im 32 years old and have been training in Wing Chun for 3 1/2 years.
although i love the art and really enjoy my training, i have a very stressful job, and often i find that before classes i feel very de-motivated and tired.
how to you guys stay motivated?
Wing Chun is not a hobbie
Wing Chun is learning, not playing, but your cup is not empty. Your problem is bigger than your tiredness and stress in between work and Wing Chun. Eliminate the stress at all costs, and all will be well. And… see below.
And don’t forget the elephants. They don’t.:rolleyes:
nobbut seriously folks…
You said that before your classes you often feel demotivated…
Do you still go? How do you feel after the classes?
If you are stiff/tired/aching/p****d off before you go, try even harder to relax into your technique, your reflex. It should help to disengage the bridges when you need to, to keep them connected when you need to…
I had a serious back pain a few weeks ago, I pulled something whilst lifting, but I carried on against my own (‘common’!?) sense. I found it actually helped me to relax, and my techniques came out more naturally. In turn, I think it helped to smoothe out that pain quicker…
That was a physical problem, but take your wc mind home, and relax with it. Just don’t punch anyone on the bus 
!
Work sucks, it’s a fact. In class, however, is the only time when I completely forget about my job, because I am focused on Wing Chun. Not even when I am sleeping can I get this far away from the odious memories of my day job. This helps motivate me to class even when I am tired.
Unless you are rich, you have to deal with stress, not run from it because there really is nowhere to hide. For me, Wing Chun is a way to deal with stress. It may not be for you, however.
Re: Motivation…
Originally posted by HAZ
[B]im 32 years old and have been training in Wing Chun for 3 1/2 years.
although i love the art and really enjoy my training, i have a very stressful job, and often i find that before classes i feel very de-motivated and tired.
how to you guys stay motivated? [/B]
I too was in a similar situation where I was working, now back in school, both situations had/have a lot of work and are/were stressful. There came a point where I had to take time off from class. I didn’t want to, but there was too much on my plate and I needed to get things in order again. I found after about 2 months I was itching to get back into WC again! I’m as motivated as I was when I first started!
Maybe take a little time off until you are at the point again where you WANT to go back! 
Perspective
You have a stressful job? Things might be worse. For example …
The small company I work for recently went into financial suspended animation, due to my boss charitably loosening payment terms to a customer who turned out to be (arguably) criminally deceitful, leaving over $200,000 AUS owing with the prospects of recouping it less than assured (lots of other creditors, many of whom have also considered lawsuits).
He can’t afford to pay my salary, so I’m on the job market, looking for a software development contract in a VERY slow job market (last week I sent out 20 applications and got one phone call to say I didn’t fit, and I have good skills in Delphi, Oracle, VB, Access, ASP, Project Management and more), with a large mortgage and a wife and pets to support.
I don’t want to quit and cut my boss adrift, plus I use a laptop, phone, software, etc. belonging to the company, plus I’m not sure he can afford to pay out my entitlements right now anyway. And he’s a personal friend, and none of this is really his fault. But changing companies and getting a new permanent job seems like the only sensible next step. While I nominally work for the company, I can neither claim the dole nor my income protection insurance either.
I’m glad to get to training and work and get worked as hard as possible because it takes my mind off my situation. Otherwise I’d be at home staring at the walls pondering my next move. My training is going well while my employment situation is on the downward spiral.
Enjoy what you have. With perspective, it might not be so bad after all.
WC training = Love making
Hi Haz,
Readjust your perspective.
This added dimension enriches your motivation. Hope this helps!
Haz…
It seems to be sign of the times. As you can see from several of the responses that you’ve already received that this is a fairly common situation. The advice I would give is that you have to learn to compartmentalize your life to some degree. When work is done, it’s done and time to focus on Wing Chun. I look forward to my classes and training. I find it energizing, even on days when I’m wiped-out after a long day’s work. You need to mentally shift gears from one activity to another.
But there’s still the physical reality that needs to be addressed here. Stress takes a terrific toll on your mind and body. It’s really important that you get enough sleep and eat properly. I can’t over emphasize the importance of rest and diet. Eat lots of good food several times a day - three meals a day will not do it. Make sure that you get enough sleep. Also, all sleep is not equal. What I mean by that is if you need eight hours of sleep per night, for example, sleeping from 10pm to 6am is much more refreshing than sleeping from 2am until 10am. Both have eight hours total, but the second example ignores the natural rhythm of the human body. If you are getting an hour or even 30 minutes less sleep per night than you need, the negative effect compounds over time.
