Training diligently is required to become proficient in any martial art. According to the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary, diligent is an adjective that means “characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort” [1].
Many of the masters have discussed the need to train diligently. In Anko Itosu’s letter 10 Precepts of Karate written in 1908, he states “Karate cannot be quickly learned. Like a slow moving bull, it eventually travels a thousand leagues. If one trains diligently for one or two hours every day, then in three or four years one will see a change in physique. Those who train in this fashion will discover the deeper principles of karate.”
Gichin Funakoshi’s 20th principle “Be Constantly Mindful, Diligent, and Resourceful in Your Pursuit of the Way” in his book The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate: The Spiritual Legacy of the Master [2] discusses this as well. He states “Whether from a spiritual or technical standpoint, the practitioner must be constantly mindful, diligent, and resourceful”. He also states “Karate practitioners must constantly examine and chide themselves, never failing to be mindful and diligent, until they can penetrate the innermost levels of karate-do. This must be the attitude of all who aspire to the Way.”
The concept to become proficient in the martial arts takes time and a continued practice. The techniques must become natural and a body memory. And to be proficient in martial arts it must be precise. I read in a book (but do not remember which one), where it was stated that if it is not precise, it is not a martial art, it is just street fighting.
To be precise, one must not just practice, but practice perfectly. It is practicing a precise way at a precise time. Only perfect practice makes perfect. It is said it can take easily 1000 times to become proficient. Therefore, let’s take front kick. If you only practice in class, we practice front kick in basics and in drills, so, let’s say during one week in class you practice a front kick for perfection 25 times on each leg. If you only practice it during the class, it would take 40 weeks to practice that kick 1000 times and this is just the mechanics side of the kick and assumes you practiced it perfectly all those times. Most likely you are not practicing it perfectly each time, so it will take longer. By this example, you can see why one needs to practice more than just in class to become proficient, and why it takes time.
Training just once or twice a week will not allow one to absorb and learn the skills and be able to study the techniques and applications to truly appreciate the fundamentals and principles of the martial arts. Reaching First Degree Black Belt takes years. In our Club approximately 10% of the people who complete the first six months continue on to achieve the rank of First Degree Black Belt.
Becoming proficient in martial arts is about constant and continuous improvement, it involves self-discovery, and understanding of the mechanics, principles, and philosophy. Becoming proficient means practicing to ingrain the attributes of the techniques and principles. It is not something you do, it is the way you work, and it is a part of who you are.
In Gichin Funakoshi’s 20th principle [2] he ends that principle with “These principles should not be thought of as applying only to karate-do. If they and their overriding concepts of mindfulness, diligence, and resourcefulness are applied to your dealings in society as a whole, your understanding of life in general will be greatly increased.”
Regards,
Kelly
"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times." ~ Bruce Lee, (1940 –1973) American-born Chinese Hong Kong martial artist, actor, and founder of Jeet Kune Do
References
1. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diligent
2. The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate: The Spiritual Legacy of the Master by Gichin Funakoshi
Sunday, November 1, 2009
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