Stab Magazine | “Surfing Is A Martial Art”: Kelly Slater Gives Up The Secret To His Success

Live Now — Episode 3 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

402 Views

“Surfing Is A Martial Art”: Kelly Slater Gives Up The Secret To His Success

The 11-time world champ divulges his secret to longevity after 24 long years at the top.

news // Sep 21, 2016
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

With three events left in the 2016 title race, Kelly Slater is once again within striking distance of the world championship. It will be his 12th if he wins, with a gap of 24 years between his first and last crowns. Asked last week whether he feels he’s surfing better than the 20-year-old who won his first crown back in 1992, the Champ told Stab there was little doubt that he was.

“I actually watched footage of myself yesterday from ’91/19y.o,” he said. “And I’m positive I surf much better now.”

He then gave us one of the most telling insights into how he’s managed to stay at the top of the game for so long.

“Surfing is a martial art,” he said. “You should improve forever and it should be the body failing that holds you back. Hopefully we can all add layers and layers to what we already know. I have more power, better body awareness and equipment. If I’m not surfing better I should quit!” (laughs).

Kelly Slater Wins Chopes 2016 2

“You should improve forever and it should be the body failing that holds you back,” says Kelly. Photo: WSL/Poullenot/Aquashot

The influence of martial arts’ icons such as Bruce Lee on Kelly Slater are well documented. The Jeet Kun Do founder’s teachings can be seen all through the 11-time world champ’s attitude toward life and surfing. Some of the more telling, include:

– “As you think, so shall you become.”

– “It’s not the daily increase but daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential.”

– “To know oneself is to study oneself in action with another person.”

– “Take no thought of who is right or wrong or who is better than. Be not for or against.”

– “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine… Showing off is the fool’s idea of glory.”

– “To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.”

– “Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.

At 44 years old, Kelly has shattered our understanding of the relationship between performance and age. Prior to his reign, 29 was considered ancient for a world champion. That was the age of Hawaiian Derek Ho when he became the oldest title winner in history back in 1993. Slater was heavily in the mix for the crown that year, having won his first world title the year before as a 20-year-old (the same year his main challenger for this year’s world title, John John Florence, was born).

Kelly Slater Lowers Kirstin

Bruce Lee’s mantra of “To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities,” has always been evident in Kelly’s approach. Just watch him in a heat – he creates his own momentum. Photo: WSL/Kirstin Scholtz

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Fiji Has Its First Professional Surfer, And He’s Unbelievable

16-year-old James Kusitino’s incomprehensible tube lounging leads to a deal with Former.

Jul 6, 2025

Laird Hamilton on The Limitations of Being a Purist, Invention vs. Ownership + Why He Never Had a Sticker Deal 

Untold stories from his How Surfers Get Paid interview.

Jul 4, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 3

"The tribe has spoken," Dane Reynolds pronounced, and a surfer's torch was snuffed.

Jul 3, 2025

When Surfer’s Eye Is Actually Cancer

Erin Campbell's brutal journey from surf camp dreams to chemo drops, cryotherapy, and surgical horror.

Jul 3, 2025

Surfing’s 2025 Q2 Report

An assessment of surfing's vital signs throughout the second quarter of 2025.

Jul 2, 2025

What Actually Happened to Occy’s Mad Max Plunger Pool In Yeppoon?

Surf Lakes’ brass talks: internet hecklers, the unplugging of the plunger, and the Tom Curren…

Jul 2, 2025

Poor Goofy Foots 

Data shows that the world is stacked against goofs — they even make 15% less money than…

Jul 1, 2025

Britain’s First Wavepool Has Closed — What Really Happened?

Bankruptcy, social media hackings, debts unpaid — and yet, reopening looms.

Jul 1, 2025

Watch: Was Matt Meola’s Air Actually Better Than Hughie’s?

Watch the full Swatch Nines highlight reel and decide.

Jun 30, 2025

Houshmand Bludgeons Field To Win Second CT — Molly Picklum Tastes Blood, Snatches World #1 In Brazil

You can't argue with big surfing — that's Saquarema wrapped.

Jun 29, 2025

37 Years Old And World #1 — What’s Changed For Jordy Smith?

On rediscovering decades old surfboard templates, having a personality on the CT, and why this…

Jun 27, 2025

Tom Lowe Stars in ‘Let Me Live’

The wild, improbable ascent of Britain’s best big-wave surfer.

Jun 27, 2025

Saq Wrap: Italo Celebrates Mid-Heat, Griff Drops A Freestyle, Jordy + Yago Continue BBQing 20-YOs

Top seeds sow ruin, Final 5 starts to crystallize.

Jun 27, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 2

Our seven surviving surfers confront an oddly large California beach break.

Jun 26, 2025

SEOTY: The ‘Once-In-A-Decade’ Caribbean Swell That Kelly Slater Passed On

Michael Dunphy stars in Jimmicane's 'Blue Veil'

Jun 25, 2025

Who Owns Bingin? Legal Fight To Stop Demolition Begins

Eviction notices served for all businesses built on state land.

Jun 25, 2025

Tony Hawk Just Named Hughie Vaughan’s Internet-Breaking Air Because… No One Else Can

89% of our IG poll respondents claimed the 'stale fish flipper' was the best air…

Jun 25, 2025

German Surfers: AN INVESTIGATION

Truth is the light by which the world can see. 

Jun 24, 2025
Advertisement