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SMART Goals for Martial Arts

March 1, 2019

If you’re looking to make the most of your martial arts practice, take some time to think about what it is you want to achieve. One way to narrow your focus and increase your chances for success is through goal-setting.

Putting aside some time to set SMART goals for martial arts will help you with creating goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based.

Specific

Be as specific as you can about the goal you want to achieve. For example, you might want to work toward your next belt promotion. To make this goal specific, you could set a goal like, “Earn my blue belt by ________.” And outline the specific things you will need to do to get your blue belt. Or if you’re working toward getting more fit through martial arts, a specific goal could be “I want to lose 10 pounds by _______.”

Measurable

Without a way to measure the progress of your goal, you will never be able to gauge how you are doing. Starting with a specific goal will usually help you figure out a good way to measure your progress.

Achievable

Your goals should challenge you, but you don’t want your goal to be impossible. If you set a goal and after a few weeks realize that you might’ve set the bar a little bit too high, then adjust your goal accordingly. It’s better to adjust than to give up and abandon your goal altogether. To get some idea of what’s achievable for you, take some time to think about the things you’ve been successful at in the past. Use your history of success to set the bar for your future goal.

Relevant

Ask yourself if your goal fits in with your overall martial arts journey, as well as your lifestyle. Examples of relevant martial arts goals center around physical fitness, self-defense, or adding more self-discipline to your lifestyle.

Time-Based

Give yourself a deadline for your goal, as well as smaller check-in points. If your goal is one that will take a year or more to complete, then you should also set deadlines for short-term objectives. These mini-deadlines go a long way in keeping you motivated to achieve a long-term goal.

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4 Elements of Martial Arts Fitness You Can Train from Home

March 27, 2020
When you can’t make it in for your regular martial arts classes, your training doesn’t have to stop. Along with martial arts training to continue improving and refining your skills, you can also work on improving your fitness from home.

3 Ways Jiu Jitsu Promotes Mindfulness

March 16, 2020
A Jiu Jitsu martial arts practice has many health benefits for your body and your mind. With every class you attend, you are building habits that can lead to improvements in your physical and mental health. By focusing all of your attention on a single activity, Jiu Jitsu, your training becomes like a moving meditation. When you become more mindful, you become more aware of your thoughts. Managing these thoughts means you experience less stress. And when you experience less stress, your overall health and daily life improve. Here are a few ways that Jiu Jitsu promotes mindfulness: 1. Breathing. One of the basic ways to create a strong connection between your body and mind is through breathing. Taking deep breaths where you’re focusing on the inhale and exhale creates a calmer mind, reduces heart rate, and improves performance. Shifting your focus to your breathing directs your attention away from the stress of the day. One hundred percent of your attention is on your Jiu Jitsu class and what’s happening in the present moment. 2. Awareness of Thoughts. It’s impossible to stop negative thoughts, but it is possible to reframe them. The first step in managing negative thoughts is to become aware of them. This awareness develops, along with a strong mind-body connection. If you practice awareness of your thoughts (either positive or negative) while training, you’re also increasing mindfulness. 3. Individual Focus. Comparing yourself to other students in your class makes it tough to maintain a mind-body connection. Rather than paying attention to others, focus on yourself. Practice noticing when you’re no longer focused on yourself and bring your attention back to your training. Letting go of how much the other students are progressing in favor of your own improvement promotes mindfulness.

5 Skills that Encourage Kids to Be Leaders

February 28, 2020
Through martial arts, kids develop both character-building and leadership skills. Here are a few skills from martial arts that encourage kids to be good leaders: 1. Focus Martial arts students practice paying attention to their instructor while ignoring distractions. Students learn to focus only on what is relevant and responding appropriately. Being able to recognize and let go of the things that aren’t relevant to the task at hand is one of a leader’s many strengths. 2. Self-Discipline A disciplined martial arts student has figured out the value of working hard and putting effort into their training. He or she has learned that training through repetition ultimately helps to accomplish a goal. At the same time, a leader recognizes the importance of committing to the learning process to achieve a future goal. 3. Respect From the first time a student steps on to the mats, respect is a fundamental value of martial arts. Instructors expect all students to be respectful of each other. They honor and show kindness to everyone and receive respect, honor, and kindness in return. 4. Self-Confidence Martial arts provides kids a chance to build up a belief in themselves and expand what they think they’re capable of. Hard work, patience, and dedication to martial arts leads to success and confidence. And a confident student is more likely to grow and become a confident leader. 5. Social Skills Group martial arts classes encourage the development of social skills. Students learn how to interact with one another and build relationships with kids from a variety of backgrounds. The ability to build strong relationships is another valuable trait for good leaders.
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