CJJ Training Weblog

I enjoy exploring the dual nature of things*, and as such have recognized a pattern over the years with regards to students and their training goals.

Pattern A: Student immerses him/herself with regular training. They love being on the mat, watching YouTube videos, attending seminars, and chatting with friends and family about their art/sport. After a while, they decide to set a goal, maybe a competition, and work even harder to achieve it! Some set up a training cycle, visit with their coaches and training partners to develop a game plan, and take private classes to attack their weaknesses. Eventually game day arrives, and they compete. Win or lose, they are back on the mat the next week training, for fun, once again.

Pattern B: Student trains, falls in love with tales of expert competitors, fantasizes about the attention that others get when they compete and win, but finds her/himself lacking the desire to experience day to day training. They set a goal, and use it as inspiration to train more, but they easily succumb to temptations and distractions. They want help to stay on track, and look to their coaches and training partners for further inspiration.

When I was in my young adult years I enjoyed books like Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, because they explored this duality. My favorite parable from my readings at this time was of a group of hikers who set out to conquer the Appalachian Trail. Some of the hikers fell in love with the idea of being able to tell the world that they were of the few who completed this long journey through wilderness and self-discovery. Others simply LOVED hiking, and saw this as the ultimate expression and testament of that joy.

So, at the end of the road, who was left from the group? Who finished the hike? Those who loved it. And what about after? In a couple of weeks they were back on some trail, somewhere, for a day hike, whether alone, or with friends and family.

~Jeremy Lafreniere

* While I do enjoy looking for the black and white, I strongly feel that most of us exist in the gray. We all experience a desire to be better, and at times goals do inspire (think New Years Resolution here!) But the real experts in life are those that enjoy the day to day process, without the constant need to reflect on the product.

By Jeremy