Photo by Hauke Musicaloris, used under Creative Commons licence.

This is a blog about persistence.

When you experience big knockbacks, it’s easy to lose confidence and to implode. It’s only having a fundamentally strong attitude that can get you through that.

That’s why teaching attitude to my students is the most important thing – teaching the ability to never give up. We call it ‘indomitable spirit’. What it means is the will to carry on against seemingly undefeatable odds.

Never say die, never say lose

If water wants to break its way through rock, it continues to drip, drip, drip. So indomitable spirit means a will to carry on against seemingly undefeatable odds. Nothing is impossible to will and mind. Never say die, never say lose. Think positive.

I tell my students this all the time. They believe it. We encourage the students never to give up. That’s a prerequisite when they join the class.  I encourage children just to feel great about themselves and their abilities, and to have a sense that they can move forward without limitations.

The indomitable spirit, the will to carry on and to never give up, is something I’ve learned and I’ve seen it in action as I’ve grown my classes. I’ve seen it happen and I’ve seen the difference it makes.  I’ve experienced it myself too. I’ve had that belief myself when I fought in tournaments and became British champion nine times over.

It’s something we teach our young people, but as adults we also need to learn it – and re-learn it. If we keep growing as people, we’ll keep on facing knock-backs: that’s life, that’s the way it goes. And this is the only way to deal with it.