I know that Wing Chun training will in fact add energy to your life, rather than take it from you. Oh yeah, and your age is not a factor here. You’re still quite young, and I would only add that nutrition and rest are even more critical once you get into your 30’s.
Regards,
Matrix
Anerlich,
I feel for you!! I was in what seems like the exact same situation. In fact reading your post I had to double check to make sure you weren’t in the same company (I’m in Arizona, USA). I went a 2 months without a paycheck before I finally woke up and decided that I was never going to see my pay. I figured the little amount I would get from unemployment (the dole as you call it) bought more grocieries for my family than the $0 I was getting from the company. The day I quit, it was like someone lifted 100 pound weight off of my shoulders. For the first time in a long time I was back in control of my future. Also, the mood around the company was so depressing it was bringing me down, but I couldn’t see it until after I quit.
Besides giving the company your services, even if it is in small amounts, without getting paid is slave labor. If you work for your friend, I’m sure he will understand that you have to look out for you own family and do what is best for them.
It took me 4 months to find a job after I quit, but it was worth it. I found a job that has me working too many hours, it’s very stressfull, and I love it (hahaha). The people who stayed with the company, after I quit, received a bunch of promises and a kick in the pants when the doors finaly shut, but no money. At least I had a jump on the job market over them.
Either way you play it, good luck. Keep a positive attitude (not easy to do) and things will work out for you in the end.
Sorry Haz I got off on a tangent.
To answer your question, I too am beat at the end of the day and usually don’t feel like going to class (I hope my Sifu doesn’t read this). But I still go. It’s the only time (and I do mean only time) where I completely forget about work, bills, and the other sh!ts of life. While I was out of work, my wife and I felt it was important to keep going for this very reason (she’s in my class too). The weird but I actually have more energy after class that I did before class. So that I can go home and do some work (hahaha).
Have you reached a plateau in your training?
If so and it has only been that way for a short while, you need to work through it. Stick with it because this will pass and you will start seeing improvements again.
If you have been on that plateau for a while and still don’t feel you are improving, take off a couple of months (no more, or it will be detrimental). While your off, don’t do any Wing Chun, but do other things to stay in fair shape, like stretching, cycling, jogging, or whatever floats you boat. When you come back your Wing Chum will probably be even better than before. This happens to other athletes who find themselves in this situation all the time.
Well like a few of the other guys have already said… for me going to class is a release from the stresses of work. I really look forward to going to class. Being able to focus on just Wc and forget about the world and work etc…
Yes ther are some days where i dont really feel like going to class but i usually push my self to go on those days. I do this because after i get to class and do some chi sau…well im usually gald i went and start to feel alot better!
Again im re-iterating points others have said, but its a common thing i guess… WC really energises me and gives me a buzz!
If i could make money from doing it i’d quit my job today!
Gandalf,
thanks for the words, they helped, I ain’t giving up yet. I’m a pretty resilient b*****d all up. I half expect my boss to be grateful I’m not expecting anything more from him, and we can do a deal, his equipment paid off by some of my entitlements, at some stage where we’re both financially secure again.
I think compartmentalising is helpful.
More to the point though, if the only motivation I have is me, my training, my abilities, my self image, it runs into limits pretty quickly.
In my mind real warriors seek each other out and draw strength from one another. We work not for ourselves, but the collective improvement of the group. I go to training because that’s where the fellow members of my tribe are. I care about them and they care about me. How could that ever be demotivating?
Originally posted by anerlich
I half expect my boss to be grateful I’m not expecting anything more from him, and we can do a deal, his equipment paid off by some of my entitlements, at some stage where we’re both financially secure again.
Here’s a quote that I think applies pretty well. “Blessed is he who expects no gratitude, for he shall not be disappointed” W.C. Bennett.
Also, I really like your thoughts on using the collective energy of the club. You can draw a lot of strength from your brothers and sisters and your Sifu.
Just remember, that you will also need to be a source of energy whenever possible. You can’t just take.
Matrix
Matrix,
good point about the gratitude. I did say “half expecting”. Probably good I’m still optimistic about something.
As regards giving and taking, my point exactly. If your training is all about what YOU can get from it, you rob yourself and everyone else.
anerlich,
The lack of gratitude is just a reflection of the self-absorption that many people have. It’s not that others are against you, they are merely for themselves.
Unfortunately, the “what’s in it for me” attitude is pervasive. There are too many who want to take, and leave little or nothing in return.
Matrix
