In Episode 96, John and Josh dive into the mindset battles every student faces—on the mat, in the gym, and in everyday life. From self-doubt during sparring to procrastination, negative self-talk, and the desire for shortcuts, this episode is a raw and relatable discussion on personal growth and what it really takes to earn mastery in martial arts. They also explore the reality of time investment required to hit expert-level training hours—whether it’s 5,000 or 10,000 hours—and how that compares to the average martial arts schedule. If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I’ll train tomorrow,” this episode is for you. 🔍 Show Notes – What You’ll Learn: Why mindset is the real battle—and how to shut down the negative inner voice How sparring should be mutual, not competitive The importance of structured slow drills like offense/defense sparring Why minimum standards are not enough—and what striving for excellence looks like The 10,000-hour rule for mastery: realistic or unreachable? Tips to work around injuries and keep training consistently The importance of routine, discipline, and sustainable progress Why “I am going to train” beats “I should train” every time 🔑 Favorite Takeaways: “Sparring is not about domination—it’s about letting your partner work too.” “You can’t master anything if you’re only training two hours a week.” “Don’t let that little voice tell you to stop. Tell it to shut up.” “You’re only as good as your last class. Show up. Give what you can. That’s progress.” “Advanced techniques are just fundamentals done well under pressure.” 🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6hDh7OscpVMKLLY8rCvgqs Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-john-hallett-podcast/id1651930801 Universal Link: https://redcircle.com/shows/a982e1e3-972c-4e9f-b369-6b29534df441 YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIJr7pPF9el8qfN4mG9p8BxtuPKOpSBVn