How do i stay motivated?

Question

how do i stay motivater? i was in martial arst for only 4 months but just cant stay motivated, i love martial arts and just need to be motivated, any suggestions?

Answer 1

watch jackie chan movies!

Answer 2

Keeping a student motivated is the job of the teacher ( sensei ) it's just that simple.  No one ever heard these kinds of complaints in the 70's, 80's or 90's and now all of a sudden this seeems to be the major complaint of a lot of martial art practitioners these days.  Purhaps the teachers have become a little more lazy than they should be.  Or maybe these teachers are more money minded than they are student developement minded eh?  If I were you and I was spending decent money on classes and felt bored or unmotivated then I pull my teacher and/or teachers and instructors aside and have a little chat in private about my concerns over not being motivated.  It's easy to place the blame for an unmotivated student at the student feet, but any instructor, teacher, coach, manager, etc. involved in the developement and advancement of a student, practitioner, fighter, etc takes all the blame as far as other teachers and trainers are concerned.  There are many teaching aids out there for any teacher or instructor that will help them tackle your problem such as the materials found at:  http://www.martialartscurriculum.com/ for example.  ( This site is only one of many such teaching aids ) If a teacher or instructor can't keep you motivated you may want to entertain the thought of switching schools.  You can continue to practice the current art you're taking else where for a few lessons and see if that helps maybe.  You just may find a faster paced and more proactive way of learning your art under a totally different staff of instructors who can keep you motivated through every class.  It's their job to keep you interested, but in the same token you have to put forth some effort in that aspect as well which you are a student so I'd say you're putting forth plenty of effort in that aspect other wise you wouldn't even attend such classes.

Answer 3

Set yourself a goal.  If you have an attainable goal in mind, you have something to strive for.  You could try to enter a local competition next summer - that may motivate you to train.  You may want to get the next level belt in 2 months - there's another motivator.  Maybe you want to lose 10 lbs...you get the idea.  Choose an attainable goal and use that as your motivation!

You should also speak to your instructor and tell him/her about your motivation issue.  A lot of times they can help you set a goal, and they'll keep you on target about reaching your goals.

I'm guessing you aren't doing what you thought you would - maybe you aren't progressing as quickly as you hoped.  Or you are bored with the simple stuff you are learning.  It's VITAL to have this groundwork down pat before you move on.  So work harder on it and you'll learn the more advanced techniques in time.  You can't do a spinning back kick without learning great balance, timing, coordination, etc.  These basic elements build up to the more "exciting" stuff you'll do later.  But you'll always need the simple tools to be precise...

Good luck.

Answer 4

Just remember, your self-serving pseudo-art is enabling you to be able to kill anyone you do not like.  

There are so many better, respected, and civilized sports out there.

Answer 5

Sifu Frank has some excellent advice.  

Motivation must come from within.  Once you are motivated, your instructor should be able to amplify it and keep it alive.

Answer 6

I always look at the films that do me into kung fu drunken master and the police story ones be some of my fav. i some times take a break from doing kung fu as well, i train 5 times a week every week so sometimes i will just take about 3 weeks off of not doing any, i usually plan to go back after 2 but its some times gard to get back into the routine again but when you go back to that first lesson its a great feeling and i feel like i did when i started , excited and ready to go or like how i feel when i passed my black sash, proud and happy knowing this is where i belong

Answer 7

Martial arts is a avocation with a long term horizon. What I'm trying to say is that it is a lifelong pursuit.To stay committed to such a thing, like any other long term pursuit you need to be motivated to do the day to day training and studying to achieve your goal. It is easy to become bored if you do not stay in the moment. Try to bring energy to each class and every drill. Fake it for a while if you have to the energy will come.

I made a friend in class and we committed to certain short term goal and would help each other practice and encourage each other. I found this to be a big help to get me through those times when I wanted to quit. I did not want to let my training partner down. Every one gets some time when they just feel taped and are stuck and not making the kind of gains the think they should. You need to push through these times. Weather it is martial arts or whatever else in life you pursue.

This is the difficult part where you need perseverance. I feel it is important for my students to not quit at these times in their walk in the pursuit. I ask them to stick it out for a few months and if the still want to quit, than perhaps it is not their walk. You should not quit because you are tired or board: rather when you are sure it is not what you want to do and you want to pursue another passion.

Don't form a habit of quitting. Every long term endevor has streaches of doldrums to cross.

Answer 8

start at the root. what made you get into martial arts in the first place. something must have drove you to do it for 4 years. also when doing it if you need extra motivation,think about the people that p**s you off the most!

Answer 9

tell your self that your prepared to have a heart attack and go harder than you ever thought, really make your heart work i tried it and now i got my motivation back + more

Answer 10

pick a guy way out of ur league n p**s him off. he will be ur motivation.

Answer 11

I guess you have two choices then. You can either discipline yourself and make it a habit until your enthusiasm returns. Or try something else.

Motivation comes from within yourself, it isn't something that someone else can give you.

Most of us have times when we've been sick of it, but that's the difference between people who do well at something and people who don't. The people who do well persevere and keep going when the others have given up and gone home.

There is no magic here, just good attitude and hard work.

Answer 12

I think the will to learn something is the most important fact in any martial art.  no will means that you won't learn no matter what.  If you enjoy what you do will and motivation come natural.

if you don't enjoy what you do maybe a good idea to ask yourself whether or not you want to keep on doing this...