Long Island MMA Blog – Purpose Through Routine
By Joe Ninomiya

Photo of Joe after his last MMA victory!

The current Covid-19 pandemic has brought about an unprecedented amount of social
upheaval in all of our lives. From the social distancing mandates and the mask requirements to
the unsettling idea of contact tracing. Enough to make someone crazy to say the least.
However, something that may be of supreme benefit during this time is to maintain a purpose
driven routine. Many thousands of people have had their usual daily routines destroyed, this is
all the more evident for the Long Island MMA community as we have been banned from
participation in our favorite sport and others from our place of work. MMA is something
different to all of us but for many it is a way of life.
How is it then that during the current circumstances we can maintain that martial mindset
that would drive us in our usual daily lives? My answer has been to take the purpose driven
mindset of MMA and bring it home. Martial arts are focused on the actualization of the
individual to achieve higher levels of skill through training. As martial artists we all understand
that training doesn’t stop where the mat ends. Elements of an effective martial artist are built
off the mat as well as on it.
It is easy to be enveloped by unproductive and time-consuming things such as television and
video games during a time like this, when many of us are just trying to pass the time until things
are back to normal. However, finding purpose in a routine is a positive alternative and a
character building one at that! Are you being disciplined with your sleep? Do you make your
bed in the morning? Do you ensure that you are getting exercise and stretching? Perhaps this
time can be used to read more books or learn a new skill that you will find useful. The martial
artist is always seeking to improve oneself. During this time let us all remember that our
training should be in all things, and when this storm passes, we will come out stronger martial
artists and stronger people.