Some days, you don’t feel like doing it.
I’d be lying if I said I never feel like taking a day off—hell, even throwing in the towel completely and walking off into the sunset. Actually, it’s more like chilling on the sofa.
However, I can’t recall a single practice I’ve gone to that I regretted once I stepped on the mat and started moving around. It was just getting me to step on the mat that took some work.
I remember when I was training at the Osaka Shudokan a few times a week. The Shudokan is a martial arts hall located on the grounds of the Osaka Castle. Yep, a real freaking castle, and I got to train there. But there were days that I would try and talk myself out of going to practice. Even when I was already on the castle grounds!
- “I don’t think I feel so good.”
- “Maybe I’ll just give myself a little break today.”
- “My toe still hurts from yesterday’s practice.”
It was pretty ridiculous when you think about it. Here I was, a young guy from Wichita, KS, who had the opportunity to train with high-level black belts in judo inside an actual castle in Japan, and I was making excuses not to go!
Ultimately, I always showed up, went to practice, and loved it.
Mind you, if you have a legitimate excuse, like an injury or being on fire, you might want to skip it. But if it’s just a matter of nerves or feeling sorry for yourself, then by all means, GO TO PRACTICE!
Show up, get moving, and I guarantee you’ll be glad you went.
My Personal Mantra
I have a little mantra that I’ve used for many years now:
Just step on the mat.
This is what I tell myself EVERY TIME I don’t feel like doing something.
It could be for work, a difficult conversation I need to have, martial arts practice, or even my daily workout.
- Don’t want to work? Just step on the mat.
- Don’t feel like washing the dishes? Just step on the mat.
- Don’t feel like going to martial arts class? Shut up and just step on the mat.
What I’m saying is to simply start doing whatever it is you don’t want to do. Because, if you can show up and “step on the (proverbial) mat”, the percentage of you actually doing the thing is WAY higher than not showing up.
As Wayne Gretzky (might have) said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
If you don’t step on the mat, you won’t get better. But the more you step on the mat, the better you get at the thing you’re doing. Period.
Please understand that I’m not saying we should be CRUSHING IT!!! (whatever IT is) every single time you step on the mat.
A lot of us feel that we need to go hard every single practice, get in as many rounds as possible, and be our best every single session. That’s what we think will bring us success.
That was me too, and I pushed myself VERY hard ever since I was young. And typically thought that if I didn’t nail a certain workout, technique, or get the sub, my session was crap and a “bad” session.
However, it wasn’t until I realized that “success” in my training sessions and martial arts wasn’t about how exhausted I made myself or how many people I submitted that day.
A better way was to ask myself, What did I learn today?
This reframing from accomplishments to learning took the pressure off of winning and instead actually helped me focus on making improvements.
I really wish I had done this earlier on in my martial arts because it would have made the journey much more enjoyable.
And if you’re thinking, SCREW THAT! I’M GOING TO KEEP CRUSHING!!
OK, cool. Have at it.
Just understand that as you age, you won’t be able to hit the numbers, skills, and effort you once had. That can be depressing if you view everything based on those things.
But when you focus on learning something from your practice each time, you will ALWAYS have a successful practice, no matter your age.
In my opinion, this reframe of “What did I learn today?” will help guide you for the rest of your life as long as you’re open to it.
However, for this to happen, you gotta step on the mat!
Show up, do some light warm-ups, and then let it take you where you feel it. The thing is, what usually happens when stepping on the mat and moving your body a bit is that you end up having a great session.
For more on how to gauge your practices, click here. https://juyukai.com/play-your-own-game-4-step-formula/
To wrap things up, the next time you feel like skipping practice, remember this: Just step on the mat.
You don’t need to crush your workout or achieve a personal record every session. Simply showing up and starting your warm-up can turn the day around. Focus on what you can learn, and you’ll never have a bad session. This mindset shift from performing to learning will sustain you throughout your martial arts journey and beyond.
Consistency is key, and by making it a habit to show up, you’ll not only become a better martial artist but also a stronger, more disciplined individual.