Martial arts, much like anything else in life, is hardly linear.  We’ve often been told that we “get out what we put in.” While this is mostly true, the part that’s left out is: eventually.  

As much as we’d all love to see ourselves get fractionally better every moment we spend on the mat or hitting the bag, it’s not so simple. 

Much like the stock market, we tend to fluctuate in term of our progress.  There are high days and low days, but what’s important is not to frantically check gains or losses each day like a mad person, but to instead consistently make deposits despite our feelings, and monitor gains over the long run. 

I am clearly not a financial advisor, so please get your advice from somewhere besides this article regarding that matter, but do take away the fact that if you understand the cycle of training in martial arts, or any skill for the matter, you will get better through consistency, eventually.

The Cycle

The cycle of your martial arts journey is one that can be both highly rewarding and highly frustrating.  Everybody has a different yet eerily similar experience which typically follows this order:

Newbie Gains: The ink is still wet on the waiver you signed at the front desk

You’re staring around the room like a deer in the headlights.  You might witness two people choking one another or the loud thuds of human legs slamming into another.  This can be overwhelming, but somehow, after only a few classes to a month’s time you’re hooked. 

You get your first submission on another living, breathing human, the first stripe is taped to your belt, and suddenly you swear that every time your phone vibrates it’s Dana White calling you to offer a UFC contract. Anybody who’s trained for while knows this feeling and it’s great.  Your progress, whether in BJJ or Muay Thai, seems exponential and that’s because it is — you’ve started from nothing to now having something!

[There is No Right Time to Begin Your Martial Arts Journey]

Honeymoon Phase Over: At some point the shine wears off

You now start to have a bit less adrenaline going into each class, and some people who you previously thought were behind you in terms of their skill set have now surpassed you.  It can be tough to make it into training when you’re constantly getting outclassed by upper belts who you realize have been nice, taking it easy on you prviously.  This is where a lot of people quit. 

They bought some stock (figuratively speaking) in the gym on their first day and got an instant return. However, the first time they saw their stock drop, they weren’t sure what to do.  I’ve been training BJJ for 11 years now, and I’ve seen hundreds if not thousands of people come and go.  Sadly, many of these people had serious potential to be great, but they didn’t see the big picture and gave up when things weren’t going their way.  Always remember, a black belt is just a white belt that never gave up.

Big leaps: If you’re gritty enough to keep going…

If you can keep going even when you feel like you’re not getting any better, I’ve got great news for you.  Things are going to click eventually.  I’ve had weeks or even months where I felt like I was regressing, but suddely my game took a big leap forward in terms of skill and execution. 

This can’t be explained by any one thing other than being consistent and paying my dues.  The one caveat I will mention, however, is competing.  You do not have to compete if you want train in martial arts, particularly BJJ, but if you do then you will notice a substantial increase in skills immediately following the competition. 

When you compete, you put things to the test in a live atmosphere, showing yourself what you’re capable of and what you still need to work on.  It’s a wonderful confidence boost and eye-opener which can help determine where improvements are necessary.  Don’t worry about what others are doing or how they’re progressing, just keep putting one foot in front of the other and your time will come.

[Easton Muay Thai Purple Shirt + Former Pilot, Richard Seals: From Flight to Fight]

Long Haul: Once you’ve reached a point in your martial arts career that it’s simply a part of your life

When martial arts becomes a lifestyle, rather than a question of if you’ll continue training or not, you will continue dancing with the ups and downs like everybody else.  Life gets in the way, injuries happen, and sometimes you’re working on something that you’re no good at, but you keep trying anyway. 

The key is to remember that you get to train, you don’t have too.  Fall in love with the process.  One day you may feel like you’re unstoppable but the next you may question whether you deserve your advanced rank or not. This doesn’t matter.  It’s all part of the up and down stock trend you’ve bought into. 

Appreciate how much it’s grown over the years, the fact that you have ownership, and that you get to do something most people don’t.  To continue staying motivated and excited, focus on developing specific skill sets or attacking your weak areas.  Consider teaching if that’s an option for you and never forget why you started training in the first place.

[Muay Thai Coach Terence Cheah: The Sanctuary of Structure]

Part of the beauty in martial arts is that there is no final destination. 

Rather than focusing on an end goal or some specific outcome, try instead focusing on what’s directly in front of you. Remember that this is ultimately a hobby and a lifestyle — not something you need to beat yourself up over. 

You get to train each day with a group of amazing like-minded people who push each other to become better on and off the mat and what matters most is that you keep showing up no matter what the previous day’s result was.  Keep going, don’t stop, and I’ll see you on the mats!

[The People You Train With Become the People You Show Up For]