Define serious training/practise

[Spartacus Maximus]

Many discussions about martial arts raise the idea of “serious” versus “casual” practitioners. What really defines a serious practitioner of martial arts? Is it the number of hours per day or week? Does “serious” only apply to those who run a school or compete? What is YOUR definition?

[sensei8]

A very noticed and marked improvement over time through their mature approach to their training/practice.

[OneKickWonder]

Someone who doesn't just accept what they're told as the best all and end all, but rather takes what they've been taught and practices it, including in their own time, and tries to visualise it's use, and tries to understand it's broad range of applications.

Someone who uses every training opportunity not to show how cool they are, but instead to figure out what needs more work next.

[JR 137]

Serious training is when someone is training hard and putting forth a high effort rather than just going through the motions.

Go to a gym and watch people on an exercise bike. Some are reading a magazine or watching tv. Others are actually sweating and putting in work. Same difference.

[Spartacus Maximus]

It is interesting to see that nobody has mentioned time spent training and practising. How much does it really count?

[bushido_man96]

A very noticed and marked improvement over time through their mature approach to their training/practice.

I think this is a pretty good way of looking at it. Somebody can be very serious about their training and yet not be very talented.

It is interesting to see that nobody has mentioned time spent training and practising. How much does it really count?

This can be a tough one. There are a lot of people who can't dedicate as much of their time as they would like to their training. Yet when they do train, they take it very seriously and work hard at improving. I think that person could still be considered a serious Martial Artist.

[JR 137]

A very noticed and marked improvement over time through their mature approach to their training/practice.

I think this is a pretty good way of looking at it. Somebody can be very serious about their training and yet not be very talented.

It is interesting to see that nobody has mentioned time spent training and practising. How much does it really count?

This can be a tough one. There are a lot of people who can't dedicate as much of their time as they would like to their training. Yet when they do train, they take it very seriously and work hard at improving. I think that person could still be considered a serious Martial Artist.

I only get to the dojo twice a week, for 2.5 hours total. But when I’m there, it’s definitely not casual.

[bushido_man96]

A very noticed and marked improvement over time through their mature approach to their training/practice.

I think this is a pretty good way of looking at it. Somebody can be very serious about their training and yet not be very talented.

It is interesting to see that nobody has mentioned time spent training and practising. How much does it really count?

This can be a tough one. There are a lot of people who can't dedicate as much of their time as they would like to their training. Yet when they do train, they take it very seriously and work hard at improving. I think that person could still be considered a serious Martial Artist.

I only get to the dojo twice a week, for 2.5 hours total. But when I’m there, it’s definitely not casual.

I'm with ya there. I get two classes in a week right now, and one of those is spent teaching, so I don't get much of a workout in.

[Nidan Melbourne]

I feel like it is someone who questions what they are doing and improving.

[Himokiri Karate]

Good answers and truth is, there is different deminison to a persons seriousness towards training. From what I have experienced that distinguishes the casuals vs the serious are:

Casuals:

- Weight loss/fitness

- Fan of the martial arts

- Looking for an activity and they found martial arts

Serious:

- Cares deeply about every small movement in their form/technique

- Studies the movements and history of the martial art style that they are practicing

- Serious effort to reach the pinnacle of that art in combat or technical/physical mastery

Now its hard to say how many days. Myself, when I was a casual boxing fan. I was training 5 times a week because I had the time. This schedule seems like it would make me a serious trainee but fact of the matter is, I was hitting the bag and being fit but there was no internal dialogue or real passion for the moves that I was practicing.

Then I fell in love with boxing but could not train everyday because I was helping family business. So I could only train 3 times a week but I was so madly in love with the boxing footwork/martial arts movement that I was practicing it at home late at night. I remember improving during the 3 times a week training because the passion and internal dialogue and conscious attention to details was there.