What is your current goal

[dkm]

For example, when a person first starts karate (or other art), his goal maybe to get to the next belt or to get to the black belt. I know that this is what kept me motivated initially. but what if you got your black belt and no longer practice karate. Say that you practice grappling and boxing where there is no belt system. What goal are you aiming for that keeps you motivated. I believe specific goals that are defined in detail and time keep you much more motivated than vague goals. This maybe the reason why the belt system works pretty good. If you have a vague goal such as "I want to be a good/better fighter", it might be less motivating than if you were to write down in detail....how many classes you want to attend in a week. What competitions you want to compete in, what place you want to come in at least.

Then again my theory could be wrong b/c I lift weights three times a week, but I have no specific goals as to why I lift weights except to keep in consistent shape....and I am more motivated to lift weights than practice fighting.

What are your thoughts on this?

[seeker]

Earlier I had a lot of great big goals, but I´ve reallised that it is better have more down-to-earth goals. Right now my goal is to enjoy training and earn a place on the competing team of our gym. That is enough now, and when I get to that goal i will come up with a new one.

[sth2k]

My aim is to get better.

Oh wait, you mean a more specific aim?

...I guess it's to learn new moves, and also to be good at them

[Szczepankiewicz]

My success can be measured in these specific goals:

1) Fly to Manchester, UK.
Kick the snott out of Bitty on Pay Per View.

2) Repeat step 2 as needed. Usually once a year for vacation.


Spanky

[MrPoopy]

I don't have any clear goal in martial arts. I do Judo pretty much for recreation only. I do try to improve, but if it gets to the point where class isn't fun and all you can think about is a goal, then for me, it's not worth it.

I just like to throw and be thrown.

[ceasarx]

My only goal is to improve myself as much as possable each day. I train for no other reason and I have seldom ever let myself down. I know it sounds korny but thats what keeps me motivated

[Szczepankiewicz]

I just like to throw and be thrown.

More of the latter and less of the former.

I've seen the video.

[jcolvin]

Originally posted by ceasarx
My only goal is to improve myself as much as possable each day. I train for no other reason and I have seldom been let myself down. I know it sounds korny but thats what keeps me motivated

Actually it does not at all.

[Tom Yum]

Well, sometimes its not motivation alone. What if a person's parent/s passed away, son/best friend went off to war in the Middle East, wife/husband left him, lost his/her job in this economy? These things could affect a person's state of mind, change their life and might put some of their goals into a short-term hybernation.

I really dig boxing and grappling. If time and money were no object during these times, I would live/work at the gym I train at. MA has done more for my personal development and physical attributes than any other activity I can think of. Plus the friends that I have made, the instructors etc. are all top notch people. The kind of people that you want to be around. I don't know if my feelings are the same as other guys.

Maybe black belt guys are so used to the rewards of belt systems. I would think these guys are used to having techniques packaged together under their belt level - 4 hand techniques, 5 basic kicks, 3 self-defense = yellow belt. They are motivated by tangible, incremental increases in knowledge with a reward system (next color belt). For these guys an instructor could organize an art into 4 levels (or however many you want). You make the level tests relatively inexpensive, but make sure that quality is high. Ea guy has to demonstrate good technique or sweat trying. Level 1 is the fundamentals test, Level 2 is a test of good application, lt to med contact sparring, Level 3 is a test of power, stamina, speed, skill. Level 4 is entry into amateur boxing/grappling competition or MMA competition.


Some MA schools make money by having many different level belt tests and chargin a high price for the test ($600 for red belt). Its good for business, but you have a 0% failure rate and absolutely 0 quality control. In a few years you end up having 5 black belts that huffs and puffs after throwing 3 kicks and one that can throw 200 kicks non-stop. What happens next? the 5 black belts that can't kick (but have huge wallets) test for their 2nd degree and they receive it. The guy that can throw fast, solid kicks can't or won't shell out 2 grand for the 2nd degree will be stuck .

[Crouchtig]

when i used to do taekwon do i noticed that no one ever failed a grading (if they took it it meant that they paid).
examiner: "throw a snap kick" kids throws a snap kick
examiner: "throw a chop kick" kids throws a snap kick
examiner: "throw a turning kick" kids throws a snap kick
examiner: "throw a HOOK kick" kids throws a snap kick
examiner: "throw a SIDE kick" kids throws a snap kick with great difficulty
kid goes on to green belt (about half-way to black)
everyone who took the grading went up 1 belt, do crap go up 1 belt, do amazingly well go up 1 belt
you can never have a belt system that works perfectly
in thai boxing there are no belts, you just knows whos good and whos not, it works well and costs less!

[darrianation]

For me it’s kind of a loaded question.
My over all goals are:

1) To have the money to open up my own gym someday. I have several micro goals to accomplish this.

2) Another important goal for me is to earn the respect from martial artists who I respect.

3) I want to be a formidable opponent to whom ever I spar or fight.

4) Improve my boxing skills.

5) Learn grappling- judo, jujitsu, mma. So I can be a more complete fighter.

6) To get a ma club going where I live.

I also have goals for every training session I do. I might do my regular workout but set some time to work one or two things I feel are weak. It may be a technique, endurance, or strength, or a combo of things.

I set goals for every time I spar. For example: Work the jab, certain combos, or reading certain things my opponent may be doing (bettering my analyzing skills).

I’m not as young as I once was and I can’t train as hard or as long as I used too( nor do I have he same amount of time), but I think I train smarter. My techniques aren't getting a whole lot better but I use them more wisely.

These are a feww I have. Having these goals keep me in the game. I’d be lost with out them.

Originally posted by Szczepankiewicz
My success can be measured in these specific goals:

1) Fly to Manchester, UK.
Kick the snott out of Bitty on Pay Per View.

2) Repeat step 2 as needed. Usually once a year for vacation.


Spanky

Step 2 doesn't make sense you dim wit. You mean "Repeat step 1 as needed".

I really will have to knock some sense into you.

[aseepish]

My goals are more fitness oriented.

1) Take boxing for 6 months to get in shape for
2) Pancrase or Shoot, for another 6 to 10 months to get in shape for
3) Muay Thai camp in Thailand. I think 3 or 4 months in Chiang Mai will be a nice little coda for my Asian adventure.