In last month’s blog, I described
how practicing and studying martials arts was more like training for a marathon
(http://hanmookwan-svl-chiefinstructor.blogspot.com/2019/03/practicing-martial-art-marathon-not.html). And while I still think this is a very good
analogy, I think an even better analogy is climbing Mt. Everest.
If you do not know anything about
Mt. Everest, let me provide you a couple facts (Reference 1):
·
Tallest mountain in the world.
·
Number of people to
attempt to climb Mt. Everest: approximately 4,000.
·
Number of people to
successfully climb Mt. Everest: 660.
Based on the statistics above, that means 16.5% of the people who attempt the climb, actually make it to the summit. Training to climb for Mt. Everest is intense. The best training includes cardiovascular training, strength training, and mental conditioning. In addition, the conditions can be harsh (Reference 2):
·
The warmest average daytime temperature (in July) is only about −2 °F
(−19 °C) on the summit; in January, the coldest month, summit temperatures
average −33 °F (−36 °C) and can drop as low as −76 °F (−60 °C).
·
Storms can come up suddenly, and temperatures can plummet unexpectedly.
·
The peak of Everest is so high that it reaches the lower limit of the
jet stream, and it can be buffeted by sustained winds of more than 100 miles
(160 km) per hour.
·
The risk of frostbite to climbers on Everest is extremely high.
Climbing Mt Everest does not take overnight. And while the actual time depends on several factors (weather conditions, fitness levels, acclimation time, etc.), the average time is around two to three weeks and the fastest time is 26 hours (Reference 3).
A couple things I find most interesting about Mt. Everest is:
· There are 18 routes up to the summit of Mt. Everest.
· There is no way to predict who may reach the top: men and women of all ages (13 to 80), including many people with disabilities have reached the summit
So, how is this like practicing a martial art (for purpose of this discussion, we will use earning a first-degree black belt as reaching a “summit)?
·
Not everyone reaches the summit
·
In martial arts, across almost all traditional disciplines, approximately
10% of the students who start the practice reach the level of first-degree
Black Belt. This statistic is consistent
with what we see at our Club.
·
To be effective, training requires cardiovascular training, strength training,
and mental conditioning
·
Time to reach the summit can vary dramatically
·
As noted in last month’s blog, the average time to earn a Black Belt is
around 4-5 years. This is consistent
with the time we have seen in our Club.
We have seen people earn a first Black Belt in under 2 years and a long
as 21 years.
·
Reaching the summit of martials arts is not based on age or gender. All ages, and genders have and can earn a
first-degree Black Belt.
·
It takes commitment and perseverance despite the obstacles that may be presented
along the way
However, what I think is the most important comparison is that there is no one way or one route to earn a first-degree black belt. There are many paths to reach this summit and one should pick the path (which includes the time to get there), that works for them depending on the conditions, most specifically health, time can devote to physical and mental training, and pure desire and focus.
Regards,
Kelly
“Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top;
it is the willpower that is the most important. This willpower you cannot buy
with money or be given by others..it rises from your heart." ~Junko Tabei (1939 2016), first woman to
reach the summit of Mount Everest (in 1975), and the first woman to ascend all
Seven Summits by climbing the highest peak on every continent.
References:
1. http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/hillary/archive/evefacts.htm,
retrieved 3/29/19
2. https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest,
retrieved 3/29/19
3. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/mount-everest-fasted-time-climb-kilian-jornet-a7752006.html/,
retrieved 3/29/19
