Keep Training

By Dr Charles Spring and Karen Spring

One of the questions that we get asked frequently is why students leave. It is said that as many as 80% of people who begin a new exercise or martial arts programme do not stick with it. While initially, many people are motivated for a wide variety of reasons to begin such as fitness goals or weight reduction, it even can be just for fun. But one thing is, what does it take to stay motivated? Another is how can you increase the likelihood that you will continue exercising or stay within the martial art that you have begun? One reason could be due to new activities taking their interest.
Often, especially with teenagers, it is around peer group pressure to conform or take part in more ‘fun’ activities. Another is people move to new places and never take the activity up in their new home location. So, a wide variety of reasons, for older students though there are other things that can get in the way of them attending class. Health and caring duties are two that can present some difficult obstacles.
Health scares can often influence participation in the first place, so the reason one attends is to improve health, however it can often be the reason for stopping attendance, the previous issue flares up or a new one causes the student to need bed rest or the doctor advising against continuing. One should always follow good medical advice, however often when they could return people often worry about having lost ability or fitness. Waiting until you are fit enough to go back to martial arts is a poor decision, the martial arts will help you get fit enough to do what you need to do. Saying I need to be fitter is like saying I need to be clever enough to go to school or university. These institutions do the job for you as does a martial arts club.

Having to leave to do caring duties is a very difficult situation, doing the martial arts helps offset loneliness and depression two concerns carers often mention as issues. Both can be ameliorated by taking part and engaging in martial arts. However, having the time is often difficult as many classes are only attended in the evenings and this is a hard time to get help to allow the time to attend. Increasingly many groups operate daytime classes especially full-time centres which are growing in number in the UK. Many though worry about leaving the person they are caring for and find it challenging as they can feel selfish for wanting to do something just for themselves. What groups supporting carers believe though is that it is very beneficial to do something for yourself as it helps you feel better and that the break is extremely beneficial for your own health and wellbeing. An option is also to take on private lessons which many instructors will do, and the cost is often not as prohibitive as many may think.

Losing interest in the activity that one is doing is also a rationale for stopping, not being as stimulated by the activity or feeling that progress has plateaued. Many hit this point after a few gradings, so in many martial arts after the first year, and this is to be expected, progress does slow, and it is the sign of a good coach who develops new ways of improving students. One of the jobs of the coach is to recognise what will make the student better than they were. As a coach it would be responsible to have discussions with students to determine what they want to achieve, do they want to move up the grading system only, or do they want other challenges? This interest alone can often make attendees feel more valued. It is then about recognising individuals’ abilities and what they are capable of achieving, so, the goals set are not just as off-putting as the lack of progress. This ties in succinctly with the coaching section of the book and how one sets skill development and how to set goals.

For a lot of students, the goal of achieving the black belt is the main focus. That it is the beginning of the real journey is one that passes many by. This is often a critical point for many, and one were as martial arts clubs we do loose some students. Ensuring there are further progress options is vital, instructor courses, a recognition that the person has achieved something significant but there is more to do. These are important factors to ensure continued adherence to the activity that has been taken up. In our club students are encouraged to undertake their instructor training either just before or after they black belt. This indicates to them they have value to the group as well as giving some personal development. We are also aligned to the Institute of Martial Arts and Sciences (IMAS). This group promotes professional development and education within the martial arts and has a worldwide membership.
Once our students have achieved their black belt and Instructor programme, they are joined to the IMAS. This gives them another source of information, through this group there are events to attend with a large number of other different groups thus widening the reach of what we do. This is very positive and promotes a sense of greater belonging. All very positive things to keep students actively engaged. It also opens the door for more discoveries from the internet, doing searches and looking at online journals can help promote further self-development and for older students this can be invaluable.

One area that experienced students can be invaluable is acting as role models for their peers, so other students can be encouraged, and with younger children to act as mentors. Also, the relationship between these groups can be a very interesting and lively dynamic within a group. If the mentors are from other age groups the benefits include, making the younger children aware of how the older persons experience of life can give them insights into problems they may be having. The younger group also developed an appreciation of the breadth of conversation that can be had with older people. The older individuals got a fresh insight into younger peoples issues and concerns. They also found it reinvigorated them, making them reflect and renew their own inner child in many ways.

There are many tips that we could give but here is selection of a few that may help either from a coaching or individual point of view:

One of the best motivators is doing something because it is enjoyable. Also, seeing progress and reaching goals are very motivating factors. The following suggestions are aimed at making martial arts fun and to help reach exercise goals:

It should be fun

Work out with friends and make new ones. When starting out try to begin
with another person. Not only will there be company, but there is social
support and encouragement. Also, it’s more difficult to skip a workout when
someone else is counting on being there for the workout and expecting
company as part of it. Make sure at the club friendships are formed as well, as
it is far better to think that there will be meetings with others that care about
each other as it is being nervous about who might be there.

Choose a martial art that excites. There are many different martial arts, we
have weapons, karate, kickboxing, Qi Gong, self defence and aikido. If you
know that too much contact, or too much kicking in the activity is a turn off
choose a martial art that reduces that likelihood, chances are sticking with it is
harder if there are aspects that are not appealing.

Learn something new. Take up a martial art, develop a range of techniques,
or ask the coach how to progress into competition. The new challenge will
keep the excitement to meet the next challenge and the one after that.

Begin easy and slowly increase Trying too much too soon can result
in sore muscles or injury. Pain is not fun – and it is not necessary. Be realistic
with what is expected to be accomplished and aim for small but regular
improvements. The grading system in most martial arts assists this and is part
of the rationale for having it

Cross-train. Rather than do the same thing every day do different activities.
The martial arts will benefit from this idea. Our dojo has a gym and we do a
circuits class, and this is part of the reason for having it, weight training and
suspension training both can benefit martial arts. This type of training will work
parts of the body differently and will keep boredom at bay within the martial
arts.