Perseverance

This is the third post in a series of 10 outlining the qualities I feel are the most important for success in practicing the martial way in the modern-day world...

The ability to persevere, to push through the odds, to overcome the obstacles, to drill into your muscle memory through constant repetition...this is a cornerstone, both physically, mentally and spiritually, in the martial arts. All the other qualities martial artists hold dear - strength, agility, quickness, and countless others - all of these stem from this one source. Without perseverance, without constant practice, these skills cannot be honed.

When I think of perseverance, one of the images that comes to mind deals with repetitive action: line drills up and down the floor; practicing that kata over and over; sparring bout after sparring bout, etc. Another image I get is pushing past the boundaries, going further than one has before - that's the only way we get better.

So when that instructor makes you stand in a horse stance for an extra 10 minutes or takes you up and down the floor a few more times, remember that through this repetition, through pushing past your initial limits, you will only become a better martial artist.