Within the field of martial arts, it is quite common to hear people asking what belt you are. Belts are seen to be an effective way of determining how proficient the individual’s skill level is and in turn how he/she would fair in a real combative scenario. Now I am not degrading the belt system or going against any tradition but it is interesting how the average person holds this convincing belief in a peace of colured material that they wear around their waist, rather than examining the physical qualities required to perform any athletic activity. Why do you never hear any one asking what your reflex time is like or how you are at delivering power and keeping composure in times of extreme physical and mental stress. Attributes are really the core of all martial training whether you are developing the physical - such as timing, speed and reflexes or working on expanding your mental perception of your body and lifestyle. You as the individual is where the Arts are based, taking the knowledge that you have been taught and using this to experience change through constant work and appraisal. This principle forms the core of our training at the UK Quan Fa Academy. Traditionally in Asia teachers would train students on a one-to-one basis, this meant that a strong bond and understanding of each other’s personality would be developed. In addition, the teacher would grow to discover the personal requirements of each of his students ensuring they optimised on their strengths and understood their weaknesses.In turn, it would ensure that the correct knowledge and fighting method would be achieved allowing combative skill to manifest itself in the individual. The skills you are learning need time and application before they begin to manifest in your body, when these skills are then in action it is not the technique its self that makes it effective, but rather the attributes gained by your constant Martial practice. A varied regime containing a well-rounded set of training methods is required to develop the necessary attributes to enable you to reach your full potential as a Martial Artist.  The ultimate goal is to reach a state of deep understanding of both yourself and others on both a physical and mental level. After all how can you ever control some one else’s body when you cannot control you own?