Martial Arts Are A Vehicle for Self Improvement.

Martial Arts training is associated with so many different benefits… getting in shape, self defense, sport competition, and the mental benefits of discipline, focus, perseverance, and more.

It’s the mental side that provides the greatest benefit for many kids and adults because the truth is that there are many ways to get in shape.

Our minds are much more powerful than we think and we can use this to our advantage to accomplish more at work, home, and on the mats in martial arts.

McGregor is certainly a black belt in the positive mindset.

What Conor McGregor has been able to accomplish in such a short period of time in the UFC (MMA) and now Boxing is incredible!

He does have some great physical attributes, but that isn’t what sets him apart. It’s how he thinks that made him a Champion.

The Background Story on McGregor

McGregor’s story is inspirational.

He went from welfare, relying on food stamps to eat to the UFC. He won his first UFC MMA match by knock out in just 67 seconds and earned a $60,000 Knockout of the Night bonus.

He went on to win many UFC bouts and became a 2 Division MMA Champion.

Not one to rest on his accomplishments, McGregor did the seemingly impossible. He was able to get a Boxing match with one of the greatest boxers that has ever lived, Floyd Mayweather.

Mayweather was 49-0 in professional boxing matches, an undefeated champion.

He lost the match, but even in defeat he won.

McGregor performed phenomenally well in the first 5 rounds against tough opposition.

He took Mayweather into the 10th round before losing to a ref stoppage. This was McGregor’s first professional boxing match.

McGregor took home an estimated $30 Million dollars for the match!

It wasn’t long ago that he was living on welfare in his native Ireland.

Positive Mindset Matters

You see so many positive memes on Facebook and other social media. These can be irritating at times.

The thing is I would much rather see them than all the negativity that spreads much fast on social media like wildfire.

The truth is that we all face hardship at many points in our life.

I’ve experienced many myself, just as you have undoubtedly faced a lot yourself.

Everyone does.

Looking at it objectively though, many people face massive hardship.

In these times, some people fold because the circumstances just seem insurmountable while others facing equally tough times (or even worse) come out of the hardship stronger and better than they went into it.

McGregor was on Welfare! He just earned a $30 million payday.

His strongest asset is his belief in himself. Others are arguably much more gifted physically than him but have not accomplished as much. This is true everywhere you look, in every field of work and in every sport.

The million dollar question is why do some give up while others use adversity to drive them?

It’s the internal mindset, what’s going on inside our heads that determines success or failure.

The little voice in our heads that tells us give up while the other voice says, you will make it through this and be stronger than before.

The voice that we choose to focus on is the one that has the most power over us.

The late, great Zig Ziglar said positive thinking won’t fix everything, but “Positive thinking will allow you to do Everything better than negative thinking will.”

You develop positive thinking in the same way you develop any habit. It’s through repetition and it can be difficult at first. Over time, the habit is strengthened and becomes a part of you (or your kids).

Tying this back to Jiu Jitsu, why does Jiu Jitsu help people accomplish more in life?

Jiu Jitsu is tough, no doubt about it.

As you begin training, there will be times that you are pushed beyond your comfort zone.

There are times when you will face adversity, to some degree it will happen daily on the mat.

You need this stimulus to grow. You must be pushed to see what you can accomplish.

This is true of both a child and an adult.

Jiu Jitsu challenges you.

You need to maintain a positive mindset as you face down each new challenge.

You don’t just quit when these challenges occur. You learn to face them and move forward.

Jiu Jitsu shows you that you can overcome challenges and can do far more than you believed was possible.

This is real confidence.

You begin to believe in yourself and what you can accomplish because you have proof that you can get past the obstacle, you’ve done it before so you know you can do it again.

The confidence to face a new challenge in life because you have faced down so many before on the mats.

If you’re interested in coming in to try out a free class for yourself or having your child try a class, call or email us tell us you want to try a free first class and we’ll get it set up for you!

No experience is necessary and all fitness levels are welcome! You don’t need to be in shape to start, we’ll get you there!

We offer classes for everyone age 4 through adult men and women.