Self-Improvement Is Masturbation. Now Self-Destruction Is The Answer.

Why do people want to destroy their bodies?

A common dialogue with my new student

Student: Hello, I want to train with you!

Me: Great! Do you have any injuries or medical conditions?

Student: Yes… goes on to describe injuries

Me: Where did you get it?

Student: Football, CrossFit, running… (3 most popular answers)

Many sports ruin your body.

Mixed martial arts, boxing, Muay Thai… Your opponent’s main goal is to injure you.

Football, rugby, hockey… Team sports with ‘peaceful’ goals. Other players injure you to get an advantage.

Racing, running, CrossFit. Individual sports*. You injure yourself by using dangerous environments and ways to move.

*I agree that racing is more of a team sport. Yet drivers are the front men that race.

Shocking fact. Two-thirds of severe injuries for young female athletes happen due to one sport. Severe injury means death or disability.

Cheerleaders have zero protection. What happens when they fall on the head? Fall from this height on a hard surface?

Professional sportspeople are suicidal

There’s Swiss research saying that.

The career window of professional athletes is short. Thus, athletes suffer from a unique pressure to perform.

Which actions are suicidal?

• long training sessions with little recovery time
• unavoidable injuries accumulate over time
• social isolation due to little time to communicate with other people
• use of performance-enhancing drugs (steroids, hormones)
• use of recreational drugs, such as alcohol and cocaine

There are personality traits that help to achieve top results. Examples are increased impulsiveness, perfectionism, or fear of failure. These traits are double-edged and can stimulate suicidal behaviour.

The most dangerous sports are the most popular. The public wants to see results. Top results require high levels of pressure and stress.

Why do people like dangerous sports so much???

It’s clear why professionals go the dangerous way. How about us regular people? We train for health and recreation. Why face the danger of injury?

Do you think people want adrenaline? Check this study.

Traditional sports are in decline, both team and individual ones. Extreme sports have surged, becoming a multi-million dollar industry.

Are people who do extreme sports irresponsible risk-takers with a death wish?

Are they adrenaline junkies?

They have trained a lot. They have a deep knowledge of themselves, the activity, and the environment.

They do it for life-enhancing and life-changing experience.

It’s hard to describe. As hard as describing love. It makes you feel very alive. All your senses start working better than in everyday life. You reach beyond and extend your potential.

BASE jumpers say they see all the colours and nooks and crannies of the rock as they zoom past at 300km/h. Extreme climbers feel like they are floating and dancing with the rock. People talk about time slowing down and merging with nature.

I can relate to this research. When I fight in my sport, I feel alive. Competition fights make me a better person. BJJ is safer than most full-contact martial arts I know. You can tap to stop a fight at any moment. You can also choose which style suits your body and mind the best. I love my sport!

What are your long-term exercise goals?

Shift your focus from short-term results to long-term goals. It’s all about the mindset. Having a long-term goal in mind will get you on a right track. You can avoid stupid things that distract you.

Health is a noble long-term goal. Be in a good health, enjoy a life free of pain and full of energy. Are you good with exercise for health and recreation?

Have an ambitious goal in mind? Climbing Mount Everest or winning a World Cup? Does it excite you more than increasing your max bench press by 50 pounds or getting a bigger biceps?

How to reach an ambitious goal?

Build a solid foundation first.

What’s the main difference between a wooden shack and a skyscraper? It’s the foundation. You need a proper foundation to build a skyscraper. You can’t see it in pictures, yet it’s there.

All most people need is this stage. Building a strong foundation secures your longevity. Yes, you still need to do maintenance.

Is there a must-do for the sport you want to do?

For example, I used to do a striking martial art before. Our coach had a rule for all students. 50 knuckle pushups or you can only hit the air. You needed to show him 50 knuckle pushups to start hitting a bag or a pad. That proved your fists were ready to punch a surface. Ever seen a knuckle pushup before?

Another example? 3 of my students went to Mount Everest Base Camp. They had to train walking with a weighted backpack for 3–5 hours a day. They did it 5 days a week. They made it!

Built a solid foundation? Done with a specific must-do?

Start training for your goal in the sport that excites you. Focus on training time and consistency over results. Do your reps. Patience pays off. Results will follow.

Enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

Good luck with reaching your long-term goals!

Want to start your fitness journey here on Medium?

I’ve started a fitness column at the New Writers Welcome publication. Perfect if you want to get healthier at your own pace.

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Thank you for reading!

Disclaimer. The information and other content in this article provide general information and discussions about health and related subjects. They are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. If you or any other person has a medical concern, you should consult with your health care provider or seek other professional medical treatment.