Legendary Martial Artist's Confidence Secret

When Life Knocks You Down

"When Chuck Norris lifts weights, the dumbbells get tired."

(Okay… I had to throw in at least one Chuck Norris joke)

Anyway, he started as a martial artist and later became an actor (Walker Texas Ranger, Delta Force, Hit Man), film producer and screenwriter. In his book, The Secret of Inner Strength, he talks about his early struggles in martial arts while stationed in Osan Air Base in Korea.

In his first two weeks of training, he became ill from drinking the local water. Then when he started feeling better, he broke his shoulder during judo practice.

Then he had trouble with his feet from training on the hard ground.

Finally, he started healing.

Then his master, Mr. Shin, had his students do a public demonstration for the entire village to watch. At the end of this public display, he piled up eight roof tiles as a grand-finale.

​Mr. Shin glanced around his group of students.

“You”, he yelled, pointing to Chuck.

“You break!”

Chuck was nervous. His heart was pounding out of his chest. He was grateful he was chosen, but he’d never broken anything like this before. Plus, he knew he’d embarrass his master if he backed out.
So he hovered over the stack of tiles, took a full breath, and punched hard.

But when his hand hit the stack, his wrist twisted, sending the brunt of the force into his pinky knuckle – instantly breaking his hand. The pain was excruciating. His master didn’t say a word and walked away.

For Chuck Norris, this was a fraction of his setbacks.
Whatever your goals are, expect setbacks as well.
 
LOTS of setbacks.

This may sound negative.

But rarely are there are no setbacks. Rarely are there ideal conditions.

Some people operate as if there shouldn’t be setbacks. Or they believe others don’t have the same setbacks as they do (which is far from the truth when you hear stories like these). And they are rattled and discouraged when those obstacles show up.

Instead, if you expect setbacks and know they’re coming - they don’t jar you and rattle you as much when they arrive. You have the confidence to course correct or address them.

For Chuck, he also realized these setbacks gifted you with something else…

I was learning discipline by developing the ability to do something that was never easy, not always pleasant, and about which I was not always enthusiastic… that combination of discipline and learning led to confidence.
-Chuck Norris
 
Kelan Ern
The Renegade Life Coach
 
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