Perspective, Again.

Clarity of perspective is one of the biggest factors for success in anything but especially so in the martial arts. Two students can look at the exact same lesson with one seeing the lesson as a ladder to help overcome obstacles in the way of their goals while the other sees the lesson as a hoop that must be jumped through to get what they want. If you reduce the martial arts to just an application of narcissism to improve oneself physically, there really is little difference in outcome of the two perspectives of the same lesson. As long as the lesson gets physically applied, the physical result is the same no matter in which perspective the lesson is received. 

So why is perspective so important? Kung fu is a martial art, it is not a sport. It is all about developing character, compassion, and empathy. It is about becoming a fully engaged, cognizant human being. It does not begin and end with the physical training. The physical training is a tool to achieve a higher personal ideal. This is why we bow, why we have simple, clean uniforms. It is why we learn to show as well as earn respect. It is why we focus on the journey, not the destination.

Two perspectives of the same lesson produce two different results. It all comes down to values. Our values affect our perspective. If you only value the physical, you do not value the martial arts. As I am always ready to point out, there are many who train in the martial arts but there are fewer who are martial artists.

"The Destructive Arts are exactly like Martial Arts, except they don't have uniforms or usefulness and the end result doesn't resemble art in any way.” - Jim Benton (b. 1960)