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Martial Arts

The Skill Most People Never Train Anymore (Preparing for When Life Ambushes You)

January 17, 2026 by KMMA

This morning I finished one of the most powerful podcasts I’ve heard in a long time.

It centered around a simple but uncomfortable idea:

We’ve removed too much hardship from our lives—and it’s costing us focus, confidence, and resilience.

The guest used a phrase that immediately caught my attention:
“Suffering productively.”

Not suffering for the sake of suffering.
But choosing hard things on purpose because they grow you.

Here’s the truth most people don’t want to hear:

Growth requires discomfort.
Confidence is built through challenge.
Focus is forged under pressure.

At KMMA, this is not a theory—we live it.

Whether it’s:

  • Pushing through a tough class

  • Staying committed when training gets hard

  • Preparing for a Blackbelt test

  • Learning to lead when quitting would be easier

We teach our students how to stay focused inside difficulty, not avoid it.

That’s why Blackbelt training works.

It builds what the world is quietly losing:

  • Grit

  • Discipline

  • Mental toughness

  • The ability to do hard things without falling apart

The podcast explains it brilliantly, and I highly recommend it.

👉 Listen here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ed-mylett-show/id1181233130?i=1000744964050

As you listen, ask yourself:

  • Where have I avoided discomfort instead of choosing growth?

  • What hard thing would move my life forward right now?

  • Am I training my “hardship muscles”… or letting them atrophy?

Focus isn’t about being comfortable.
It’s about being committed.

That’s how Blackbelts are built—on the mat, and in life.

—
Grandmaster Steve

P.S.
If you want to experience this kind of productive challenge firsthand, this week is a great time to train.
Students are always welcome to bring friends, and new students can start with our 2-Week Free Trial & Orientation.
Hard things done together are how strong communities are built.