Guardian Mt. Hood Jiu Jitsu

In both business and life, there’s an old adage: You can have it cheap, fast, or good—pick two, but not all three. This simple truth applies to many things, but it rings especially true in martial arts. In today’s fast-paced world, where everyone is looking for quick results, it can be tempting to prioritize speed over quality. But in martial arts, the journey is long, and the lessons are deep. If we rush through it, we risk missing the very essence of what makes the practice so transformative.

Here’s the reality:

• If it’s cheap and fast, it won’t be good. Fast promotions or shortcuts in training may give the illusion of progress, but they won’t lead to true mastery.

• If it’s good and fast, it won’t be cheap. High-quality training delivered at a rapid pace often comes at a steep price—financially, physically, or spiritually.

• If it’s cheap and good, it won’t be fast. This is the path martial arts should take. It should be accessible to everyone, affordable, but with the understanding that mastery takes time. There’s no rushing it.

The True Path in Martial Arts: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Martial arts is a journey with no destination. There’s no point at which you’ve “made it,” no finish line that marks the end of growth. It’s a continuous process of learning, improving, and refining—not just your technique, but your mind, body, and spirit.

This is why the saying “slow is smooth, and smooth is perfection” is so important in martial arts. There’s no need to go fast. In fact, rushing through the process often leads to shallow understanding, missed lessons, and, ultimately, frustration. The value in martial arts comes from taking your time, learning each technique deeply, and letting the lessons of discipline and resilience shape you over the long term.

The Role of Instructors: Prioritizing Quality Over Speed

For instructors, this adage should serve as a guiding principle. The goal should be to keep martial arts cheap and good—making it affordable and accessible to as many students as possible, without sacrificing the quality of instruction or rushing students through ranks and belts.

It’s tempting to offer fast promotions to keep students engaged or to cater to the demands of a competitive market, but this approach dilutes the art. Instead, instructors should focus on:

• Affordability: Making martial arts accessible to people of all backgrounds and financial means, without cutting corners on the depth or quality of training.

• Depth of learning: Encouraging students to take their time, master each stage of their journey, and appreciate the lessons that come with slow, steady progress.

• Rejecting shortcuts: Avoiding the pressure to provide quick results or fast tracks to success. Quality in martial arts comes from patience, discipline, and persistence.

The Role of Students: Embracing the Long, Slow Journey

For students, the same principle applies. It can be easy to want fast results, whether it’s earning your next belt or succeeding in a competition. But the true value of martial arts lies not in how quickly you advance, but in how much you grow—both in your technique and in your character.

Here are a few reminders for those on the martial arts journey:

• Focus on the process: Don’t rush to get to the next rank. Instead, focus on mastering the techniques and principles you’re learning now. Each step of the journey is important.

• Trust the path: Progress in martial arts, like progress in life, happens slowly and steadily. Trust that the time you’re putting in will pay off in ways you might not immediately see.

• Embrace the long game: Martial arts is about long-term growth. By embracing the slow pace and resisting the urge for instant gratification, you’ll experience the full depth and richness of the practice.

The Takeaway: Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Perfection

In both martial arts and life, we’re often tempted to take shortcuts, to rush toward the next achievement or goal. But the most valuable lessons—whether they be in self-defense, discipline, or personal growth—can’t be rushed. They take time to fully internalize and apply.

Martial arts isn’t about how fast you can achieve external success. It’s about how deeply you can master yourself. By keeping the practice accessible, deliberate, and patient, both instructors and students can ensure that the art remains a powerful tool for growth, resilience, and empowerment.

So remember: slow is smooth, and smooth is perfection. There’s no need to rush. Enjoy the journey.

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