After I finished reading Steven Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, I began to consider how these habits would apply specifically to martial arts training. The habits are: be proactive; begin with the end in mind; put first things first; think win-win; seek first to understand, then to be understood; synergize; and sharpen the saw. Since my training has become such an integral part of my life, I was able to see how these habits could be applied to improve my training in a way similar to how they have improved my personal and professional life. Each habit can be interpreted in its own right, but all seven relate to one another in a way that can encompass every aspect of training in the arts.
Be Proactive. This habit is first for very good reason. It basically states that you are responsible for your own training. Your instructor may guide you along the way, but ultimately it is you that must choose the path your training will take. Martial arts training can be like putting a magnifying glass over your personality. It can make good people better, but on the same note can make bad people worse. The true goal of martial arts training should be to evaluate yourself through that magnifying glass and choose the right path.
Begin with the End in Mind. A martial artist who begins with the end in mind is able to see beyond day-to-day training to the greater goal of understanding and self-improvement. Since a martial artist's training, in the broad sense, is never really complete, this can refer to reaching certain goals that are part of that martial artist's training; goals such as earning the next belt level, or black belt, or simply becoming more comfortable executing complicated combinations. Beginning with the end in mind can allow certain aspects of training to be put into perspective. By not having goals that are so far off they seem unreachable, one is able to approach their day-to-day training knowing that they are taking steps towards a realizable goal.
Put First Things First. Every martial artist can probably remember being a beginner and having to do basics over and over, and thinking, "When is this going to end? When do we get to the good stuff?" Well, I've got news for all white belts: The basics are what it's all about. The basics are the first things taught because they are the foundation of all martial arts. Every advanced technique, every combination, and every form can all be broken down to the basics. Because of this, every training session should begin with the basics and build up from there. Consider this: If you are learning a form that contains a lot of a particular stance, strike, or block, what better way to improve the overall form than to simply practice that technique? By improving the basics that make up the forms, the forms themselves will improve as well.
Think Win-Win. This habit can be practiced each and every time you get the chance to work with another martial artist. If there is one thing that I've learned through my own teaching and studying is that one should never assume that they have nothing to learn from someone. Every martial artist is a student and every martial artist is a teacher, regardless of rank. Think of every person you meet as an opportunity to learn, and an opportunity to share what you have learned. This is a true win-win relationship.
Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood. This habit is especially important for instructors. People choose to become students of the martial arts for many different reasons. Since learning flows in both directions it is important for those who are the primary source of the flow to understand what motivates those whom they teach. Students are not simply troughs into which knowledge is dumped like so much water, nor are teachers simply spigots out of which knowledge flows. Teaching and learning are interactive processes and as a martial artist your primary goal should be understanding, both of the art and of the people.
Synergize. Synergy is when the relationship between the parts is a significant part of the whole. More simply, it is when the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Synergy can occur for martial artists in many different ways. Synergy can occur during training with a partner because the training can be more significant and effective when two people who are striving for the same goal cooperate in order to reach it together; perhaps more quickly than they could have on their own. This type of synergy can be indicative of a win-win relationship between students. Synergy can also occur between different facets of a martial artist's training. Think of how, by putting first things first, you can improve your forms by improving your basics; or improve your knowledge of self-defense by increasing your knowledge of the interpretation of the forms. Synergy can also occur by training in several styles or cross-training. Think of how much your hand-work could improve by working regularly with a boxer. Think of how much your breathing could improve by incorporating yoga into your training. Why do you think so many three-hundred pound football players take ballet? The only caveat with this sort of training is that some have a tendency to fall into the jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none category. This can be avoided by choosing one style to be your "primary" style and using all of
your other training to augment it.
Sharpen the Saw. This is the habit of constant and continual learning. A martial artist's training is never "complete". If you feel you are at an impasse in your training in a particular style, perhaps it is time to move on; or perhaps it is time to re-evaluate your goals. It is possible that you have reached a plateau and must therefore train with even more vigilance to reach the next level. In any event, it is continual training and the practicing of these habits that lead to the highly effective martial artist.
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