the martial arts mindset

By Jennifer Anderson on November 10, 2021

How Training Martial Arts Can Help You Become Happier, Healthier, and More Successful

There’s a lot of talk these days of mindset. There are gurus and influencers everywhere touting their secret methods to improve your mindset to be more successful in life. People are always hungry for a secret shortcut to anything, but the reality is that there is no shortcut to anything worthwhile.

Changing the way you think and see the world takes work and time to develop. After training martial arts for years I’ve come to realize that the most important benefit I have taken away is what I believe to be the martial arts mindset. This mindset can only be earned and is not guaranteed to everyone.

As Ricardo Almeida once said, “Jiu-jitsu & martial arts do not build character, they reveal it.” Here are seven core values that are key in the martial arts mindset. Values that you can apply to every area of your life, but values that are only revealed with time and work.

7 Core Martial Arts Values

1. Discipline

Discipline is the necessary foundation on which all of the other values are built. Without discipline it is impossible to not only train yourself physically, but mentally. Whether it is showing up everyday to class, sticking to the techniques, or shoving your ego to the side, with discipline all the rest will follow. Without it, you will not reap the benefits of whichever art you choose.

2. Respect

If you’ve had any experience in martial arts, you know the utmost importance of respect. Respect your training partners and their safety, respect your instructors and coaches, respect the facility and the equipment, respect for your body, and respect while never fearing your opponents. Respect teaches you boundaries and values.

7 Core Martial Arts Values - White Belt Mentality

3. White Belt Mentality

This is a big one. A white belt is the lowest rank in martial arts, which means you are a beginner. A ‘white belt mentality” in a nutshell is the willingness to learn. It means to never think you are too good or experienced to be better- the ability to learn from anyone at any level. You can always pull knowledge from any situation without excuse.

4. Humility

One of the most beneficial traits you can gain from martial arts is humility. It’s hard not to be humble when practicing something like Brazilian Jiujitsu. There are days you are the hammer and there are days you are the nail…there’s usually a lot more days you are the nail actually.

It’s those days that you may ask yourself why you’re still doing this, but those are the days that you learn the most about yourself. You get the most benefit from training in less than ideal situations on the days you aren’t feeling too great. That’s when you discover a true focus and passion for what you do. I always say it’s easy to do something when you’re good at it- true grit is doing it when you aren’t good.

5. Resilience

You have to learn resilience to get through the humbling times while training. You cannot let those defeats get you down and make you quit. When you really immerse yourself into attempting to master a skill, resilience is one of the most beautiful gifts you’ll take from the journey. You have no choice. It’s either learn to adapt and be resilient or quit.

6. Calm Under Pressure

Any combat sport will teach you this skill. Remaining calm in intense situations is the name of the game. It is often counterintuitive to be calm and relaxed when your brain registers a physical threat, but it is the only way to be proficient in a lot of these live situations. Once you have mastered the mental discipline of remaining calm when say, someone is trying to strangle you in jiu-jitsu, the line at the DMV doesn’t seem so stressful.

7 Core Martial Arts Values - Calm Under Pressure

7. Patience

Ahh…patience, the least glamorous of all of these traits, but probably the most important. There is a theory that it takes 10,000 hours to master something, the reason why there aren’t many “masters” of their art is that so many quit along the way. They get hung up on their inability to acquire or reveal one of these traits listed above.

The ego usually being the culprit behind it all. If you have the patience to be a beginner, have set backs, be humbled, and take the time to learn the details, you’ll be amazed at everything you can get out of this long term practice.

Every single one of these traits can be applied in everyday life, towards any endeavor. You learn so much about yourself throughout the ups and downs of the journey. You harden the weaknesses and magnify your strengths. You become self aware, healthier, mentally stronger, and you make some great memories and get to know some amazing people along the way.

Ditch the gurus and seek out a reputable gym with a good culture that teaches a martial art that interests you. Find something you like and stick to it- trust me, you’ll be better for it. You’ll be amazed at the parts of you that will be revealed and the mindset you can achieve.