There are a number of tough questions in combat sports.
How do I optimize my training? What’s the best solution to a given problem? How do I balance training and life?
As a coach I’m constantly asked questions like these (and if you know me, I often give long winded but ultimately vague answers that probably just create more questions for you). The truth is — some questions don’t have answers that can be given.
If we could study combat sports academically, our training sessions would look a lot different. We’d be in a class room taking notes, reading books, and writing essays.
While there is absolutely an academic aspect to martial arts, the real important questions are answered through experience.
That’s why the people with the most robust skills are called experts. They have the experience. They have walked the path, and stumbled over most obstacles along the way, and seen a ton of sights through plenty of vantage points.
Oftentimes the answers to the questions you’re asking are simply just ahead of you on the path. It’s up to you to put one foot in front of the other and seek them out.
After nearly 20 years of training, I sometimes feel that there is still twice as much out there more to learn, and that if I’m lucky I might see most of it in a lifetime.
So don’t stress yourself about the unknowns. It just means there is more path to walk, more sights to see, and more to learn. It’s why we do what we do. Enjoy the discoveries!