How You Do One Thing...is How You'll Do Everything

Greetings Team,


I first heard/read this old Zen phrase a while back. If my memory serves me, I first heard it from my good friend Sensei Joe Hurtsellers that runs 2 incredible dojo's in Toledo. It wasn't long after being introduced to this phrase that I absolutely fell in love with it. My hope today is to share how impactful an idea it truly is, and how it can help your martial arts training and your life.

I often use the Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde metahpor when I talk about the personality of my new students. What I mean is, more times than not, my new students are one personality in the gym...but an entirely different one when they're not on the mats. Usually the personality on the mats is driven, focused, and consumed with being a success. Unfortunately, early on, that personality does not translate well into their personal lives. Maybe they drink too much on the weekend, or aren't a success in businees. Or maybe they aren't a great Dad/Mom/or Spouse. Over time, one of those personalities will get crushed by the other. In my experience, the longer someone trains on the mats, the driven personality wins. Those students learn to be succesful...not just successful at times, or in certain areas...just successful.

So I would like to encourage you to think about that Zen phrase..."How you do one thing is how you'll do everything." I think it's a safe assumption that the "one thing" can be good or bad. It is therefore up to you to make those one things positive. You may have heard the phrase how you train is how you'll fight. See what I mean? If you train to constantly get better, not to "win" that day on the mat, your skills constantly improve. Soon enough you are quite proficient with your skills. When you hit the bags, or spar and you are completely focused on the task at hand, you constanlty reinforce the mental side of your training. When your brain and body are in tune, those skills will come out if you need them....in the cage or on the street.

So over the next week, take a look at your training and your life and see if this phrase can shed some light for you. Can how you keep on your toes in top guard help your side control? Can how you slip a jab help you land one? Can doing that extra push-up or round on the bag help you to not be a quitter when your back is put up against the wall? Only you know the answer...but I'm pretty sure I know what you'll say. ;)

Hope you found some benefit in this today!


All the Best!

COACH