Remember the Why
Why we train. Why do we endure? Why do we keep showing up?
Greetings everyone.
I wanted to finish my message that was cut off last week on Facebook while streaming. It was about the reasons why we do what we do. We can talk about it today and put it to bed; we don’t have to cover this subject for a little while. But it is really important to understand why we choose this path that we are on.
“Martial arts, by definition, is one the most difficult sports you can take on board.”
Martial arts demand so much of us. There are countless skill sets to learn and challenges to face. mental, physical, spiritual, you name it. We train through and around injuries. It is an extreme sport to say the least, and along the way, we are often humbled by the journey.
The Value of Being Defeated
We spoke about Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, who said:
“The purpose of life is to be defeated by greater and greater things.”
It’s a riddle at first glance, but its meaning is clear. If we don’t challenge ourselves, if we don’t climb higher or reach further — we don’t grow. Growth requires humility. It requires putting the ego aside.
Those with too much pride or hubris shy away from the idea of being defeated. But in martial arts, defeat is not failure; it is education.
“You may be defeated in the moment, but you never lose the lesson.”
Look at BJJ. Every time you tap, you learn. Every clean shot in sparring teaches you something, whether you land it or receive it. The lesson is always there if you’re willing to see it.
Rising to the Challenge
Now and again, we must place ourselves in difficult situations. Black belt and gold belt gradings are not meant to be comfortable; they are meant to test you.
I once asked a room full of students how many had competed. No hands went up. Yet every one of them wore a belt they had earned through challenge. They had already competed against fear, anxiety, and the possibility of failure.
“You competed against fear — and you made it.”
Years ago, I had a student nicknamed Irish who failed his brown belt three times. When he finally passed, he soared. Sometimes we fall short. What matters is that we get back up and keep going.
The Power of the ‘Why’
Your reason for training may be deeply personal. You may never share it, and that is okay. What matters is that you answered the call. You chose the path.
As Nietzsche said:
“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”
When discipline fades and motivation dips, the conversation you have with yourself becomes everything. If your why is strong enough, the how will take care of itself.
“If you embrace the why, you will never question the how.”
We are all walking the same path — different stages, different experiences, but together we are part of something bigger than ourselves.
On the hard days, remember your why. I used to tell competitive students: Every day you don’t train without a legitimate reason, someone else is moving forward. That doesn’t mean ignoring rest; your body will tell you when it needs it.
That’s why you eat clean. That’s why you recover properly. That’s why you look after yourself from every angle.
Final Word
“Remember the why, and you will never question the how.”
Kuen Yao Sum Faat
Sifu Rick Spain
