Train So That You Do Not Have to Fight

Martial arts training in the 21st century is going in an unusual direction. I have been a witness to and a participant in martial arts that were very ‘artsy’ and not very martial. I have also participated in training that was really martial but lacked any philosophy regarding respect, humility, and self-control. Now, I am a fight fan and watch MMA, boxing, and K-1 kickboxing matches regularly and even fought as an amateur in the distant past. What has happened recently with the accessibility to sport fighting is that the novice viewer only sees two guys beating themselves to a bloody pulp. They listen to some fighters, who are also entertainers, deliver their shtick before a match and think “Wow, that is really cool. I want to be that guy”.

The thing that is missed is the hours and hours that it takes to train to have any level of proficiency. This includes training with people who are most certainly better in various disciplines of the sport. Having one’s weaknesses constantly exposed until they can be over come should instill a sense of humility. If it does not you are certainly doomed to fail. Humility does not by any means make one docile or subservient. Rather it is only carrying oneself with the knowledge that everyday may not be the best day and it is quite possible that you could be beaten. Everyday in training, you should enter with the mindset that you will meet and eventually exceed your current capabilities. Or stated another way, leave the arrogance at home.

Respect is another attribute that should be embodied by any practitioner. Again, in the combat arts respect for oneself or the opponent is not a weakness and covers a lot of territory. One facet of respect for oneself is staying in condition. This is one area in which we should seek to emulate fighters. Their conditioning is superb. I know that if I find myself in a hairy situation that my physical condition and strategy may keep me safe. Respect for your opponent is also important and it may not be what you think. I respect my opponent’s ability so much that I would seek to end an encounter in the fastest way possible. If the situation demands hand to hand then that is what should happen. If I have to run then I will be fast. That respect also extends to my family. If I am forced to engage in conflict then my prime directive is to get home by any means necessary. It would be very disrespectful to burden my wife with my serious injuries and I do not want to deprive my daughter of being picked up.

Self-control is also another one of those issues that doesn’t mean weakness. It is simply meeting the encounter with the appropriate response. You should learn to negotiate if a threat is only verbal and learn to curb you tongue. I’m not saying that you should let anyone continue to verbally insult you, but learn to use verbal self-defense to change the dynamic of the situation to ensure a non-violent resolution. One other note on this: know when to stop. Never make checks that your body can’t cash as the saying goes. If an encounter does turn physical you must not give into emotion and do something lethal unless your life really depends on it.

I think that it is a duty of everyone to learn some self-defense system for health as well as safety. And yes your mindset should start with peaceful resolution and if necessary transition to aggressive negotiation followed by physical conflict. But remember, encounters in the street or reality situations can be really severe and things do not always play out like a pre-fight conversation. Techniques aren’t always performed as smoothly as they can be. Fighting is a living, breathing, and ever changing dance. Always approach the situation with deep commitment. Train always as if your life depends on it. Train with the knowledge that what you can be capable of is so devastating that you will fear for the safety of your attacker. What you learn should not be misused for minor disagreements. Carry your strength with humility and self-control.

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