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What is the impact of natural talent in martial arts?

The first thing to stress is that, when we talk about martial arts (or even sports in general), natural talent is a widely used excuse to justify an absence of real discipline, concentration and preparation.

Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a beginner-to-expert course).

In the vast majority of cases to have natural assets offers:

A slight / null advantage – In a combat field what can do a natural talent if compared to a serious workout of a “normal” person? It offers a near-to-zero surplus in terms of incidence
A possible disadvantage – Being born with higher abilities often pushes us not to strengthen them or to rely on them too much (eg. “I can already beat my school friends in combat, I do not need to study martial arts”, a sort of unconscious arrogance that prevents any real improvement)

The truth is that we disguise things like passion, commitment and sacrifice with the “comfortable mask” of talent (eg. “I cannot be like him, he is born in that way, with a superhuman body…”, etc.).

A little anecdote

For respect, we censor the protagonists of the story.

A little boy named X had a very aggressive Y friend who always wanted to fight with him and who, thanks to his natural psychophysical skills, was used to beating him without difficulties (although X had already practicing martial arts for 1-2 years).

When X truly started taking the reins of his martial training (changing workout and instructor), even though Y has always practiced sport at a competitive level (and therefore was in a perfect body shape) after only another year for Y it was already completely impossible to subdue X.

In their last “fight” Y, even with his constant training and his physical attitude, remained with a heavy breath and X was far from making even the slightest effort.

Is talent useless / not incisive?

The advantage that talent can offer is manifested:

In 1% of cases – In extreme conditions that rarely occur except in contexts of particular preparation (military special corps, sports champions, etc.)
In conditions of absolute equality – In (rare) conditions of a perfect balance of mental discipline, technical training, improvisation skills, tactical skills, physical training and in the same field (weight category, type of sport competition, etc.)
Against a bad martial artist – Against the classical 1-hour-per-week-black-belt style “champion” even a normal untrained person has a good probability to prevail

In all the other cases, serious and daily martial training offers an abysmal advantage:

On normal people
On experts of other sports not related to fight
On people with “natural talent”

A note by Master Kongling – The problem is that many people are not able to see things thoughtfully: they do not focus on a path of improvement but on the maximum possible result and when they understand that they cannot achieve it without effort, they give themselves the excuse of not being naturally able to do it. The point is instead that until you get to train seriously, daily, with commitment (etc.) you will never know how far you can go. I have known many martial arts phenomena and never one who had achieved his / her results without spitting blood from fatigue. Never. Maybe you could be a champion and you don’t know it.

What are the most incisive natural skills?

The only innate qualities that can really make a difference are the intellect-related ones:

Cunning combined with intelligence (adaptation, deception, etc.)
Determination and discipline (nothing is stronger than a person with this disposal taken to an exponential level)

This kind of skill, outside of a regulated context, cannot be overcome by any purely physical ability.

Final notes

A few conclusive thoughts:

We are not all the same and we can not achieve the same results in the same way (times, quality, etc.) but to every strength always corresponds a defect, a limit of growth and on the other hand to every lack of an opportunity to reflect, improve and find new ways
Trust yourself, simply try to trust yourself, give yourself a chance
…

In-depth video courses

Basic 6 Dragons Kung Fu Exercises – A visual and detailed explanation of the 5 basic practices to build real martial skills
Advanced speed and reflexes training – The secrets behind real combat speed development (theory, exercises and methods)

In-depth articles

How to acquire special abilities – What are the 6 Dragons Kung Fu’s special abilities and why they overcome natural talent
A 6DKF for each one – How to express our abilities through 6 Dragons Kung Fu training

Questions

Reply in the comments and share your experience:

What is your opinion about talent?

Author: Master Kongling

Founder of 6 Dragons Kung Fu.

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