Martial arts can be a great memory maker! Remember the first promotion at Elite Training Center that you were a part of? Was it Krav Maga, Muay Thai Kickboxing, or MMA? You wondered after 30 minutes into the 5 hours of training, “what am I doing this for?” (thanks Bobby Rich). You remember those people you promoted and tested with. You remember seeing someone who inspired you. You remember the small person tearing up the big person during sparring. You admired someone who didn’t quit no matter what! That’s what the martial arts experience is about! Did you exceed your expectations and then think to yourself, “how can I do better next time?!”
For me, quality time with the people (and dog) I love is more important than anything. Our relationships and experiences will be what we look back at and appreciate the most while we slip into that final sleep. It won’t be about the big house, the fast car, and all the trivial things we bought and put so much value on at the time (sure, sure, there will be a lot of great experiences in that fancy house and fast car). We will look back at the adventures we had! We will remember the times we pushed our bodies so hard and felt as if we couldn’t push anymore, but we did. We will remember the struggles and how we overcame them. We will remember the people who motivated and lead, and how we then took the lead and did the same. We will remember the times we laughed so hard we cried. We will remember the people who comforted us when we were in pain. That’s a life worth living!
Next time you step onto the mat for Krav Maga, Muay Thai Kickboxing, MMA, Kali or whatever discipline you are training in, remember the experience and how important it is to make the best of it!
Train hard. Train often.
S. Derhammer
Elite Training Center Redondo Beach
1628 South Pacific Coast Highway,
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(310) 598-1887
Elite Training Center Hermosa Beach
1601 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 170
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
(310) 597-4669
