Fake it...or make it?

You know the saying, sure, but I don't think it holds in martial training. Well, at least not as an attitude. Although many times have I pointed that different folks train for different reasons, hence varying motivational drive, and all of them legitimate, there is still good reason to approach training seriously. Just what it means to be serious can, again, differ from one practitioner to the next.

Naturally, for the people who engage in the martial arts and combatives training for the purposes of actual self protection, professional work (security, law enforcement, military) or sport/competition proper focus and commitment are sort of taken for granted. But the other two main niches - cultural/traditional students and recreational trainees - would also benefit from a deeper dive into understanding the underlying principles and applications of the chosen art/system. 

Specifically, it can frequently be the case with those whose main reason for the study of martial arts is the research of cultural tradition to get lost in the minutia of historical accuracy of costumes, armory, lineage, stances, postures done in solo formal exercises etc, while neglecting the deliberate drilling of actual combative applications. The thing is, when one attempts to recreate or understand the technical details of a system of movement without taking into account the actual purpose of that movement, the outcome of such a study will be an empty shell at best. In other words, all the attempts to attain some accuracy in practice and reenactment will boil down to guesswork. At worst, it will be mere LARPing. 

While for the recreational exercisers it might be all about workout - breaking sweat and burning calories - the authentic intent that stems from the actual understanding of the underlying strategies and principles will actually help to move with purpose, which in turn stimulates the higher expenditure of energy in training. 

To keep this short, what I want to say is: don't let yourself slip into a mere imitation of the chosen activity. Yes, it can be frustrating to deal with the mistakes on the road to actual improvement, but at least it will be an opportunity to really learn and truly raise the level of your performance, instead of mindlessly and carelessly repeating the mistakes...if nothing else, then to avoid self-inflicted injury. 

Ultimately, the choice is yours, and I'm not judging anyway, but the road to true enjoyment leads through true self-investment.