When I started my martial arts journey 20 years ago, I was a gangly, uncoordinated mess. I was about 6’2″ (~1.9m) and weighed in, soaking wet, at 165lbs (~75kg). I hadn’t played sports outside of the mandatory requirements in PE. Then to top it off, I had borderline-high

In short, I had nothing going for me.

So it tends to grate on me when I hear people say bullsh*t like “oh I’d love to learn that, but I’m out of shape.”

Right…

There will be discomfort and outright pain – but nothing people look up to is easy to do – otherwise they’d all do it.

To get something of value – something must be given up – be it time, energy, blood, sweat, and tears.

You Will be Uncomfortable

About a decade ago I decided I needed to get into shape – well I should say a better shape than the round blob I was slowly turning into – my grandmother told me once that “looks like marriage is being good to you.”

Pointing out that I’m getting fat in only the way a grandmother can.

After some experimenting I decided I needed a gym membership so I could start a weight program.

My then wife told me she wanted to get into shape as well – so we started working out together – big mistake. There were several of the exercise she would do – deadlifts, squats, dips – but they were “uncomfortable.”

She was surprised that she didn’t see any improvement.

Go figure.

Martial arts are very much the same way – you’re going to be pushed in ways that are uncomfortable – but in order to make progress you have to keep going.