Learning to set and achieve realistic goals plays a major role in all aspects of our lives, including in martial arts training. Setting achievable goals for yourself and having a structured program you can work on, gives you a clear path to work towards, and will help build your confidence as you progress through each step.
If you find yourself getting stuck, don't lose heart. Just stop and re-evaluate the goals you have set. I have found it useful to follow the S.M.A.R.T goal setting principles. In brief S.M.A.R.T stands for:
| S.M.A.R.T Principles | |
|---|---|
| S | SPECIFIC – The goal must be clear and well defined. |
| M | MEASURABLE – Your goal may be to learn a new Kata, to be able to do 50 Muay Thai kicks or to do 10 proper push-ups in a row. Regardless, you should have a definite way of knowing when you have reached your goal. |
| A | ACHIEVABLE – Make sure you start of with small goals (e.g. something you can achieve each week). The sense of accomplishment you get early on will motivate you to keep going and then build towards larger goals. Ensure you have all the resources you need before you start working on the goal, and if you don't, find someone you can ask for help and guidance from. |
| R | RELEVANT – Is the goal worthwhile to you and are you motivated to do it? |
| T | TIME-BOUND – What is the dead line and have you given yourself a realistic time frame to achieve it in? |
Remember you only fail if you give up or stop trying.
"F.A.I.L means First Attempt in Learning" - Abdul Kalam
Example of Goal Setting
My Personal Goal
So for 2018 I decided to think about what I wanted to achieve with regards to Shotokan Karate. My goal is to fine tune my current Kata's appropriate to an advanced black belt level.
| Time-Bound | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 week | Self-observation via mirror to pick up incorrect techniques and movement. Also request instructor to observe and provide feedback. |
| 1 month | Practicing the Katas with conscious awareness at least twice a week incorporating all new findings. |
| 6 months | Continuing to practice Kata's at least twice a week applying new changes and developments into a smooth free flowing motion. |
| 1 year | Still practicing at least twice a week. Kata's are now performed in an automated fashion with correct timing, dynamics, power, balance and spirit. |
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden - Japan
