Regardless of the discipline being practiced, the study of martial arts is more than just an active sport.

It can be a form of self-improvement and self-discovery.

In pursuit of mastery, one needs to eat properly, train properly, think properly, and ultimately ACT properly.

When I look at what I have learned so far in my own journey in the martial arts, I can easily draw parallels between the practice and life itself.

In fact, the two are one in the same. My Muay Thai coach would always say, \”Your true self shows in the ring.\”

I\’m confident that if you firmly apply the following ideas presented to your own life, you will not only become a better martial artist, but a much better person, ready and able to take on anything in life.

Without further adieu, I present to you six valuable lessons I have picked up. It certainly isn\’t an exhaustive list but definitely serves as good general base.

Let\’s begin.

1) Fight Your Fight.

Stay the course when it comes to you doing you. What do I mean by this?

Never compromise who you are or what you are doing for the sake of something external or outside of you.

If you are expressing yourself a certain way in life, business, or both, and it is true to you, then never change because of what someone or something else tells you.

The moment you change for others, you are no longer fighting your fight.

When you conform, you lose. You break away from your uniqueness. You lose your flow and natural rhythm.

Always be true to you. Always fight your fight.

2) Be Relaxed Yet Ready.

I believe this came from Bas Rutten. I first heard of it from my Muay Thai coach.

The idea here is to be calm, but never complacent. Be alert but never jittery.

We must always stay present, by being aware of ourselves and our surroundings. At the same time we need to maintain our inner peace and stillness.

In the fight, if you are too relaxed, you will get loose and drop your guard. The consequence is getting hit, overwhelmed, or taken advantage of.

On the opposite end of that spectrum, if you are too ready, you become over-excited and you waste precious energy. The consequence is exhaustion of the mind and body.

Both extremes will almost always lead to negative outcomes.

Find your middle ground. Find your balance in life. Be relaxed AND ready…

3) Never Back Down.

This one should be straightforward…NEVER. GIVE. UP.  No matter what.

When you feel challenge and pressure, do you meet it head on and fight? Or do you run away and find ways to avoid it.

You will be tested in life at any and every stage you are in. Your attitude and spirit in handling the test will determine your outcome.

It\’s not about winning or losing. These are mere outcomes and byproducts.

It is, however, about giving your absolute best and never backing down. THAT is the Victory.

4) Plan, Practice, Prepare.

Preparation is everything. If you feel prepared you feel naturally have more confidence.

Preparation is planning plus practice…consistent practice at that. Let go of short-term outcomes or expectations of achievement. Let go of the need for instant gratification.

Plan to work for the long haul. Practice mindfully, with clear intention and focus, every day. Never abandon the course no matter how tough it will inevitably get.

See lesson #3 again for this.

5) Be Mindful.

There are elements of this present in the above lessons. Being mindful means being aware of your self, your body, and your surrounding environment at any given moment.

We hear about this idea of mindfulness fairly often, but how much of it do we actually apply?

To be more mindful requires you to slow down and PAY ATTENTION. When you are mindful in practice, you listen to and understand your body. You therefore accelerate your ability to absorb and actualize the content and techniques.

In competition or sparring, being mindful allows you to observe and read your opponent, letting you pick up patterns and openings to take advantage of.

In life, mindfulness results in better quality of output. It goes hand-in-hand with dedication.

Dedicate yourself to you life pursuits and stay mindful of every moment.

6) Stay Hungry, Stay Humble.

Always remain a student of your sport, your craft, your art, and of your LIFE.

Never stop learning. Never stop growing. Always strive to evolve to the next level of understanding and \”BE\”ing.

Hence, have that hunger for more. Do so and you will see endless improvement over time.

Sure, you will have your low points, your down times, and your losses, but all of these should be looked at as lessons.

On that same note, always be ready to learn from anyone. Put aside your ego.

Never consider yourself past or above others. This is the humility aspect.

Yes, you may acknowledge your skill and level and hold yourself to the highest standards, but never lose sight of where you came from.

The moment you think you are the best and you have nothing more to learn, you are in for a harsh reality check.

So stay humble as you rise up the \”ranks\”. And keep going further.