What can we do different in our lives to make it better? I am always asking myself this. I am way too hard on myself. Most of us are. But why is it? We’re all capable of living a healthy lifestyle. It all starts with you. Then you have to choose goals. Then you write them down. You write them down every single day. Don’t share them with anyone except for the people who can help you along. Even then, don’t be as specific. You want to be great at Krav Maga? Write it down. Then what does it mean to be great? Do you want to improve your conditioning in MMA or Muay Thai Kickboxing? Write out what exactly about your conditioning you can do to improve it.
Almost 10 years ago I embarked on a new chapter in my life. It was to be healthy, positive and to keep pushing myself to achieve a goal of getting a black belt in a martial art. I dropped some dead weight (relationships and got into a few more bad ones, but burn and learn…), took steps to be more conscious as to how to improve my fitness and overall athletic performance. I did get the black belt. I earned it. I decided there was nothing that was going to stop me from achieving it. Things hurt on my body and most likely will continue to for the rest of my life, but I wear it like a badge. I didn’t get it from sitting around and staring at a computer. I don’t have bad knees because I became too heavy and unable to support my weight. I earned it. As strange as it sounds, those of you who are hurting from the same thing know exactly what I mean.
My joints hurt. My muscles ache. I can’t move the same way I once did. What I can do though, is move smarter. I can train with different intentions. Although I achieved a black belt, now I have to live the black belt lifestyle.
For those naysayers out there who say things like, “belts don’t matter. That’s not what I’m training for.” When someone you respect and admire believes that you’ve done what it takes to get a black belt, there is no prouder moment for a martial artist.
Go out and get what you want. Believe you can achieve something that is going to take a lot of hard work. That’s what it is. It will be work. You must be disciplined. When your friends want to do something that won’t allow you to be the best you can be, you have to be able to say no. When your job has you working so many hours that you can’t make a training session, you make the time somehow with a run or weight session. Make the discipline into “blisscipline” and train hard.
Train hard. Train often.
S. Derhammer
Elite Training Center Redondo Beach
1628 South Pacific Coast Highway,
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 598-1887
Elite Training Center Hermosa Beach
1601 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 170
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
(310) 597-4669
