Everyday, hundreds and perhaps thousands of men and women think about taking martial arts lessons. I know because I hear from them constantly, either by way of email, phone, or in letters mailed to the academy.

The vast majority are, more-often-than not, trapped in this "thinking about it" stage and will never take that next, most important step to making it happen. And, it's sad really.

While the reasons vary as to why each person wants to involve themselves in the martial arts...

1. Self-defense...

2. Life skills...

3. An affinity for the East or the concept of Warriorship, and...

4. Many more too numerous to list here

...the point is that each sees what he or she needs to feel more confident, powerful, or in-control of his or her life through the study and practice of the martial arts.

Why then, are these well-meaning individuals stuck in, what Dr. Seuss called, "The Waiting Place?"

Perhaps one of the reasons is that each believes that he or she must have certain skills or abilities before they can begin.

Perhaps they believe that their situation, with work schedules, a limited budget, or their physical fitness and level of health, is unique to themselves.

Maybe they believe that they should already possess certain life-skills like discipline, focus, and anything else besides their apparent heart-felt desire to begin.

And maybe, just maybe, they're afraid that others with more experience in the academy will make fun of them, or look down on them in some way because they're a beginner and don't know very much.

As a senior practitioner who has been involved in the study and practice of the martial arts for self-defense and every other reason listed here for over two-thirds of my life, I'd like to quite possibly be the first to say that...

You don't need any skills and abilities, life or other BEFORE beginning your training. You don't need to be in any sort of "perfect shape" or have rock-solid discipline, commitment, or focus, either. That would be like putting the cart before the horse for these are the things that you will be learning...

...as a part of your martial arts study!

No. The only thing that you need to match, what apparently is a heartfelt desire to begin your martial arts training, is a willingness to take that first step. And, where else, but as a "beginner" would you start? We were all beginners once and I think the best of us stay that way, in heart, mind, and spirit - forever.

I do know this, however. If you wait for the "right time." If you wait to be properly "motivated," or for your schedule to "free up," or to have more money...

If you... (fill in the blank for you)...

... It will quite-likely never happen for you and you will live out one of the fears that keeps me and many other successful people moving...

... the fear that, on my death-bed, I will regret NOT following my dreams - not living the life I always wanted.

You see, where most people are stopped by the fear of failure, the fear of fear, all the "things" that become the "reason" for NOT doing...

I am driven by the knowledge that I will forever regret NOT taking action.

So... It's time to decide.

Take action, or...

...live with yourself for not doing so.

The choice is yours.