Are you a motivator?

Taekwondo training is hard.  The physical requirements make us sore, tired, and are sometimes painful.  The mental requirements are equally exhausting.  A foreign language to memorize.  Rules, protocols, traditions all constantly on us.  We don't always want to be there.  We don't always want to try, or do our best, or push ourselves.

Whose job is it to motivate a class?  The Master Instructor or teacher?  Any Master or teacher WANTS to motivate and excite their students.  That's why they teach.  To share their passion; their love of the subject.  But I can tell you that if a person or group does not want to be motivated, they will fight it. And all your words will fall on deaf ears.

It's HARD to motivate an entire group of people.  I guess this is why Tony Robbins makes so much money.  Every student is different, and needs different things.  There is no one size fits all.  I say this not only as a Master Instructor, but as someone with many years of professional teaching and speaking experience in front of groups large and small.

But all this changes if there's one or two people in the group that agree with what you're saying.  One or two people that "get it" and want to be a part of it.  The motivation starts to spread.  Have YOU ever motivated a fellow student?  Told them they're doing a great job?  Offered some encouragement or positive correction so they can improve?  I often tell people that one of the great benefits of Taekwondo is that it's an individual activity conducted in a group setting.  Because of this we receive double benefits.  The first is being able to be inside our own head and "do my Taekwondo".  The second benefit is that we get access to the group.

Groups feed on energy in the room.  Positive or negative.  It must be something in our deepest, most basic human brain functions to go along with the group.  Pack mentality. Humans like being part of a pack.  And there are rules and a structure in the pack.  They are unspoken but strong.  You know the pack won't let you down.  But you also know that you can't let the pack down.  They are counting on you as much as you are counting on them.


Ever get "caught up in the moment" with a group?  Doesn't matter what you were doing.  Singing, dancing, doing Taekwondo, exercising.  There's something magical and motivating about being in a group, large or small, all focused on the same objective and having a communal focused energy to it.  You get energized, feel unstoppable, don't want to quit.


As a parent, I can tell you that I want to be the sole teacher for my children.  I want all the words of wisdom, encouragement and truth they learn to come from me.  But I know this is unrealistic.  My father gave me many great lessons. But I learned many more from friends, seniors and other teachers outside the home.

Taekwondo is not about the doing.  It is about the trying.  Pushing ourselves to go outside our comfort area both mentally and physically.  It is only when we push outside the envelope that we discover new abilities that were hidden from us before.


When you are in class, what are you doing?  Talking? Looking at the clock waiting for class to end? Hoping the Master doesn't see you're not doing your best kick possible?  Or are you a motivator? Setting an example for yourself and other students.  If you see a student struggling, do you offer help?  If you see a student do a great job, do you tell them?  Try it. Motivation is like a boomerang.  If you throw it at someone, it will come back to you when you need it.

Until next time, be a motivator.  And keep training hard!