Last week I read a great article by Matthew Syed in The Times. The article talked about the hours the rugby player Johnny Wilkinson puts into training and how those hours make us believe he is a genius. In the article Wilkinson was quoted as saying
“My dedication is my greatest strength. I am able to stay out there practising until things are absolutely right. I don’t give up!”
The article then goes on to say. “Dig down into the biographies of Tiger Woods, Serena Williams, David Beckham or Mozart and the same story keeps repeating itself. Sustained dedication, passion and a powerful belief that with long devotion the rewards will flow. To put it simply, there is no such thing as effortless or preordained greatness.” The article concludes with a quote from Pele.
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”
This article inspired me to look up a few quotes on the subject from some famous martial artists. Here are a few.
Bruce Lee:
“I refer to my hands, feet and body as the tools of the trade. The hands and feet must be sharpened and improved daily to be efficient.
It is true that the mental aspect of kung-fu is the desired end; however, to achieve this end, technical skill must come first.
The techniques, though they play an important role in the early stage, should not be too restrictive, complex or mechanical. If we cling to them, we will become bound by their limitation. Remember, you are expressing the technique, and not doing Technique number two, Stance three, Section four?
Practice all movements slow and fast, soft and hard; the effectiveness of Jeet Kune-Do depends on split-second timing and reflexive action, which can be achieved only through repetitious practice.
When performing the movements, always use your imagination. Picture your adversary attacking, and use Jeet Kune-Do techniques in response to this imagined attack. As these techniques become more innate, new meaning will begin to emerge and better techniques can be formulated.”
Bruce Lee:
“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”
Gichin Funakoshi
“Each year in the month of April, a great number of new students enroll in the karate classes of the universities’ physical education departments – most of them, fortunately, with the dual purpose of building up their spiritual as well as their physical strength. Nonetheless, there are always some whose only desire is to learn karate so as to make use of it in a fight. These almost inevitably drop out of the course before half a year has passed, for it is quite impossible for any young person whose objective is so foolish to continue very long in karate. Only those with a higher ideal will find karate interesting enough to persevere in the rigors it entails. Those who do will find that the harder they train, the more fascinating the art becomes.”
Morihei Ueshiba
“Progress comes to those who train and train; reliance on secret techniques will get you nowhere.”
Morihei Ueshiba
“The purpose of training is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body, and polish the spirit.”
And this one from Ueshiba I’ve included just because I like it!
“When an opponent comes forward, move in and greet him; if he wants to pull back, send him on his way.”
