Walking into a new environment can often feel overwhelming or confusing. Trying something for the first time might make it difficult to know where to start. In these moments, we usually find ourselves looking to leaders for guidance.

In the world of martial arts, these leaders mostly obviously come in the form of our instructors, coaches, and professors. However, any of us can become a leader on the mats and help guide others in a positive direction. This comes down to the fact that these individuals, while dedicating years practicing their crafts, also embody other traits we admire and find ourselves drawn to.

[Easton’s Director of Admin, Sarah Rochniak: A Journey of Growth and Leadership]

What traits do leaders exhibit?

Leaders have dedication. In martial arts, this dedication can look like putting in long hours. It can look like repeating a move over and over until it flows without thought. It can look like staying after class to practice with a training partner, making sure they both nail the moves.

Leaders are also consistent. We see them putting in hard work day after day, working to become the best they can. We know we can turn to them whenever we need help or want to discuss a difficult technique. They play an important role as a constant reliable presence in the academy. 

Most importantly, leaders have focus, and that focus is contagious. Whether mastering a kick or properly putting on gear, the intention with which they approach any task sets the tone for the training room. A focused atmosphere elevates everyone’s game, creating the perfect setting for personal improvements.

How do leaders act?

In any community, a welcoming environment can become the deciding factor for others to stick around. This proves exceptionally true for martial arts, which can often seem intimidating and anxiety-inducing from the outside. For many, starting a martial arts journey feels completely foreign and unlike any other hobby or activity.

Having a friendly face to welcome us at the door encourages us to keep going. Leaders promote a culture of growth for everyone, regardless of skillset or background. All of us in the training room have the saem goal: to improve and master our craft. Leaders recognize this, meet us where we’re at and help us continue to thrive.

In martial arts, shared experience lays a rich foundation to improving skillsets. As we work on new techniques or improving weaknesses, sharing with one another how we first landed a strike or overcame a struggle creates deep bonds of trust with one another.

Natural leaders share their knowledge with others of all skill levels, helping everyone in the community improve. Leaders understand that our teammates and training partners are not our competition, but rather the support systems we need to get better.

How can we learn from our community leaders?

We can start by asking good questions. This means asking questions when we feel unsure about a technique or a use case. By making sure we understand the why behind the how, we deepen our own knowledge and skillset. 

We should always try to train with intention. When drilling or sparring, it helps to focus on one specific thing. Bonus points if we communicate this to coaches and instructors to receive targeted, digestible feedback. This shows our coaches we want them to invest in us and help us improve. 

[Training Deliberately: Seeking Feedback to Hone Your Game]

Listening to that feedback and incorporating it becomes critical. Our coaches want to see us thrive as much as we want to get better. If a piece of feedback doesn’t make sense, ask follow up questions. We can even ask our coach to watch a combination or drill to make sure we understand the feedback. Actively engaging with our coaches is one of the most effective ways to learn from them.

To take on a martial arts practive means committing to a journey of lifelong learning. We will never be “perfect.” There will always be room to improve. Even the most experienced martial artists understand and live by this. We must keep this mindset whenever we step on to the mat.

How can we all embody leadership on the mat?

Any of one of us can grow into the role of a leader in our communities. It starts by intentionally choosing to embody these qualities everyday.

We too have the opportunity to lead by example. We can all make the choice to dedicate our free time to the training room. Even if we can’t give a ton of our free time, we can consistently show up as an engaged, active member of our community. We can bring focus and intention to every movement. 

We can also commit to mentorship as good mentors and good mentees. When working with less experienced training partners, we can lead drills confidently while offering help. When working with more experienced training partners, we can ask questions and stay open to learning from them. When tuning in to our coaches’ explanations of technique, we can ask questions to understand the reasoning behind a technique, empowering others in the room to ask questions. 

Developing strong communication skills helps all of us engage with our community and create strong connections with our fellow students. We can start asking our training partners for feedback today. Simple questions such as, “Does this feel like the right target?” or “Is this pad position working for you?” can build trust with our training partners.

[What Makes a Black Belt Partner?]

Showing respect by paying attention to our partners’ needs deepens this trust — like asking partners about any injuries we need to work around. Alternatively, we can ask if there’s something specific they want to work on during the session. Checking in with each other shows our teammates that we care for them and want to see them excel. 

Most importantly, we can remember that everyone is working on (or through) something. Stay patient, kind, and collaborative whenever on the mat.