In recent years I decided to hire a financial advisor whom I jokingly refer to as “the money guy.” Now, I don’t have a lot to invest, but it’s certainly not my thing and this is one area I’m willing to outsource to someone who knows what they’re doing. The money guy, my friend Jeff, has been extraordinarily helpful in navigating the ups and downs of things like stocks, bonds, and CDs, which until recently I thought were little round discs containing music. Jeff does a great job of checking in with me from time to time, alerts me when things might need to be moved around, etc. Every year we have a meeting to discuss my portfolio and he’s very good explaining financial forecasts as well as providing advice. When I initially started working with him, he asked me about how much risk I was comfortable taking. Did I want a very conservative program or was I willing to be a bit more moderate, that sort of thing. Having never invested in the stock market before, I chose a very conservative route. But over time, I started to do a little my own research and my trust in Jeff’s advice grew, prompting me to put a little more skin in the game. This is often how martial arts training works.
People new to marital arts tend to dip their toe in the water first before deciding to make a meaningful commitment. It’s one of the reasons we encourage people to try a couple of free sessions before signing up. And what most people don’t know, is that those free sessions are also a chance for me to assess whether or not someone is the right fit for our dojo. You see, contrary to a lot of martial arts academies out there, I’m not in a huge hurry to fill our mats. I want people who will add to the culture we’ve developed here, not detract from it. For example, one of the first signs that someone may not be right for our dojo is if they ask me how long it takes to get a black belt. It isn’t always the case, but it’s been my experience that people who ask that question are on a certain timeline, like one or two years. Typically, after I explain that a black belt here is a long term goal, like five or more years, I never see them again. Could we use the money? Yeah. Did we probably just dodge a bullet? Hell yeah.
It takes a few months, but after you’ve trained in a real dojo, one that is less concerned about trophies and belts and more about the experience of self-discovery, you realize that you have to move the needle from conservative to moderate as far as your time investment and commitment. And if you ever want to achieve a black belt here, you’re going to have to jump in with both feet. You’re not going to achieve it by training here one or two days a week and not doing anything else. You’re not going to achieve it if you don’t train for it, eat for it, and work toward it. It’s totally fine with me if that’s not your goal. It doesn’t have to be. Maybe you just want to come here, get a good workout, make some friends and learn some self-defense skills. Black belt doesn’t have to be your goal. A lot of successful school owners may disagree, noting that giving people a reason to stay, like a shiny new toy at the end of a journey, is good business sense. Yeah, maybe. But I’d rather be a good teacher than a good business man. I’d rather you get something far more out of this experience than a title and a certificate with your name on it. Those things are easy. Continuing your training is not.
One thing I’ve learned on my journey with my friend Jeff is that you have stay committed to the goal, especially through tumultuous times. You have to remember why you took the chance and invested in the first place. Same thing with martial arts, especially after you achieve your black belt. I can’t speak for other schools, but here there is a definite ramp up if you’ve decided to test. I typically give people about six months to get ready. You’re gonna need it. It will be one of, if not the most challenging thing you’ve ever done. Our tests last for about five hours and are a grueling haul all the way to the finish line. And if you happen to get hurt along the way and can’t continue, you don’t pass. If you give up at a crucial moment, you don’t pass. So, when you see us post a picture of a successful black belt test, that person went through hell and came out on the other side. There’s nothing like seeing a new black belt holder show up for their first class after the test. It’s a great feeling. But it can be a hard thing to hang on to.
Life has a funny way of altering our priorities, especially after we’ve achieved certain goals. It’s hard to stay on track some times, especially when kids have sports, the workdays are long or the weather is just too good to miss out on. You’ve had a long day and you don’t want to make the drive out here. You don’t want to train in a stuffy garage, get new bruises or sweat your butt off. However, I have yet to hear one person say they are sorry for training after a training session is over. Nobody says, “Gee, I wish I could get the last couple of hours back.” In other words, no one is ever disgruntled about the time commitment once they’ve made it. Martial arts requires commitment; time, money, physical, emotional, spiritual. Whether you have a black belt or not, you only get out what you put in. And just like financial investments, you have to be in for the long haul. You don’t take all of your money out of the market during rough seasons, and you don’t stop training during because your life changes. Even if you can’t make it here on a regular basis, you need to stick with it if you want to see any returns on the investments you’ve made.
This year marks 41 years of training for me. With exception of military duties, family emergencies and surgery, I’ve never stopped training. Do I always want to step onto the mat, especially when it’s just me out there? Nope. Would I rather sit up on the deck under the sun with a cold beer or sit by the fire with some hot tea resting my angry bones? You bet. But I’ve been in the game long enough to realize the fruits of my investment. And whether there are multiple souls or just one in the dojo, I’ve never said to myself, “Man, what a waste of my time” after turning the lights out. It’s called Budo for a reason. No matter where you are following the path, do yourself a favor and stay on it. It’s worth the investment.
Dave Magliano
Tatsu Dojo
Jissenkan Budo
Dojo Cho
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