Books about a life of training and dedication

Looking for books with a main character (can be any gender, race, age, etc.) that lives a life dedicated to a craft/career/art/order/lifestyle that requires brutal training, dedication and constant self improvement.

An example would be becoming a geisha, samouraï, ballet dancer, dancer, acrobat, gymnast, circus performer, stage actor, singer, opera singer, model, courtesan, monk, priest, nun, polymath scholar, assassin, spy, con artist, thief, butler, etc.

Preferably, the character becomes the best at their respective field, with the field being already harder than most, through dedication and a serious focus and training. Their motive for that can be anything; true passion, monetary gain, fame, glory, it’s the only available root for them so they might as well do the best in it, it can be for a good cause or an an evil one, just has to be there.

The training can be in an order, school, college, privately with a mentor or any other means available.

You know the little training montages in visual media or the few early pages that set up the training and skills at the beginning of story? Would love to a have a whole book or even a whole series if possible, that focuses mostly on this in as much detail as possible as if you are learning along side the character, not just told a summary about the training. The more details about the lifestyle, lessons, training, etc., the better!

Probably not a very common request, most readers generally complain about this part taking more than they like, before the plot starts. But I believe it can be very exciting, immersive, educational and just a very fresh experience from the more common and very successful one.

Thanks in advance!