Karate club Basingstoke, Kickboxing BasingstokeWe may all have different reasons for taking up Martial Arts but we should all have goals and aspirations for what we want to achieve from our training.

It may be that you want to learn how to defend yourself, make new friends, achieve a black belt, be successful in competition, lose weight or get fit. It may be that you have more than one goal and your goals will quite often change over time.

Goals are good – they keep us motivated and give us the drive and determination to work hard and be successful but they do have to be realistic, this is the difference between a dream and a goal. I can dream about being an Olympic runner but given my age and current lack of skill this is not a realistic goal! However if I set myself the target of improving my current running skill and took sensible steps to putting a training plan in place then I have an achievable goal.

Quite often people become disillusioned with their training because they feel they have not achieved their goals and will then give up on their training, or alternatively achieve their original goal and instead of setting a new target for their continued development they give up. Therefore it’s really important that you both set good goals for your own training and also encourage others to be realistic in terms of what they can achieve for themselves, both now and on an ongoing basis.

With this in mind, think back to why you started Martial Arts. What did you want to achieve? If you have achieved that goal what is your new goal? If you haven’t achieved your original goal are you still working your way towards it and how are you going to get there?

To help you plan your goals and achieve the desired results from your training you have to think about the following:

  • Set goals which are realistic and achievable, both in terms of time frame and outcome.
  • Breakdown how you are going to achieve those results into practical steps which you need to take.

If you feel you’re not achieving what you want from your training think about the following:

  • Do you know what it is that you want to achieve from your training or are you just ‘going through the motions’?
  • Speak to your senior coaches or someone else who has already achieved what you are working towards. Seek advice on steps you can take to help you get there.
  • Your training is your training – whilst coaches can advise you as to what to do and how to do it, only you can apply the right attitude, determination and effort to make it worthwhile and successful.
  • You get back what you put in – the harder you work, the more you succeed.
  • Listen to the advice you are given – we can help you achieve your goals but only if you take on board any advice you are given, act on it and practice it.
  • Re-assess your goals and look to make amendments in terms of time frame and steps needed to achieve, but don’t give up.


  • If it’s important to you, you will find a way to make it happen. If it’s not, you will find an excuse.