The Mind, Body Skills Pyramid

The Mind–Body–Skills Pyramid

In martial arts, most people train upside down.
They put skills (techniques) first, then body (strength and fitness), and finally, if there’s time, the mind.

I used to do the same. For decades. And yes, it works…but it’s not the most effective way. We don’t just want something that “works.” We want the most effective path, and then we make that efficient.

If you start with a flawed model and try to optimise it, you just end up with a slightly shinier version of the wrong thing. Like hammering a screw into wood instead of grabbing a drill. It works, but there’s a better way.

For me, the most effective approach flips the pyramid:
Mind → Body → Skills.

Mind First

Your whole life happens in your head.
What you think, how you think, and where your thoughts live will determine your quality of life, your confidence, and your resilience.

I’ve met people who look like they have it all: money, fitness, skills, the perfect life on paper, but they’re miserable. More “stuff” won’t fix a restless, unhappy mind.

In martial arts and self-protection, if your head isn’t in the right place, your techniques will crumble the moment stress hits. Train your mind and everything else follows.

Body Second

By “body,” I don’t mean chasing bigger muscles or running marathons (though both can help). I mean learning to use your body, especially the connection between your mind and your structure.

Muscles are secondary. Joints, bones and alignment are primary. Top athletes don’t win because they’re the most muscular, they win because their structure is superior. They use only the tension needed, nothing wasted.

In the West, we call it biomechanics. In the East, they call it chi. Either way, it’s the same truth: real power comes from efficient structure, not brute force.

Skills Last

If your mind is sharp and your body works efficiently, you don’t need a huge library of techniques. You’ll adapt faster, learn quicker, and move better under pressure.

When I teach skills, I connect them to movements you already own in everyday life. That way, you’re not learning from scratch, you’re repurposing a groove your body already knows. The result? Faster learning and better retention.

Mind first. Body second. Skills last.
That’s the pyramid flipped. Build from the inside out, and you’ll not only be a better martial artist, you’ll be better at life.

Try less, do more.