Monday, September 28, 2015

Be Clear!

YOU could be teaching Combat Silat within two years.
Did you know that with a strategy, a little hope, and some sweat you can achieve your goals?
The majority of us do not think so out of the box crazy that we cannot achieve what we set our mind to. If you wanted to do the work, put in the time, and bust your ass, you could achieve the instructor level rank of Pelatih within 2 years!
I've already helped you more than you realize. I've provided materials that you can use as the basis of that study. I've provided the goal of Pelatih. I've provided the timeline of 2 years. The curriculum itself is attainable, organized, measurable, and relevant.
The only thing really left for you to do is take the lead on your own education and goals.
Here's how you do that:
1. Set up a strategy.
2. Then follow it. Do the work. Find the path that gets you there.
3. Set milestones along the way for your goals.
4. Think of what if scenarios. What if I my knee craps out? What if my elbow, shoulder, back gives out? What if my job changes? What if....? Make some contingency plans. Measure your risk areas.
5. Then, in the face of setbacks adjust your course. Keep pursuing. Be consistent and diligent.
6. Review your progress and see if it aligns with your goal. If not, adjust.
100% of this is consistent time and energy.
There are no secrets.
There is nothing esoteric. It is all exoteric.
But let's be honest, not all the people who travel through the doors of a training area want to teach or even should be teaching.
Perfect!
You should still have a goal. Do the work of giving yourself something measurable to work towards. Include a timeline for that progress. Part of that will be determining for yourself, what it is that you want from your attendance, from your sweat, from your effort.
It doesn't need to be a particular rank. The point of martial arts training is not a fixed destination in my opinion, but the journey involved. Get your mind wrapped around what it is that you are looking for. Is it personal growth? Physical health? Spiritual change? Combat efficacy? Development of grace, balance, and flexibility? Cultural attachment?
Meditate on your personal pursuit regularly. Define what you are looking to obtain. Be open to changing that as life changes, or as you mature in the arts.
Silat can be a journey that provides different things to different people, meeting you where you're at and giving you purpose or it can be as simple as something you do to develop one aspect of yourself. Do the work of figuring out what that is.
For example, you read through this and determine that you really have no interest in teaching but instead want to develop your combat efficacy. Great! Do you know why? Is it something you like because it seems cool to kick ass? Or do you live in an unsafe environment? Do you come from an abusive background?
You will benefit more from the act of meditating on your purpose of the pursuit than you can imagine. Burrow down and try to be specific. Truly meditate on it. Figure out what you are looking for in the pursuit. Only then can you make a sure target of your training and have a way to measure your journey, make adjustments, or completely flip.
Accidental learning is the slowest way to learn. Be intentional. It's no different than trying to find something you've misplaced. You think. You draw conclusions based on your thinking. Then you act accordingly. Adjusting your journey as you go, until you find the thing misplaced. And, just like a thing misplaced, if you don't know what you're looking for, it's pretty damned hard to find it!
Move with intention and as in an attack, have clarity of movement, clarity of target, and clarity of the results.
Sincerely,
Sean Stark
Pendiri--Combat Silat

PS: Just to clarify. I don't give any certification away. This is not a attend a seminar and get certified thing. I'm sorry, that it may sound like it in hindsight, but in the past 16 or 17 years of involvement in pencak silat. I've awarded a grand total of 3 people instructor level rank in Combat Silat. All have taken more than 3 years to earn the lower level instructor ranking. The majority around 4 actually. However, much of that has to do with life, the ebb and flow of desire, etc. It is doable in 2 years. IMO with the right combination, which is mostly dependent on you!

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