(Approx 2 minute 20 second read)

I’m sure many people have experienced this. Years ago, when I was in school, I used to read books just to pass exams – and then that was it. I would mostly forget the content of those books afterward because I wasn’t really interested in the subject.
.
We don’t get much from books when we read just for the sake of reading. It’s better to read a chapter slowly than to rush through 100 chapters in one go. This is what I used to do during my school days, and sadly, it’s what many people do today.
.
If a chapter is difficult, it’s better to spend time reading it over and over again than to move on too quickly without truly absorbing anything.
.
The more time you spend on it, analyzing and attaching mental images to it, the easier it becomes to remember and understand.
.
Can you see where I’m going with this?
.
Everyone wants to know – Now! Many people just don’t want to put in the time to learn properly. Attending the dojo once a week is never enough. How can you ingrain something into your subconscious with such infrequent practice?
.
Your reactions and responses need to happen without thought.
.
A student of mine, when asked to perform a response to a self-defense drill, momentarily forgot what he had to do. I told him, “Do anything – something is often better than nothing.” He froze, unable to move. Why? Because he was lost in thought, trying to remember what he had learned so far.
.
This is a problem when students can only train in small amounts. They never get to experience the feeling of just flowing in the moment. No thought – just natural, instinctive response to what is happening in front of them.
.
Today, of course, the YouTube sensei prevails. Many prefer to watch a video of a technique, kata, or drill rather than learn it properly from a teacher at a dojo.
.
Most people can “walk” through a kata fairly quickly, but do they truly know it, as they claim? No, of course not.
.
The ego is a big problem in the martial arts. Some reach black belt and believe they can teach others simply because they can “walk through” several kata or techniques at an elementary level.
.
Everyone wants things quickly but they’re not prepared to be patient and truly understand.
.
How can you teach others if you do not truly understand yourself? This is where depth separates true martial artists from those who merely imitate.
.
There’s a vast difference between memorization and understanding. One is surface-level, a performance of sorts – while the other is ingrained, instinctive, and alive.
.
True understanding comes from correct repetition, from struggle, from refining movements until they become part of you. It’s not about collecting techniques like trophies; it’s about absorbing principles so deeply that they shape your reactions without conscious thought.
.
But this takes time. It takes patience. And patience, unfortunately, is something many lack today.
.
Too many rush ahead, eager to “know” – but without true understanding. They mistake knowledge for wisdom, technique for application, and rank for skill.
.
In the dojo, you must resist this mindset. You must slow down, embrace the process, and commit to learning deeply, not just superficially. Because in the end, when you truly understand, there is no hesitation – only action.
.
.
Written by Adam Carter