CMAA Monthly Challenge, September – Goal Setting!
A New Start
Every month I issue a new challenge. The challenges change month to month and the focus may range from flexibility, to strength training, diet, meditation and martial art books reading. However, the objective remains the same- to help you improve as martial artists.
As we prepare to move in to our new school we will be afforded many new improvements to our training regimen. We will have a new and improved training facility, new training tools and new classes offered six days a week in Kungfu Forms, Kungfu Kickboxing, Tai Chi, strength and conditioning (and more!)
Be Proactive!
With all this on the horizon, this month I think I’d like to take things a little further. Instead of me telling you what to improve on, I’d like to take a step back and let you take a more proactive role in advancing your practice.
This month’s challenge is to sit back and reflect. Think of what you want to get out of your training. Think both big and small thoughts. Identify both your long and short term goals. Then work backwards and come up with a plan of attack as to how you’re going to achieve those goals in your practice.
Long Term Goals
Identify long term what you want. A Black Sash in Kungfu? A no handed cartwheel? To be a Kungfu Master? Maybe it’s to lose 15 lbs. It doesn’t matter what it is, and it doesn’t matter what others might think about it. What matters is that you know WHAT you want to achieve.
Short Term Goals
Once you’ve identified your long term goal/s. The ones that might take 1, 5 or even 20 years, sit down and make a list of short term goals!
What’s the next form you’re working on(long fist)? What basics need the most improvement (front stretch kick)? What is your favorite technique that you’ve always aspired to do (aerial)? Is your goal to lose weight? Get more flexible (splits)? Get lower stances (drop stance)? Get more explosive jumps (tornado kicks)? Improve your balance (low single leg)? Improve your power (bow stance punch)? Improve your reaction time (kickboxing punch drills)?
Write your goals down. Take a look at them before you come to practice. Remind yourself what you want to achieve and how you’re going to do it!
Make a Plan!
With your newly identified list of long and short term goals you must now sit down once again and decide how to best achieve your goals! Maybe just coming to practice more frequently, or stretching at home for 20 minutes a day will help you reach your goals. Maybe you have to wake up 15 minutes early to do a few sets up pushups, sit ups and stretches. Maybe you have to discipline yourself to buy healthier food and limit the amount of snacking you do during the day. The more specific your plan, the more likely you are to stick to it and accomplish your goal.
Ready, Set- Make Your Dream Come True!
Training with short term goals in mind will help us make those incremental baby steps and improvements required to achieve our long term goals.
Remember “A goal without a plan is just a wish” - Antione de Saint- Exupery.
Make a plan and make your wish a reality!
I’ll be here to help you.
Shifu-