I agree with the distinction between her heart not being in it and her just not wanting to because she’d rather veg out or something. It’s why I’m doing everything in my power to keep her in it. I really think that in the long run it would be beneficial for her to stay in. At the rate she’s going she wouldn’t get her Jr. Black Belt until she was 13 or so, and a lot of things can change by then. Grandmaster teaches that most of the time, you get the results you want with persistence. It’s just a difficult concept for someone with almost zero life experience to comprehend.

Also, I started my training with an 11-year-old girl with ADD whose behavior would drive everyone insane. Jumpin’ all over the place, talking every second, “accidentally” punching people full force. But her dad (who’s also in the system) kept her in training. She’s 14 now and while she’s extra super chatty, she’s also learned to live by the rules. She knows when it’s time to work and she knows what she can and cannot get away with. There’s a process of maturing, I think, required by those who start young. And an insistence on the part of their parents to keep them in training until they’re self-possessed enough to say “I don’t want to do this because my heart’s not in it” rather than “I don’t want to do this because I don’t WANNA! HARUMPH!”

My 21-yr-old, 4th degree black-belted coworker credits his parents for keeping him in training when he was younger (he started when he was 6) because it’s influenced his life in a million positive ways. If they had let him quit every time he got whiney or tired, he says, who knows what kind of trouble he’d be getting into now.

2) Listen to your body. It’s smarter than doctors.

3) I’ve taken breaks. I’m taking one now… sorta. And there are people who say you aren’t really dedicated if you take a break but I think that’s crap. Besides, just because you’re not going to class/the gym/sparring practice doesn’t mean you’re not training. The martial arts are about so much more than punching and kicking.

And black belt isn’t the goal. It’s a gateway you have to get through to continue towards the goal. You were given an awesome opportunity to advance quickly and I think it’s a testament to your courage and preparedness that you took it but really… there’s no rush. Forget about what the Grandmaster thinks, forget about what your classmates think, forget about all the voices in your head besides your own telling you what to do. Listen to your body. If it says rest, then rest. If it says keep going, then keep going. But know that there’s plenty of time.

My friend John is 69 years old and tested for his 4th degree black belt last summer. Even though it takes between 5 and 8 years to get to 5th degree, and it’s probable he won’t get there, he still trains to the best of his body’s ability. He’s slow and he rarely kicks above knee-level, but he gets tossed around and takes punches and hands out whuppins like nobody’s business.

Women are more at risk for certain types of lower-extremity injuries related to hormone flux, particularly the knees. Martial arts can be really hard on those joints, especially sparring which tends to be less controlled.

I think you’re wise to take a little time off. While you rest, don’t forget the power of using stuff like visualization and guided imagery practice to keep up that fantastic momentum! What a great opportunity to bust out your favorite martial arts whoopass movies.

My personal faves: ice, rest, NSAIDs, massage as tolerated. Also, trigger point therapy.

Rock on,
Ding

Go you, sexy thing!