This is just a list of things I recommend that you investigate in while you train and grown in a specific style from white belt and beyond.

1) Learn to teach others and yourself - It is truly rewarding when you teach someone else efficiently and effectively a technique, form or thoughts about a style. You’ll find that by teaching others, you can better critique what you do and how you do it.

2) Learn to meditate - One of the most rewarding things you can do for youself is to clear your mind and concentrate on whatever you wish.  This will help you focus, an extremely important characteristic to have in all parts of life.

3) Look into other martial arts styles and plan to learn another - I’m currently learning Taekwondo, but why stop there. Yes, I could go and learn Karate, but truthfully both it and TKD have similar roots.  I am however contemplating learning kendo, haedong kumdo (korean kenpo), or aikido. They would all be good complements to what i’ve learned so far.

4) Compete - There are hundreds of tournaments that happen every year.  There are open tornaments and there are inter-style tournaments. Which ever you choose is fine, but do compete. Whether it is fighting, forms with weapons or open hands, one of the best things you can do is to compete.

5) Make a list of things you’ve already learned - This is a great way to review where you are in your training and what you have learned.  If you step back and take a look at what you’ve accomplished, you’ll be very pleased.

6) Keep a journal/blog - Why not?