In my 20 years of practicing martial arts, I find it important to stress before stepping into the ring, that the individuals who do must check their emotions, their background, their thoughts and opinions at where they step in, and touch gloves.
I have found that tranquility of mind is what I seek while sparring, and I do my best when I achieve it. When I stop concerning myself with their size, or skill level, how intimidating they come off, and so on, and so forth until I am not fighting them anymore- instead I am fighting something I believe to be, rather than what is.
I have found that anger is something which, while inspiring one to fight, paradoxically is the emotion which quickest saps my ability to fight most, as I pour effort and energy behind attacks where it is not needed.
When I have a clear mind, not planning the next move, not focusing on the one I just threw, save if it complements what I am about to, and ready to receive each moment as it comes, I find myself best ready not only to receive the strike, but see the confrontation overall.
I focus on my breathing, and try not to think. Thinking distracts from what we are doing, worrying about winning or losing, even if a little, in fact distracts us from focusing on each strike at a time. When we handle it one at a time, we lose the mysticism behind others speed and skill which we attribute and add to them more than actually is. 6 punches in a second seems like so much, but when you think about dealing with one strike at a time, and not the whole lot, you will find each so much easier to deal with.
My mental state is blank, and my goal is efficiency. I try not to waste movement, energy, because I never know when the more skilled, the larger or smaller, the more intelligent, wise, artist may come along, and completely clean my clock.
When fighting humility is the greatest emotion you can hold, out of any you choose to carry with you. Let it be that one, for it is with humility only we can admit our errs honestly to ourself, and begin the path to fixing them. I never got anywhere in martial arts thinking I was the best, and I've never seen a teacher worthy of respect and the title accept a student who claimed to know more. Martial arts begins and ends with respect, and likewise, it begins, ends, and can only continue if we are humble.
I avoid calling myself a master out of humility. Doubt is humble- I fear the day I consider myself a master, for I fear it can bring with it a state of mind of complacency. I never want my art to stop growing, I never want to hit a never-ending plateau, and ultimately, it is my choice to cross that plateau, or keep climbing up the mountain. I hope I am not alone.
