Dont be defined by what you cant do…
Recently (2009) I trained a young man with a mild physical deformity to one leg. It did not cause pain but it was an issue for movement in some techniques. Instead of accepting his limitations and training around them he became fixated around his limitations. Training was not about what he could do. His training was entirely focused around what he could not do. He constantly went from one reason to another for reasons why he could not perform techniques given his physical problem. Every technique - every punch, every movement was about his limitation.
The problem was not his ankle but his head. His attitude, his beliefs, his excuses.
To my relief he left. I challenged his attitude - but he felt I did not understand. He felt I did not realise what it was like for him to have a limitation. Having been a qualified nurse for 20+ years I did understand - I had seen brave people overcome impossible odds to live a ‘normal’ life in extraordinary circumstances - such a ‘living with’ enduring or serious mental illness.
So my challenge to you is simple. What ever your age, your shape or your gender. Embrace your limitations, understand them and work around them. Physical limitations may prevent you from doing some of the things the way you want, but they dont define who you are. Its your responce to your limitations, your actions when you meet a challenged that really define who you.
Paul Grey
Paul is a professional Krav Maga Instructor who teaches ordinary people of all abilities the Israeli system called Krav Maga. If you are based in weston or Bristol come and try us out. www.realitybasedtraining.co.uk
