Discipline, Martial Arts Training and Learning in School

This article is about discipline, not the kind that goes with phrases like
 “go to your room”, “you’re grounded”, or “you can’t have the car”. This form of discipline is classified as punishment.

This artical is also not about self-discipline, examples of which are passing on dessert or that expensive HDTV. This is usually referred to as self-control.

The self-discipline in this discussion, is the kind that allows you to concentrate or focus on your tasks so that they can be completed within their allotted time and with excellent results.  Of most importance for this discussion is that students of any age, can be taught to concentrate on their lessons to the point that they will do extremely well in school.

The method is embedded in Martial Arts training.  From the very outset, the emphasis is on focusing on every detail of what the instructor is doing and what the student is required to learn to do. It begins very simply with the requirement that students bow each time they enter or leave the mat. The student then learns to tie his or her belt in a particular way. Individual attention is paid to each student until he or she can do it correctly by themselves. 

Next they learn the basic stance of chumbae at which time they also learn not to move until they have been given permission. Not scratching when you itch is already one of the higher forms of self-discipline.

The student must also memorize a list of as many as 20 rules that they must recite, and learn to obey. The physical aspect of the art is taught in a logical sequence, beginning with how to fall, forwards and backwards, to avoid getting hurt when falling. These lessons require precise movement of the arms and legs and turning of the head at the appropriate time. Learning to execute these simple moves correctly, requires concentration and focus so that the repetition of the moves can be duplicated each time the command to fall is given.

Progressing through the various fighting and defensive moves requires continued concentration on every detail of each move.  How you make a fist and when and how to turn it, how to lift your forearm and where to place it, to assume a defensive position. Each move must be precisely accomplished before the student can begin combining the moves to execute the many forms that will eventually be learned.  All this has to be accomplished while also concentrating on proper footwork, involving how to place and move your feet.

Punches and kicks are another realm that must be executed with great precision and control. When working against a bag, power is key, whereas while working against another student, control is paramount. Once again, concentration and focus are essential to complete each action precisely.

After a few months of this regimen, with lessons at the studio and practice at home, the ability to concentrate and focus on a given task begins to carry over to other fields of endeavor and almost invariably carries over to performance at school.  Teachers and parents often detect improved school performance shortly after a student has begun Martial Arts classes.

Having embarked on this learning process in the Martial Arts environment, the student has begun a journey that will benefit him or her throughout their lives. Once the ability to concentrate and focus has been ingrained, it will automatically be applied in all appropriate circumstances and will lead to success.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 by Professor Bloom