Growing up, I was always delighted and somewhat mystified by fruit trees. My Granny always had peaches or pears or plums growing in her backyard. We always loved watching the fruit appear and ripen. Then each of us kids would try to make sure we were the first to find the best ones! It never ceased to amaze me just how quickly the fruit seemed to grow after the blossoms had fallen from the tree. My parents loved having fresh vegetables from the garden, so I was taught early what it took to grow a fruit-bearing plant. You need three simple things: earth, water, and sunshine. I’m sure you are wondering if I’ve forgotten which blog I am writing on, but I promise that this really does apply to martial arts. Let’s break it down.
Earth
Earth is really and truly the oldest substance on…well, Earth. It is full of minerals and nutrients that all plants need to survive and produce fruit. Many people look at the traditional martial arts as an outdated and useless pile of information. However, what they fail to see, is that if they are to grow and develop into effective, productive fighters, they must learn from someone else! Every person who wants to become better at something has to study what someone else has already done. Traditional martial arts can show us a foundation of truth that can help us become, not just better fighters, but better people. By studying the information passed down from others, we can fill our minds with the basic principles and truths that will help us to grow. Knowledge is Earth.
Water
Water is the catalyst that makes trees blossom. It is the life giving elixir that falls in spring rains. Without water, the nutrients stored in the ground can never reach the tops of the trees. In the winter, the water remains frozen and rainfall is changed into snowfall. During the spring and summer, the warm rains give the plants their seemingly miraculous ability to produce leaves and fruit at an unbelievably fast rate! Without water, every plant will die. The water of martial training is inspiration. No one would train in martial arts if they weren’t inspired to do so. Maybe you saw a Ninja Turtles movie as a child and couldn’t get the idea of invisible heroes out of your head. Maybe you watched or were involved in a violent encounter with a criminal, and you are seeking a way to protect yourself. Maybe you just watched a really cool martial arts film on tv, and you think it would be cool to be able to move like the masters do. Whatever your reason, no one begins training without some kind of inspiration. Inspiration is Water.
Sunshine
If you were to take a seedling, plant it in a pot of the most nutrient rich earth and water it with the purest spring water, it would quickly die if it were missing one crucial element: sunshine. Sunshine brings warmth to the earth and melts the ice and snow. The heat of the spring sun is the signal to plants that it is time to grow! It provides the energy for the process of photosynthesis that gives plants their glorious colors. Without it, a plant may begin to grow, but will quickly become spindly and pale, eventually dying from lack of vital energy. The only plants that live without light are those which break down and destroy other organisms for their food and energy. No matter where you are, no matter what great knowledge or boundless inspiration is at your fingertips, if you don’t have energy, you will die. You must put effort into the martial arts in order to become better at it. You must decide that personal growth is important enough that you are willing to work for it. In martial arts, you get out of it exactly what you put into it. If you come to class and spend the whole time working at 50% of your capacity, you will only ever achieve 50% (or less) of your potential. But if you give it 100% of your energy and focus, you will achieve more than you ever thought you could! Effort is Sunshine.
Knowledge, inspiration, and effort. These three resources are all it takes to become a great martial artist or a great person! The key is to make sure that your knowledge is based on truth, your inspiration is directed toward good, and your effort is focused on furthering your purpose. So what are you waiting for? Become something better than you are today! Find a great goal and achieve it! Find a martial arts school and start training! Whatever you decide to do, go out and GROW!