THE POWER OF OPTIMISM: Rising Above Adversity as a Martial Arts Aspirant

My Sifu saw me struggling with a form one day and pointed to a nearby bamboo stalk recounting:

“A long time ago, a young bamboo tree struggled to grow. It faced harsh winds and heavy rain but remained steadfast in its commitment to growth. Eventually, it grew tall and strong, its roots planted in the earth. You are like that bamboo tree, Khonsura. You face challenges and struggles, but with perseverance and commitment, you will grow and become strong.

A struggle can inspire you. Tedious work, disparaging personalities, and stormy weather can sometimes sap the joy out of life. Frustration stemming from impatience can make our minds pessimistic at times. However, bringing back happiness to our work and expressing gratitude for waking up to experience a new day of breath and possibility, regardless of current life conditions, can create the inspiration needed to achieve the breakthrough and progress desired at the right time and place.

We need to maintain the optimism of a beginning martial artist, patiently training. Mastering techniques to build a solid foundation, despite critics and contrarians who may laugh and say things like, “Why that won’t work?” “Your martial art style stinks!” and “You should learn this and that to become a real martial artist!” Despite the many unknown variables in any situation, critics and contrarians may project their own experiences on others under the guise of “protecting them.” Forget that! Everyone has to walk their path, make mistakes, and grow from their experiences. We cannot, must not avoid all the pitfalls of life, nor the responsibilities for our choices. If we persist and endure, we build resilience, competence and confidence. Making errors from not knowing is not a sin, but pretending we have “knowledge in its absence” is worse than ignorance – it is an illusion!

As a martial art aspirant, find the guidance of good teachers. Hold reverence for tradition until reason tells you otherwise. Train diligently day by day, mastering not only the forms but yourself. You’ll cultivate your competence and control as you learn to deal with and overcome your internal challenges. Once you achieve self-mastery, you’ll test the limits of your knowledge and practice under pressure within and outside your training domain. This process takes years. Nothing worth your time, energy, and assets will come quickly. Eventually, you’ll “Adapt what is useful,” as Bruce says, and set aside everything else.

Suppose you listen too much to someone else’s unsolicited and often pessimistic descriptions of their disastrous past. In that case, you may become a typical cynical person, too afraid to commit to a tradition or path of your choosing. This act will prevent you from reaching mastery of yourself, let alone anything else. You won’t be qualified to become a master teacher and pass your knowledge to progeny.So remain optimistic, create your path, and walk it responsibly on your time and terms. We call this agency and self-determination.

Ultimately, we all have the potential to overcome challenges and create a breakthrough, but sometimes we need extra inspiration. That inspiration can come from within or without, so let us embrace where we stand and what we have. My friends, embrace gratitude for new growth and possibilities the day and our practice offers. A key to optimism is to create your own path and walk it responsibly, on your time, and on your terms.

Stay Inspired and Inspirational,

Sifu Khonsura Wilson