Krav Maga Chief, Yoga Flunky

Krav Maga cross training with new skill sets, a commitment to yourself, leave your pride to grow.

The 60-minute hot Yoga class ends, and some people walk by to say something kind but innocuous. I suppose I’m a mascot of sorts. I can see the sentiment in their eyes – Oh look, the big guy is trying again. How sweet is that!

I suppose I’d be embarrassed if I hadn’t been preaching to my Krav Maga students for nearly 20 years to check their ego at the door. So, I continue to check my now battered ego and begin to gather my sweat soaked mats and towels.

The floor around my “practice area” is awash with sweat. I notice there is literally more sweat on the floor around me that on the rest of the entire room – seriously. A young lady comes walking into the room with cleaning supplies in tow. She sees me; I’m me standing over mat trying to clean it up a bit, and I’m last one remaining in the room. She clearly sees the small gulf I’ve created with my sweat, and her face changes. She looks at me concerned, remarking, you should hydrate.

It is times like this that I find my resolve in the students I’ve trained over the years. Not the students that excelled, but rather the students that struggled. I’ve seen students struggle with a serious lack of natural ability. I’ve seen students struggle with a serious accident and injury that lead to a disability. And, I’ve seen these students show up and refuse to be defeated. That’s simply awesome.

So I smile. I recognize progress often comes in small increments and through large efforts. I remember that ego and pride are destructive and cause an abrupt halt in growth. I resolve to train more with my students and instructors and to allow them to see me fail. I decide that I am a work in progress, and I‘m 100 percent OK with that.

So, no matter what you’re doing. Check your ego at the door, give a great effort, and know that this often messy process is where personal growth is found.