Why most people never get better — and how to avoid their mistake
Reading time: 3 minutes
You see it all the time.
People train for months - even years - and somehow, nothing really changes.
Same level. Same mistakes. Same frustrations.
Why?
It's not because they're lazy.
It's not even because they don't care enough.
It's because of a few quiet habits they don't even realize are holding them back.
Here are three of them.
Habit #1: Rushing through the basics
Most people get bored of the fundamentals too quickly.
They rush through the form, skip the small corrections, and jump straight into sparring.
But here's the truth:
If your basics aren't solid - if something feels off and you know it - there's no way it's just going to fix itself later.
It won't magically "click" one day on its own.
The sooner you notice something wrong, the sooner you can go back and fix it - and the faster you'll move forward.
And don't beat yourself up about it.
It's not a failure to go back.
We've all been there.
There's nothing wrong with realizing "hmm, even my basics need work."ÂÂ
What you don't want is to let negative self-talk take over:
"See? I can't even get the basics right"ÂÂ
That's not helpful - and it's not true.
Correct your course, calmly and without judgment.
That's how real progress happens.
In fact, the basics are so important that after writing our first book, we decided to dedicate the second one entirely to the foundation of Wing Chun:
Siu Lim Tao -The Little Idea Explained
Habit #2: Training only the body, not the mind
In Wing Chun, presence isn't just nice to have - it's everything.
Think about it: this is a close-range martial art.
When you're standing just inches from someone who can hurt you, the only way to respond effectively is to truly be there.
Presence isn't some mystical superpower.
(Although, in a way, it almost feels like one.)
It's actually a natural state we all have - we just forget how to stay there.
The good news? You can train it.
One of the most practical ways to build presence is through simple, targeted breathing exercises.
They help you keep your focus steady, your mind calm, and your reactions sharp - even when distractions are all around you.
And yes - we included a set of these breathing exercises in our first book, because they're that important.
Wing Chun: Practical Introduction to Self-Defense
Habit #3: Fueling your body with junk
Some people think nutrition is just for rich people or those who care about looks.
But here's the truth: the food you eat is the fuel you give your body.
And no matter how powerful your engine is - if you fill it with junk, you'll get junk results.
There's even something called the gut-brain axis: your brain and your gut are in constant communication.
When your gut is unhealthy because of poor diet, it shows - not just in your energy levels, but in your focus, your happiness, even your ability to think clearly.
If you treat your gut well, it produces serotonin, sharpens your mind, and makes everything else you do feel easier.
Eat poorly, and you simply can't be your best.
Period.
Even issues like depression or lack of motivation often start to improve when you fix your diet and move your body.
Conclusion
You don't need to change everything overnight.
Start by making these small adjustments - and soon, you'll see how your entire life starts to change with them.
It's not just about training.
It's about how you show up, every day.
We've seen this time and time again in our classes:
The students who progressed the most weren't the ones with the most talent or experience.
They were the ones who applied these three principles, one step at a time.
Most of them didn't come in as naturals.
They built themselves from the ground up - just like you can.
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