We are midway into January as I’m writing this blog post. Eh, what? When did that happen?
I’m still getting used to writing 2026 at the end of the date.
How’s your New Year’s resolution coming along?
Is this your best year yet?
Coachability: A Powerful Way to Start the Year
At On Track Wellness, the word of the month this month is Coachability, and what a good way to start the year, talking about how martial arts helps us be coachable and why that is such a good quality, on and off the mat.
“Coachability is an important life skill that helps both kids and adults tap into their potential, making learning more efficient and enjoyable. Being coachable means listening, learning, and being willing to try again when someone gives you feedback. It doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong, it means you’re learning how to do it better.”
Eric Romo
Why Effort Matters More Than Talent
One of the things that is highly valued at this dojo is effort. We are repeatedly reminded as students that skill can be taught and practiced, but effort is the one thing a Sensei can’t transfer in the teaching process. With effort comes the ability to be coached to improve, the willingness to receive feedback and apply it to our practice.
Effort Creates Space for Growth
The beauty of effort is that it allows the space between reality and perfection to be as wide as it is. It comes with the promise of improvement in direct relation to consistency. And in a world of instant everything, martial arts practitioners learn firsthand concepts like commitment, patience, and dedication, and those who bring consistent effort reap the benefits, no shortcuts.
Consistency Is What Gets You There
And that is the other keyword here, consistency. Where frequency will shorten the gap between where you are and meeting your goal, consistency is what will assure you do reach your goal at all.
So, here at On Track Wellness, we love to see students show up frequently, and we value consistency for the sake of sustainable improvement.
When Life Gets in the Way
Recently, I wrote a blog post about how common it is for teenage girls to quit training martial arts. There seems to be something with age 11. Other interests start competing with their martial arts training. It’s just not as exciting, they’re going through all the changes that come with being a pre-teen, etc. And martial arts ends up on the back burner.
For adults, it may be work that is extra demanding, an injury (at age 41 I have injured myself in martial arts training far more than my 15-year-old daughter), or just life in general feeling like an everyday chaos of responsibilities and things craving attention.
Consistency takes a hit.
The longer we stay off the mat, the harder it is to return.
Adjusting Doesn’t Mean Quitting
It’s okay to adjust, adapt, and shift schedules. My 15-year-old daughter just decided to scale back and do “only” 4–5 classes per week (Yes, I know that’s still A LOT) instead of the average 9 classes she has been doing for the past 2 years. My 11-year-old daughter decided to take a break about a year ago, and I am talking to her about returning, even if it’s for one class here and there to get back into things. I recently had to stay off the mat due to a knee injury, followed by a toe injury upon my return. I had to ease back into karate classes and have yet to return to BJJ.
You Are Always Welcome Back
No matter how long you have been training, what your capacity is at the moment, or how long you have been taking a break, one thing you will never have to worry about is whether or not you are welcome back on the mat or in the gym.
Maybe you closed out 2025 with a resolution for this new year, and you’re crushing it. Let us know so we can cheer you on and celebrate along the way with you.
Maybe your 2026 is not starting the way you had planned. Let us know so we can encourage and support you and help you get on track and get a restart.
It’s Not Too Late to Meet You Goal
My daughter mentioned to me the other day how it would make more sense to use January as a grace period to get your New Year’s resolution started, and by February have it locked in and be set up for succeeding throughout the rest of the year. We are only halfway in. Don’t let the first two weeks make you feel like you can’t meet your fitness and wellness goals throughout the rest of the year.
We’re here to support, encourage, hold you accountable, and cheer you on.
Hope to see you on the mat!
Amanda Medina
Dojo mom and martial artist
