Fear and Martial Arts: Overcoming Anxieties in Training and Fighting.

Fear in martial arts? It may sound like a contradiction, but practically speaking, all martial arts are rooted in fighting or some form of combat. In both training and implementation, there is a fear of being hit, falling to the ground, losing or facing the consequences. The aim of martial arts training is to alleviate these fears so that we can take action. However, fear can play a significant role in training for and using martial arts.

For some individuals, fear serves as the motivating factor in starting martial arts training in the first place, driven by fear of being attacked in an increasingly violent society. These people believe that fear and martial arts go hand-in-hand. They start by being afraid, then they get trained, and eventually, they are no longer afraid. Their fear of vulnerability turns into confidence, giving them the ability to handle whatever challenges life throws their way.

For others, the relationship between fear and martial arts goes in a different direction. These are individuals who begin training, learn some good techniques, but then freeze up when asked to test their skills in training. They begin to fear that they might injure themselves or someone else with their skills or perform them improperly, which prevents them from progressing far in the arts because they never truly test themselves and their abilities.

Some individuals face this seemingly contradictory issue of fear and martial arts when they learn what it takes to train and learn the skills. In this case, there may be two ways this fear goes: fear of failure or fear of success.

Most of us can relate to those who fear failure. The amount of training, self-denial, and self-discipline required to learn a martial art can be significant. Many people believe that they cannot do it, that it is too difficult, that there is too much time involved, and that they must give up too much to learn and train. The requirement for countless repetitions may seem overwhelming. However, showing up at the school as frequently as possible and burning through repetitions is the best way to put an end to these anxieties and fears. Trust in the training process of learning and be on the mats at least three times a week. But this does not mean training like a maniac every day. Instead, be smart.

Those who fear success are different. It is harder to identify with them because, after all, who does not want to be successful at something they start? There are those who fear becoming good at something. Their thinking may be, "If others see how good I am, they will expect more from me." Or they may believe that others will not like them if they are successful, and fear takes root.

Where does fear come from? Most of the time, fear comes from our thinking. Certainly, there are times and situations when there is an actual threat to us or someone we love, and fear is a normal response in those situations. However, for the majority of us, fear is rooted in our thinking. Long-remembered bad experiences when someone told us that we could not do something, and we tried it, only to fail, stick with us. When this happens at times when we are vulnerable due to age or other factors, these memories tend to persist.

It takes time for some individuals to overcome the fear of learning and fighting. Like everything in life, it requires energy, patience, and dedication. As martial artists, we have all battled against fear at some point. We all share similar fears, and you are no different. The best way to deal with fear is to face it head-on and charge through it. Otherwise, you may begin to overthink it and ultimately talk yourself out of doing whatever it is.

So stay focused. Fear is the mind killer! Be brave. Conquer your fears of learning and training!

Be a winner!