Tag: martial arts mindset

The Secret to Lasting Progress

Oscar AgramonteSifu Oscar's Blog

One of the hardest lessons in training is patience. Real strength takes time. It takes at least six weeks before the body even begins to adapt. 

What feels like progress early on is often just your nervous system getting better at the movement. That is not wasted time, it is practice, but it is not true strength yet.

This is why frustration is part of the path. Every elite athlete has had to learn it. You will not feel progress every day. 

If excellence were easy, everyone would achieve it.

Most people give up simply because they expect too much too soon. They confuse the normal ups and downs of training with failure. 

The road to extraordinary results is never straight.

So how do you keep moving forward?

  • Show up.
  • Do the work.
  • Go home.

Progress comes from a steady work ethic paired with determination. Once you decide on your goal, stick with it. Do not compromise.

True progress requires long-term focus. No drama. No beating yourself up over small setbacks. 

Learn to enjoy the process, because you will spend far more time on the journey than in those brief moments of victory.

Celebrate the wins when they come. Learn from the defeats. 

And remember, if you are never failing, you are not pushing hard enough.

Most importantly, forget the timeline. It will take as long as it takes. Make the decision once and stay committed. That single choice is more powerful than any shortcut.

Kung Fu itself means hard work over time. 

At Wah Lum, our art reminds us that mastery is not about quick fixes. It is about patience, perseverance, and refusing to settle for less than your best.

See you in training,

Sifu Oscar

 

P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are ways we can help you get started.

1. Schedule a time to observe a class.
Interested in Kung Fu or Tai Chi?  First step is to watch a class and see if we would be a good fit! Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for an appointment.

2. Become part of my exclusive Coaching Group with CYH Remote Coaching.  Get personalized coaching delivered right to your phone and catered to your specific goals.
Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for info.

Use Your Strengths

Oscar AgramonteSifu Oscar's Blog

Do you know what your strengths are?

Not just what you’re good at- but what energizes you.
What puts you in the zone. What makes time fly.
What you’d do again, even if no one was watching. 

 

Your Strengths Are Your Responsibility

Those strengths? They’re not accidents. They’re assignments. 

Your gifts were given to be used.

They’re not just strengths—they’re responsibilities. Our purpose in life is tied to how we contribute them.

 

Why It Matters:

Too often, we obsess over our flaws. But that voice that says “you’re not good enough” is not new.

It’s not helpful. And honestly, it’s kind of boring. 

Your strengths are more interesting.
They speak to who you are and who you’re becoming.

 Strengths aren’t just what you’re good at.They’re the things that energize and strengthen you—even if you’re not good at them… yet.


What To Do:

  • Focus on the activities that you want to do again (hopefully Kung Fu or Tai Chi!).
  • Don’t confuse talent with passion. 
  • Forget the external “adornments”—titles, —and focus on the activity itself.
  • Practice what you love. Your appetite will lead you to mastery.

And remember: nothing great is done alone.

Your strengths grow stronger in community. That’s what we’re building here at Wah Lum.

Keep practicing. Keep contributing. Keep becoming who you’re meant to be.

Control Corner 21 with Sifu Oscar: Mastering Distraction

Oscar AgramonteSifu Oscar's Blog

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Control Corner, where we explore the art of control – whether in martial arts, health, or life. At Wah Lum, the Chinese Character for “Fire” is flipped upside down to symbolize Control, a philosophy also woven into the Control Your Health logo. 

Each week, we’ll share insights to help you focus on what matters and unlock your full potential. Enjoy!

Essentials: Are you sacrificing the important on the altar of the immediate? Distractions often pull us away from our true goals, but the good news is that we can reclaim control. While there are many things we can’t influence, we can shape our beliefs, behaviors, and focus to align with what truly matters.

Legendary coach John Wooden said it best: “Be quick, but don’t hurry. Always be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Focus on what you can control. You can’t control what other people will think of you, but you can control who you are and how you turn out as a human being.”

Why It Matters: Motivation comes from making choices that remind us we are in control. When we assert ourselves—whether by setting a boundary or taking purposeful action—we activate the part of our mind that drives self-motivation. It’s all about the locus of control: internal (believing we have power) vs. external (feeling powerless). 

Teaching yourself to embrace control fosters confidence and propels growth.

What’s Next: Ask yourself: Who are you at your core? What is essential to you? Gandhi spoke of “reducing oneself to zero,” letting go of who we aren’t so we can fully embody who we’re meant to be. Self-knowledge and authenticity are your greatest tools.

Remember, you are a work in progress, and that’s a good thing. The world needs you to fulfill your purpose. Focus on becoming who you’re meant to be—you matter to those who depend on you.

 

P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are ways we can help you get started.

1. Schedule a time to observe a class.
Interested in Kung Fu or Tai Chi?  First step is to watch a class and see if we would be a good fit! Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for an appointment.

2. Become part of my exclusive Coaching Group with CYH Remote Coaching.  Get personalized coaching delivered right to your phone and catered to your specific goals. Email: kungfu@wahlum.com for info.