Why training the right mindset matters more than chasing results.
Most people want proof they’ve succeeded. A belt around their waist. A certificate on the wall. A promotion at work. A number on the scale. They want results that prove they did enough. The problem with chasing only the result is that it blinds you to the value of the work itself. It turns your self-worth into something conditional. You’re only “good enough” if you cross the finish line you set for yourself, no matter how far away or unrealistic it might be at this stage.
I see this all the time in Krav Maga training. A new student comes to class, nervous but determined. He’s standing in front of the mirror, trying to memorize every step of a straight punch. His form is off. His weight is wrong. He finishes the round, shakes his head, and says, “I’m terrible at this.” He doesn’t see the simple truth that he’s already doing something most people will never do. He showed up. He faced discomfort. He allowed himself to be a beginner. That alone sets him apart.
Another student I remember was a woman who came to us after surviving an assault. She wanted to learn to defend herself, but the moment she put on gloves and stood in front of a pad, she froze. She barely touched it at first, afraid of even the idea of hitting something with force. That first session wasn’t about learning a perfect punch. It was about proving to herself that she could take action, even in a safe, controlled space. By the end of class, she was sweating, hitting the pad with real power, and smiling in relief.
She didn’t leave as an expert fighter. But she had done the hardest thing, facing her own fear. That was her real win that day.
This is the kind of work most people ignore. When you focus only on the result, you overlook the value of the effort. You forget that progress doesn’t always show up as a medal or a belt. Sometimes it shows up as the simple fact that you didn’t quit. You came back the next day and trained again.
Appreciating your own effort is not about lowering your standards or handing out participation trophies. It’s about seeing reality clearly. You give yourself credit for what you did right while staying honest about where you need to improve. It’s not a pass to stop trying. It’s a way to keep yourself going.
I’ve seen many students frustrated with new techniques. A man learns to defend against a choke, and at first, he’s too slow or uses the wrong leverage. He gets angry, makes excuses, or checks out mentally. He could keep focusing on what went wrong and give up. Or he can choose to listen, watch, correct the details, and try again.
He can see the improvement session by session. He understands the concept, even if the execution is still sloppy. That mindset is what turns a frustrated student into someone who truly knows how to fight.
This is where balance matters. You need to appreciate your effort without lying to yourself about your performance. You also need to demand more of yourself without tearing yourself down. You can hold both truths.
Most people struggle here. They think if they appreciate what they did, they’re settling. That’s not the case. You can be proud you showed up today and still be determined to do it better tomorrow. That mindset doesn’t lower the bar. It keeps you moving.
Focusing only on results sets you up for constant disappointment. Even when you reach one goal, the next one appears. The finish line always moves. That’s the nature of growth. If your self-worth depends on crossing that finish line, you’ll never feel like enough.
But there’s the other trap: appreciation without ambition. That leads to complacency. You feel good enough with no real pressure to improve. That’s not respect for yourself, that’s giving up in disguise.
Real growth requires holding both truths at once. Recognize and respect the work you’re doing. Appreciate the difficulty you face and the discipline it takes to keep showing up. And keep asking for more from yourself over time. You can be grateful for how far you’ve come without pretending you don’t want to go further.
This is what separates the serious student from the casual visitor. The serious student shows up whether he feels like it or not. He drills the technique even when it’s boring. He corrects mistakes without making excuses. He appreciates small wins along the way, using that gratitude as motivation. But he doesn’t stop there. He asks the hard questions about what went wrong. He adjusts. He keeps training.
When people hear “no finish line required,” they sometimes think it means there’s no point in pushing harder. That’s a misunderstanding. It doesn’t mean you stop striving for better results. It means you don’t wait for the result to prove you’re worthy of respect, discipline, or effort. You don’t use the finish line as the only measure of your value.
It’s about understanding that the real win is in the work itself. The discipline of showing up. The willingness to face discomfort. The choice to keep learning. That’s the work most people avoid. That’s what makes it meaningful.
Look back at where you started. Think about the first time you walked into class. The fear you felt. The confusion of learning something completely new. The days you got up early to train. The injuries you worked around. The times you chose discipline over excuses. The technique that felt impossible but now feels natural.
These are real victories. Don’t dismiss them because they’re not flashy. Don’t make your own effort invisible. Give yourself the credit it deserves. Honor it. Use it as fuel. Then get back to work.
Because the truth is, you don’t need a finish line to prove your worth. But that doesn’t mean you stop running. It means you run with your eyes open. You keep moving forward with the understanding that the journey itself is the point.
Appreciation isn’t weakness. It’s clarity. It keeps you in the fight when others quit. It gives you the fuel to try smarter. It allows you to see the road behind you and respect the price you paid to get this far.
This is how you keep your standards high without burning yourself out. This is how you build strength that lasts. This is how you train for life.
Appreciate yourself. Appreciate your effort. And get ready for tomorrow’s work. That is the road worth walking.
Do something amazing,
Tsahi Shemesh
Founder & CEO
Krav Maga Experts
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