We all know that if martial arts is one thing it is structured. The structure of martial arts is hierarchical, their is one head instructor (Shifu) and the students exist at various levels in the heirarchy. You can not maintain structure without discipline.
In martial arts this discipline is maintained through the respect for the head instructor. Like a military leader there can be no question of orders given. When training there will be times when you are instructed to do something that does not seem to be right. If you falter or question you disrespect this discipline and structure. The discipline and respect form trust and to falter or question it is to break it.
I often refer to the movie "The Karate Kid", the student does not understand the demands of his teacher but follows. Only when the teach decides it is time, does he reveal the wisdom of his actions to the student..."Wax-on, Wax-off!".
Like this movie there is no room for disobedience in martial arts training. Because of this the instructor is strict when dealing with such actions. He must be to preserve the discipline of the Kwoon, rules are not meant to be broken! The foundations of discipline in martial arts stem from the fact that it is a martial art. Only through discipline can we surpass our limitations. Only through discipline, trust, respect and structure can we learn to apply these same principles to our lives as self-discipline, confidence, self-respect, and control over ourselves. This is the importance of discipline.
In martial arts, one of the biggest hurtles for students to overcome is patience. They want it now, they want to advance now, they want to learn that new form or technique now. The student feels they are ready to move on and can't understand why they can't. They can't see the importance of perfecting their current techniques.
Have you heard this before, "Jack of all trades, master of none"? It is a figure of speech used in reference to a person that is competent with many skills, but spends so much time learning each new skill that he/she can not become an expert in any particular one.
Take your time and master what you have learned before wanting to learn more. When the time comes to use what you have learned, you will be much better of for it.
Remember what Bruce Lee once said, "I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times".
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