Nathan Clarke is a martial artist and personal finance blogger at millionairedojo.com, where he combines his passion for martial arts with financial advice. You can find him on Twitter @millionairedojo.
From a young age, Nathan loved martial arts. He would watch Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee movies and practice their moves with his siblings. He also started saving money early on. At 15, he began serious martial arts training. Over the years, he realized that martial arts could teach valuable lessons for managing finances. Let’s explore how a martial artist’s mindset can help with finances.
A martial artist knows their training never ends. This is how we should approach our finances. There’s always something more we can do to save, earn, or invest wisely. If Warren Buffett is still finding ways to improve his finances, so can we.
Discipline is key to both martial arts and financial success. What you earn isn’t as crucial as what you save. Saving money and letting it grow in an account requires more discipline than many people have. We need to rewire our brains to understand that happiness doesn’t come from accumulating material things. Science shows buying stuff doesn’t make us happy. Prioritize your happiness and discipline yourself to save more.
Martial arts require intense focus. You must pay attention to your opponents or risk getting hurt. Managing money also demands focus. Monitor your spending to understand how you can improve your habits and spend less. Some people spend their entire paycheck immediately without thinking, which keeps them broke regardless of income.
To perfect your kicks and punches in martial arts, you need to stretch. Similarly, stretching your dollars optimizes your finances. Create a budget, buy used items, avoid eating out, reduce general purchases, and find the cheapest grocery stores. These strategies will make your money last longer without affecting your happiness.
A martial artist is always prepared for the unexpected. You should be ready for financial emergencies too. Life is unpredictable, and having money saved for emergencies provides huge relief. Nathan suggests saving at least a few months’ worth of expenses.
Good martial artists stay calm and composed during tough situations. Martial arts teach you to remain calm and act based on your training, even under stress. Staying calm helps make wiser decisions without worsening the situation.
This calmness is also useful in financial matters. During an emergency, staying calm helps you avoid debt and find solutions to increase your income. Many people go into debt when their car breaks down, thinking a new car will prevent future problems. Instead, save money equivalent to car payments and insurance to cover repairs, and buy a cheap car with cash. Next time you face a roadside breakdown, stay calm and think before acting.
You can achieve more than you think. In martial arts, each class brings gradual progress. These small steps add up, and eventually, you become much better than when you started. The same applies to managing finances. Daily efforts to reduce expenses and invest wisely will eventually build a substantial nest egg and improve your financial skills.
Becoming a martial arts master is challenging, but the rewards are worth it. The focus, discipline, calmness, and physical health you gain immensely improve your life. Mastering your finances offers immense rewards too. You get peace of mind, more free time, and increased freedom to do what you love.
Are you managing your money with a martial artist’s mindset? If not, it’s easy to start. Develop new financial habits slowly, and soon you’ll be tackling debt and growing your investments like a pro!
