A Martial Artist's Guide to Smashing 2019!

Every year you set yourself a new one, every year they are forgotten and discarded before February in the blink of an eye. So how can we achieve the seemingly un-achievable and and achieve our goals in 2019?

 1. Set yourself a goal

It’s easy to know what we want to achieve; get fitter, perfect a side kick, earn the next belt or win a world championship. However, how do we get there? The first thing we need to understand is what exactly the goal is. It’s easy to say “I will get fitter”, but how do we know whether we have achieved that? The goal we set needs specific: “I want be fit enough to run 1 mile without stopping”. If you know exactly what the goal is, you’ll know exactly when you have got there.

 2. Break the goal down into smaller goals

Our goal needs to be realistic and we need to be able to see ourselves getting there. If you struggle with flexibility but set yourself the goal of being able to perform a high kick by the end of the year, you may not see how you will achieve that and it is disheartening if you fail to see improvement in the first weeks and months. Start by making smaller goals that will ultimately lead to your main aim. To perform the high kick, the first goal is to be be able to touch your toes, then to increase the stretch a little each time. You’ll see the results of these micro goals a lot faster.

 3. Document your progress

It’s hard for us to see the small changes in ourselves. The high kick that gets a fraction of an inch higher every week isn’t noticeable in the mirror but over time those fractions add up. Take photos as you begin your journey of improvement and at regular intervals. Don’t be disheartened if you can’t see the changes in one week, but look back and compare after 3 months and you’ll see the difference.

 4. Plan

As good as our intentions are, improvements won’t happen by themselves. We have to plan and work for them. A good plan will make those little changes come easier and quicker. If you’re not sure how to go about achieving your goal, ask your instructor, coach or teacher. Work out a plan together, one that works to your schedule and ability, building slowly and allowing for life’s little changes.

 5. Start today

“Don’t put off tomorrow, what can be done today”.

The best way to start is straight away. Tomorrow all too quickly becomes the next day, then the next, then the next. Before you know it, a week, a month, 6 months has passed and you are no closer to your goal. Begin now and take it one day at a time.

Tell us what your goals are this year and how we can help you achieve them.

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