Eye Square Martial Arts

Cultural Preservation… with Bruises.

Tag: Training Goals

  • What Change Demands

    What Change Demands

    When I started martial arts 20 years ago, I was a lanky, uncoordinated mess—about 6’2″ and 165 pounds soaking wet. I hadn’t played sports beyond the bare minimum in PE, and to top it off, I had borderline-high blood pressure.

    In short: I had nothing going for me.

    So when someone tells me,

    “I’d love to train, but I’m out of shape,”
    it hits a nerve.

    Right. Because I started off in peak condition?

    💥 You Will Be Uncomfortable

    About ten years in, I realized I was drifting into “married blob” territory. My grandma even said,

    “Looks like marriage is being good to you,”
    which is family code for “you’re getting fat.”

    So I joined a gym. I started lifting.

    My then-wife wanted to join me, so we trained together. At least for a while.

    But certain exercises—deadlifts, squats, dips—she found uncomfortable.
    And when she didn’t see results, she was surprised.

    Go figure.

    🧱 Discomfort Is the Cost of Growth

    Martial arts are no different. You will be uncomfortable. You’ll struggle. You’ll fail. You’ll want to quit.

    But here’s the thing:
    If you want something of value, you have to give something up.
    Time. Energy. Sweat. Ego.

    Discomfort is the toll you pay for transformation.

    Whether it’s the weight room or the dojo, it’s not about starting strong—
    It’s about showing up anyway.

  • There are No Secrets

    There are No Secrets

    💭 Killing the Myth

    There’s a persistent idea in martial arts that there are secrets—hidden techniques, esoteric knowledge, or mystical wisdom reserved only for the chosen few.

    Maybe there still are. I don’t know everything.
    But here’s what I do know:

    Unless we’re talking about supernatural nonsense (most of which is B.S. anyway), there are no secrets. There is only physical ability and hard-earned skill.

    🧵 Demonstration ≠ Disclosure

    Years ago, my Kung Fu instructor demonstrated the entire Wing Chun system to a guy who just walked in off the street. A total stranger.

    He showed:

    • The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd empty-hand forms
    • The wooden dummy form
    • The double knife form
    • The pole form

    I don’t think he went over stick hands, but that’s application anyway.

    “But isn’t that giving away secrets?”
    Not really.

    If the guy was a beginner, he wouldn’t know what he was seeing.
    If he was experienced, he’d either recognize it—or he’d see something new and get curious. Either way, nothing was “lost.”

    🕵️ Why Were There Ever Secrets?

    In martial cultures, the stakes were higher.
    A challenge wasn’t a sparring match—it was possibly life or death. Having techniques no one expected made sense. That surprise might be the only thing that saved your life.

    Makes sense… in that world.

    🚌 The “Bus Test”

    Here’s the real danger of secrecy:

    If the head of your martial arts system got hit by a bus, how much knowledge would die with them?

    Before World War II, Okinawan Karate masters often kept secrets locked inside their schools. Then war came—and many of them died.

    So did their knowledge.

    Afterward, the surviving masters realized:
    If you don’t share what you know, it can disappear forever.
    And so they began to teach more openly. The “Bus Test” was finally passed.

    🧠 Advanced Doesn’t Mean Secret

    The truth is, most “advanced” techniques can’t be applied without years of timing, pressure training, and precision.

    A Jujutsu master could break down every piece of a move and walk you through it. You could understand it intellectually. But you still wouldn’t be able to pull it off without:

    • Repetition
    • Patience
    • Application
    • And a lot of practice

    🥋 The Master Ken Conclusion

    So let me channel my inner Master Ken for a second:

    “Secrets in the martial arts are BULLSH*T!”

    Train hard. Share knowledge. Leave a legacy. That’s how martial arts survive.

  • Why Do You Train? Defining Purpose in Martial Arts

    Why Do You Train? Defining Purpose in Martial Arts

    “Why do you train?”

    That was a question my Wing Chun instructor used to ask me all the time. For a long time, I didn’t have a good answer—other than I just wanted to. And honestly, that was enough to start.

    I’ve always thought martial arts were cool, and over time, I’ve come to realize that’s as valid a reason as any. But along the way, I’ve also learned something important:

    Knowing why you train helps you train smarter.

    Having realistic goals keeps you focused—and it helps you recognize what you can and can’t judge yet in your journey.

    🧭 Six Functional Reasons to Study Martial Arts

    There are lots of reasons someone might train, but most fall into a few core categories:

    ⚔️ War

    “The arts of Mars.” Martial arts were originally created for warfare.

    🏅 Sport

    Combat skills adapted into structured competition.

    👮 Policing

    Controlling and apprehending others as part of the justice system.

    🛡️ Self-Protection

    Using force to defend yourself from harm.

    👥 Bodyguarding

    Using force to protect others from harm.

    🌱 Self-Development

    Discipline. Health. Confidence. Coordination. The “everything else” bucket.

    Understanding why you train shapes how you train. A cop, a soldier, and a sport fighter all need different tools—even if they share some techniques.

    🎯 Align Your Goals with Your Training

    When I started, I just needed something physical to get in shape. These days, I’m more interested in understanding and cataloging systems.

    Over time, your reasons might change—and that’s okay.

    But what doesn’t change is this:

    Your training should match your goals.

    ⚠️ Sport vs. Self-Protection: A Reality Check

    There’s a real tendency for some instructors to try to be all things to all people—especially when there’s money involved. But the differences between sport and self-protection are more than just surface-level.

    Sport has rules, time limits, safety gear, and referees. The goal is to win without causing serious harm.

    Self-protection doesn’t come with rules. If you have to fight back in real life, chances are:

    • You’re surprised
    • You’re outnumbered
    • You’re protecting someone else
    • You’re starting from a disadvantage

    In those moments, you’re not looking to “win points.” You’re looking to survive.

    🧩 Can You Have Multiple Goals?

    Absolutely. You can train for self-confidence, get in shape, and maybe even compete.

    But not all goals mix well.

    Want to be a battlefield operator and an Olympic athlete? You’re going to face some trade-offs.

    The important thing is that your goals are generally compatible. And that you’re honest about what you’re training for.

    ❤️ The Heart of the Matter

    At the end of the day, only one thing really matters:

    Know why you train.

    Keep that reason close. Let it guide your training choices. And make sure the instruction you’re getting lines up with your goals.

    No reason is better than another. But delusion is the enemy—whether it’s yours or your instructor’s.

    🧠 One Last Thought

    So I’ll ask you the same question my instructor asked me:

    Why do you train?

    Whatever the answer is—own it. Train accordingly.

    Until next time.