, new world. You won't know what to do, you will actually be a in a state of awe, and you will have butterflys in the stomach. You will learn how to dress, tie the belt, and the manners necessary in this strange, new world.
The fun starts when you learn your first moves. Everything you do is going to seem weird, unnatural, but it is really just unfamiliar. You'll do everything wrong, you'll even have to figure out what right and left really mean.
Eventually, you'll be able to do those shadow moves, and you'll face a real opponent. Oh, Lord, you have to actually hit somebody, block somebody, throw them to the ground! How in heaven's name are you going to accomplish this feat without injuring him or you?
Time moves along. You practice, and persist, and things start to make sense. The techniques and forms become understandable, approach second nature, and are even able to be applied in the great chaos of freestyle.
And you learn that the most important lesson you will ever learn is...you won't learn anything if you don't start. What's that old proverb...a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. And the single step you took, into the karate school and onto the mat, will end up being the most significant and important step you will ever take in your life, for this is the step that brought you discipline, good health, confidence, and the ability to take on and defeat any problem in life.
About the Author:
Al Case has practiced the martial arts for 40 plus years. He offers Video Lessons at Monster Martial Arts.
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