What Separates the Trainees from the Trainers. 

Often NOTHING!

As we begin a new year—on the heels of 2020, a year when Planet Earth uniformly achieved less of its goals than was planned—it behooves us to take stock of where we are, and to re-commit to what didn't get done last year. Before I became weary of traveling to conduct workshops, I noted similar behaviors among most edged weapons aficionados, whether they were trainees, trainers, or almost anyone in between.

You all lack focus!

The truth hurts—but that's good, because hurt brings change!

In photography, as everyone knows, the better your focus, the sharper your picture. The same holds true for the martial arts, and indeed every other discipline one sets out to master. In this case, a better focus will make you a sharper practitioner.

So, where do you begin?

Get very clear about your primary goals. Granularly clear!

Trainees allow themselves to stagnate by pursuing too many interests that keep them distracted. They waste time indulging their curiosity and exploring interesting activities that derail them from the path they (think) they're on. I understand being curious. The grass is always greener, and all that. But this is why discipline has always has always been a mainstay of martial arts training. Your focus should not be on how many different workshops you've attended or how many knife techniques your buddies and you know—it should be on how much of your principal system you have down, There will be time for dabbling later.

Trainers have their own distractions. I meet too many who don't yet have a firm student base, yet they're running around trying to keep up with the well-established Joneses. As happens with the trainees, the trainers want to have T-shirts, DVDs, conduct workshops, and produce their own uniquely-designed knives before having sufficient students!!!

Trainees and trainers suffer from the SAME lack of clearly-focused priorities, so my advice for both is the same. Hone you craft first.

Trainees, get close to your instructor; he's there to edify you.

Trainers, get close to you students; training them well is your best marketing plan. Assemble a core following of serious and dedicated students. Then you can look to expand, but only as much as is warranted. The focus for both Trainees anf Trainers is on, yes, that's right, quality, not quantity.

Happy and Hard Training in 2021!!

—James Loriega