Stay Motivated with Martial Arts

Not Losing the Zeal: How to Stay Motivated with Martial Arts

written by: Master McCorry

Even though the number of martial arts learners is on a steady increase 

since the last decade, it is equally true that a section of the newbies 

does not stay in martial arts for long. Virtue Science, the science 

portal, points out that the dropout percentage is the highest during the 

first hundred days since enrolling. This is ironic, because most of the 

dropouts are people who have researched the benefits of martial arts, 

they are fully aware of its amazing positives. Why are they unable to go 

on, then? The reason is the inability to stay motivated. However, 

staying motivated with martial arts is not really that difficult, if you 

have the will.

Getting to Know Motivation

By motivation, a psychologist means the desire to do something. There 

are two sets of factors that can motivate you to do things. If you are 

extrinsically motivated, it means that outside factors propel you to do 

the particular activity. The rewards you will get for doing something 

and the punishment you get for not doing it are examples. On the other 

hand, intrinsic motivation occurs when internal factors cause you to do 

something. If you do something because you love it, you are 

intrinsically motivated.

Motivation and Martial Arts

If you are into martial arts, there is no need to tell you of its 

benefits or its amazing potential. Still, some find it difficult to 

remain motivated in martial arts. The discouraging factors, in most 

cases, are laziness or the fear of failure. How can we overcome these 

hurdles?

Blending the External and the Internal: If you have no intrinsic 

interest to begin with, no rewards can prompt you to stay motivated. In 

the same way, if all you have is a desire to learn and it gives no 

benefits or rewards, you will lose motivation. The latter never happens 

with martial arts, because even if material rewards like belts and 

levels may not be there, you will get benefits like health and fitness. 

So you have to cultivate an internal interest in martial arts, and 

choose a benefitting martial arts program.

Set a Goal for Yourself: More than just practicing, you need to set 

yourself a time-bound goal to be achieved. This martial art goal has to 

be high as well as practical. A low goal will be easily achieved and 

forgotten, whereas an impractical goal would discourage you. Once you 

set the goal, you can chart out a clear plan to achieve it. This will 

help motivation and keep you commited.

Loving What You Do: Once you start practicing martial arts, note down 

its positive aspects. You can keep a note of your lost weight, increased 

physical ability and so on. Try martial arts for the fun of it. Enjoying 

what you do will help you to stay motivated than anything else.

The Right Atmosphere: Where you learn martial arts is as important as 

how you learn it. Instead of boring self-lessons aided by videos, you 

can go for good martial arts centers where you can interact and compare 

your progress with others. Once you make friends and start practicing 

under professionals, you will take martial arts seriously and start 

enjoying it.

Inspiring Martial Art Lessons at Bruce McCorry's Academy

Bruce McCorry's Martial Arts Academy (Peabody, MA) has been conducting 

inspiring professional martial art lessons for kids and adults for the 

past four decades. If you want to get the benefits of martial arts in a 

fun and qualified manner, Bruce McCorry's is for you. 

Enroll at Bruce McCorry's, and you won't think of quitting again!

www.brucemccorrys.com