IT’S NOT LINEAR

WEEK OF 3/02/26

 

Growth in the martial arts isn’t linear.  This is true, despite the linear hierarchies that we often impose upon it (i.e. belt rankings).

So it’s less like a race, where we run from one checkpoint to another, and more like a scavenger hunt.  Certain elements needed to level up might be ahead of you, but some of them might also be behind you.

Hitting a plateau in training is similar to heading out run an errand, but realizing you lost your keys somewhere.  You can fume, you can tear the house apart, and you can also stubbornly just walk to whatever your final destination is.  But, if you’re smart, you’ll take a deep breath, retrace your steps, and see if you can’t find the missing element (in this case, your keys) somewhere on the path behind you.

It’s not a race.  It’s not even a “journey.”  Training is just life.  Enjoy it.