Mac Tíre Bán Martial Arts – Blog 002

mactirebanmartiala
Jan 22
3 min read

The Journey of a Martial Artist

For many of us, we can clearly remember the moment we decided to start martial arts, walking into the dojo for the very first time. The excitement, the nerves, the “maybe I’m already a tough guy” daydreams, and what did I just sign up for? moment. And then, in one humbling instant, realizing that you are truly a beginner, no different in knowledge than the five- or six-year-old experiencing their first promotion beside you.

Today, I want to talk about the challenges, joys, and successes that students experience on their journey to black belt and beyond.

The Good Times

The high points of martial arts training often revolve around big achievements, starting martial arts for the first time, earning belt promotions, learning a new technique. I call these the “shiny things” The picture moments, the rewards for your hard work. These are the memories that stay with you.

Even now, at 33, I remember mine clearly. Getting my first black belt as a kid. Outrunning all the adults during the 5km run for my second-degree test. These highlights become core memories and teach valuable lessons.

But over the years of training and teaching, I’ve noticed something important:

Students who recognize the small successes tend to stay motivated longer.

Small victories are everywhere, sometimes so subtle you don’t realize they were successes until later. Slipping a jab perfectly so it just grazes your ear. Landing a new side kick setup for the first time. These moments won’t earn you a new belt, and they might not get any recognition at all. But seeing them as personal successes brings true joy to your training.

A Story About a Student

There’s a student I’ve trained for many years who perfectly embodies this mindset. They’ve grown into a talented martial artist, But what stands out is the pure expression of pride and accomplishment on their face when they figure out something new. (They would make a terrible poker player.)

Their passion, especially for sparring, is obvious. They’re always eager to adapt new techniques and try new applications. But their strength isn’t natural ability; it’s their willingness to fail as many times as needed until they succeed. To them, failing and getting better are just part of the journey. Simply being in class is its own reward.

The Bad

Of course, with all the highs come the lows. Every martial artist experiences difficult stretches. Life gets busy. Repetition becomes tedious. Injuries or illnesses happen. Sometimes dragging yourself—or your son or daughter—to class feels like a battle you don’t want to fight.

We’ve all been there.

I still remember days when my mother literally dragged me to class by the ear. And you know what? I can honestly say I never really regretted going, not once. I always learned something, even if I didn’t realize it until much later.

Sometimes we feel like it’s too hard… Or that we’re already good enough… Or that we’ve learned all we can…

These thoughts often come right before a breakthrough.

Martial arts principles are like a garden, they need constant tending. If one person does all the work, the garden feels overwhelming. But when a whole village tends the garden, it thrives.

Your mind and body are the garden. Your health and the black belt principles (modesty, courtesy, integrity, self-control, perseverance, and indomitable spirit) are the fruit. Your support system (parents, peers, instructors) is the village.

And sometimes the person pulling you by the ear is exactly who you need.

The Success

Success in martial arts looks different for everyone. There is no single definition. For some, it’s self-defense. For others, physical fitness. For parents, it may be discipline or structure. In truth, it’s all of these things and more.

In my opinion, success is a blend of both the good and the bad. You can’t appreciate one without experiencing the other. Without the struggle, the victories wouldn’t be as meaningful.

Throughout my life, still being a “young whipper-snapper” to some ,everything I truly value has come with some struggle. And that’s a good thing. If everything were easy, everyone would do it. If earning a black belt were easy, it wouldn’t mean much. But the truth is this: Only about 10% of people who start martial arts ever become black belts. Why? Not because they’re more talented. It’s simply because they never quit. They rested when needed, but they never stopped. And that mindset will help you in every part of life.