Hey, Ando again from SenseiAndo.com. Today, just standing in a field. So, I got a call
the other day from a student who wanted to apologize because he hadn't made it to class
in a couple of weeks. Got busy at work, got busy with the family, blah blah blah. Now,
I hear this kind of thing all the time. I get emails from people all over the world
saying how I really want to practice martial arts, but I don’t have the time, I don’t
have the money, I don’t have a teacher. I'm too old, I'm too young, I'm too out of
shape. Well, if any of that sounds like you, I have a message today that I really want
you to remember. And here it is-- PFFT.
When I was a young man, I wanted to learn martial arts, but I didn’t have any money. Back then, believe it or not,
there was no internet. I didn't have a car. I didn’t even have a driver’s license. But here’s
what I did have… a library card and a punching bag. Actually, it wasn’t even a real punching
bag. I found an old, mildewy sack in the basement, I stuffed it with sheets and shirts, I put
it together with a bike lock, and threw it over a rafter in the garage. And training
partners? All I had were friends that I could talk into coming over and sparring a few rounds.
Now, you may think that learning from books in a garage with some friends is a waste of
time, but you'd be wrong. I learned a lot back then. Why? Because a student is a student.
If you want to learn, you'll find a way to learn. And if all you can do today is stand
up and start throwing some punches, then stand up and start throwing some punches. Just don’t
hit anybody. Of course, training from books in a garage has its limitations. Especially
when your friends stop answering your phone calls. So, sure, when I got my driver’s
license, I went out and I joined an official class. Even today, I still drive all over
town and pay good money to take classes. But here's the funny thing—nothing changed.
When I think of all the greatest breakthroughs I've had in my martial arts training, many
of the most important lessons were not learned in a dojo. They were learned in coffee shops
and campgrounds, parking lots and church halls. And even though I’ve been very lucky to
meet some smart and patient teachers over the years, the fact is I’ve learned just
as much talking with family and friends, strangers, jerks, even kids.Here’s the point-- if you're
a real martial arts student, then you will learn anywhere, anytime, and from anyone.
You don't need to be standing in a dojo all the time. Wherever you're standing right now,
that’s your dojo. Whatever you’re wearing right now, that’s you’re uniform. Whoever
you’re with, that’s your teacher. And whatever you’re doing, that’s your lesson.
So, when you can get to class, absolutely, get to class. But when you can’t get to
class, don’t let a lack of time or money, transportation, or access stop you from learning
and growing. Every moment is a class. Every place is a classroom. And every person is a teacher.
If you're a martial artist, approach the day the same as you would approach a class.
Commit yourself to being your best and fighting with your whole heart at all times. Remember,
martial arts is not just what you do, it’s who you are. Martial arts isn’t just learning
how to fight, it’s learning how to live. Yes, how you train on the mats should influence
how you live off the mats. But it works the other way, too. At least it should! How you
live off the mats should influence how you train on the mats. Each and every day of your
life, you are running drills and putting yourself to the test. You are always developing your
character. You're always training your sensitivity, your awareness, your emotional control, your
resolve, your decisiveness. Every day, you're expressing yourself and managing relationships,
which is all a fight really is—a relationship. When you think of martial arts as a way of
life and not just a workout, well, then you realize that the world is your dojo. And that
means you never miss a class. The fact is your class is running right now. So, if you
want to be the best you can be, be a student. Be a good student. Learn everywhere and from
everyone. And the next time you bow out of class, don't think of it as bowing out of
a dojo, think of it as bowing into the world.