Joint locks. Throws. Striking. Ground fighting. Sparring.
Yes! Give me that Groupon for two free weeks of training!
On the outside, ninjutsu training looked very appealing to me. It taught practical self-defense for real-life scenarios. It offered a continuous challenge. It provided an escape from the rigmarole of everyday life.
However, my training these last few years has revealed that there’s a lot more to ninjutsu than the obvious physical benefits.
The effects of martial arts training have extended into all areas of my life and yielded some interesting lessons in the area of self-growth.
Here are five particular lessons that I’ve acknowledged and thoroughly embraced. Maybe some of them will strike a chord with you…
A strong foundation is essential for resilience
To maximize growth and minimize mistakes or injuries, it’s imperative that you have a strong foundation. That means nutrition, fitness, mindset… These all play a critical role in your self growth journey.
When I do my weekly ninjutsu training, these all factor in to how my training plays out. Improvements in nutrition, fitness, and basic things like sleep and hydration play a huge role in my stamina, training intensity, and my ability to stay focused and think clearly. They also play a role in memory retention, problem solving, and injury prevention.
Mindset is often neglected with many new endeavors, in martial arts and life, but it’s equally important. When it comes to self growth, you have to want it. Entering the dojo with this attitude of defeat or victim-hood is a surefire way to lackluster training.
Before you start the next chapter of your self growth journey, take a look at your foundation. Are you mentally, physically, and psychologically ready? Do you really want it? And do you plan to stick with it for the long haul? A strong foundation will enhance your resilience and give you the best chance of success – in both the short-term and long-term.
Drop the ego if you want to stick with something long-term
One big reason a lot of people leave the dojo is because they’re not seeing the progress as fast as they want. They start off fully fired up and slammed with good stuff right out the gate, but they have this expectation that if they train for a few weeks or months, they’ll become this instant ninja badass and then brag about it to all their buddies. They may even think they’ll get their black belt in just a couple of years. This is FAR from reality.
If you want to become a black belt in ninjutsu, like many things in life, you have to put in the time and work for it. You have to drop your ego at the door. Sure, there are ways to train smarter and increase your longevity or resilience, but it’s still going to take a while to get to that coveted Shodan level. Trust me, I’ve trained on and off for the last few years and am still at a Yellow/Black level. Like many fellow students, though, I also have a career, a family, and priorities outside of the dojo. The more you have going on outside of the dojo, the longer it will take you to progress, and this is something you have to accept immediately if it applies to you.
If you have an issue dropping your ego, whether it’s in martial arts or anything new you’re trying to master, I urge you to ask yourself why you’re pursuing it to begin with.
Embracing the suck is where real self growth happens
Photo by Solal Ohayon
In training, there are times where I get frustrated. There are times where I’m grappling and I can’t figure out what to do next. There are times where I’m practicing a technique and even after getting constructive feedback, I repeat the same mistake.
With training and with life, there are moments where you are on the edge and you’re frustrated to all hell. You’re tired. The task seems pointless. Part of you wants to throw in the towel. Yet, another part yearns for the glory that you’ll see if you can just push through.
When you do push through, that’s where the magic happens. That’s where real self growth occurs.
The so-called “suck” is going to happen regardless. It could be while struggling to learn a wrist lock like omote gyaku or it could just be the result of a long-ass report you had to send to your boss.
The “suck” is going to happen. However, it’s your choice whether you let it impact you negatively or see it as a learning experience.
If you embrace the suck, then your mind will pick up the slack when your body is ready to quit. And you’ll be all the stronger because of it.
Need help embracing the suck? Check out another article of mine that can help: 6 Simple Ways To Embrace The Chaos Of Everyday Life
If the thing you’re doing doesn’t move you, then why do it?
There are several essential things you should have in your self growth journey, but heart is probably the most overlooked. If you don’t excited about what you’re doing, why are you doing it? Yeah, I know it’s nearly impossible to be 100% happy about your job or business all the time.
Do daycare teachers like changing shitty diapers? Probably not. Do software developers like it when the network is broke? Definitely not.
Like I mentioned before, there are times in training where I’m frustrated or not feeling 100%, but I still show up because I love it and it’s a part of a who I am.
Does the thing you’re working on get you excited in the morning? Does it pick you up when everything else is going down? Is it something you feel compelled to do even when you’re sick or hurt?
Life is too short to sit around waiting for that perfect thing to come find you. If you’re not happy doing what you’re doing or you’ve lost that spark that makes you tick everyday, then it’s time to re-evaluate or see where you can squeeze in something you do love.
Your inner warrior is ready now
Photo by Zoltan Tasi
When I started training in ninjutsu, my biggest hurdle was my fight-or-flight response. There were times when I was sparring where I relied on fragments from my MCMAP days in the Marines, but for the most part, I would end up stuck or in awkward positions where I was vulnerable. When doing striking drills, I often retreated or froze up.
As my training has progressed, though, I have begun to etch a lot of techniques into muscle memory and some of my responses have become automatic. In randori, I’m much more confident as well.
It seems like the inner warrior has finally started to shine, but the reality is that the inner warrior was always there to begin with. I just gave it the medium to magnify.
In your dojo of life, there are many similar challenges. You may be stuck on a big project or you may have trouble getting a new business or idea off the ground. You may even have some ambitious fitness goals that you’re chomping at the bit to start on.
Part of you is waiting for this perfect moment or opportunity to break through and it seems like that day will never come.
The fact of the matter is that your time is now. Your inner warrior is ready now. Stop waiting around and take some damn action.
Ready to move forward and grow?
Whether you’re starting a new chapter in your life or simply trying to get unstuck from the muck you’re in, the insights above can make a huge difference in your self growth journey.
To recap:
Check your foundation. Does it have any leaks? How does your overall health and mindset look? Are you struggling to keep up or are you consistently breaking down?
Drop the ego. Why are you doing this? Is it to improve your self or is to create an artificial facade to everyone else that you’ve improved yourself? Are you planning to stick with it for a while?
Embrace the suck. Times can be rough, even when doing something new. Instead of becoming discouraged at every tribulation, push through and be proud you got through it. Then ask yourself what you learned from the experience.
Check for meaning. Does this thing get you inspired every day? Does it seem effortless at times? Do you love it and feel compelled to do it even when the going is rough?
Let your inner warrior shine now. Don’t stay stuck or at the starting line because you’re waiting for the right time or the right tools. Your time is now. Take action and take control of your life.
Where are you stuck in life? Have any of these self growth insights from my ninjutsu training struck a chord in your soul? How can you light that fire within and move forward again?
