Make Training a Daily Discipline

"Training is a process of trial and self correction. It's not mindless repetition, but the art and discipline of learning." ["The Black Belt Manager" by Robert Pater]

Discipline yourself to make training a daily habit. Discipline involves planning how to achieve your goals and carrying out those plans on a regular basis. Discipline does not mean training only when you feel like it. Neither does it mean compulsive or excessive training to the point of injury. A disciplined martial artist carefully considers when and how he should train, rest, work, study, and play, and he continually evaluates his progress towards his goals.

Train Hard! Train Smart! Train Daily!

To make steady progress in TUKONG martial arts, train in the following areas regularly:
  1. Physical conditioning (Aerobic and strength training)
  2. Current rank requirements
  3. Previous rank requirements
  4. Kicking practice

Practice!

If you practice 2O minutes a day, 6 times a week, you will have put in l00 hours in one year, not counting the time you spend in class!

When you practice, concentrate on the technique. It's very important to have the correct stance, as well as the correct body and hand positions.

Focus!

Twenty minutes of focused training produces better results than one hour of going through the motions.

Practice as though your life depends on it.

Ten Important Elements of Training

  1. Concentration
  2. Focus
  3. Balance
  4. Power Control
  5. Speed Control
  6. Inner Control
  7. Leverage
  8. Timing
  9. Anticipation
  10. Kiap

Emphasis of Mental Training

  1. Self Control (Discipline)
  2. Self Awareness (Experience)
  3. Self Peace (Meditation)
  4. Self Confidence (Knowledge)
  5. Self Sacrifice (Service)
This is the path to be taken by mind and body to perform any movement properly.

Just For Kids

In the martial arts we train hard every day and make our bodies strong. Because we are strong, it means we can choose between fighting or not fighting. In the animal world a tiger protecting her cubs will fight ferociously because she is scared. People are the same. When they are scared, they will fight. Because we have become strong through our martial arts training, we have confidence in ourselves and know that we can walk away from a fight. This is the most important point in Tukong Moosul: We must always do our best to walk away from a fight.

Your strength from martial arts training can be compared to the power and energy of fire. Fire can be very useful to warm a house, cook food, fire beautiful pottery, and weld steel for construction. But fire out of control can burn a house down, destroy a whole forest and injure people. Your strength is the same way. You can use it with control to help others, but out of control it will be destructive. Choose to be in control of your strength, using it to help, not hurt.

If you practice Tukong Moosul and you train hard, then that is good. At the same time, study hard at school and listen to what your teachers tell you. Being strong only in Tukong Moosul is not enough. You must make your mind strong as well as your body. When you are at home respect your parents by always doing your best to help your mother and father. Always listen to what they tell you and do what they say. If you do this, then when you grow up you will be able to achieve many things.

Paul Chamberlain
tif@tifster.com