I’ve been training Muay Thai for over a decade, yet I never call myself a master or expert of the art. To do so seems ridiculous. I am a practitioner of the art, a Nak Muay, and a teacher of the art, a Kru.
But an expert… no.
I recognize that I still have so much more to learn and improve upon.
Sure, you can ‘learn’ Muay Thai in a number of months… there are punches, elbows, knees, and kicks. You might know all of the techniques; many people can make a skill in isolation look great. But being able to apply your knowledge and skills effectively in a myriad of unpredictable scenarios… that’s the mark of a true expert.
We are a society of instant gratification and quick fixes. We want to be great now, yet few are willing to put in the time it takes to actually be great. And to those that do put in the time, I want to remind you to be patient and remember that it takes 10,000 hours to actually become great.