A true martial arts practitioner is a pacifist. A peacemaker. Their focus is on living a long and a better quality of life. It isn’t about being right or a display of physical strength. It is a cultivation of ones inner spirit and in demonstrating physical and mental flexibility.
Assumptions are often made on small vs. large. The assumption is that large, outspoken, muscular people are more powerful than the small, supple and soft-spoken individual.
Power can come from things other than size and strength. For example…
- In speed and nimbleness
- In street smarts and intelligence
- In breaking rules (specifically the social rules of engagement that most people believe)
When you size someone up you make assumptions in what you think someone is capable of.
Do the opposite of what is expected and you can defeat ANY opponent. This is the yin and yang of life or simply, the rule of opposites.
- Someone casts harsh words = Cast kind words
- They want to fight with a show of straight line strength? = Defend with a flowing circular motion
- They want to fight up close? = Defend by staying farther away and utilizing your environment to keep the distance
- Employs typical fighting methods (like punches or kicks)? = Use non-typical fighting methods (no fists or kicks); use elbows, knees, take them to the ground, throw sand in their eyes, use rocks, break fingers/gouge eyes.
Your strength is in your craftiness and ability to do the unexpected in the face of all obstacles.
Side Notes
After sharing this lesson with my students, they exclaimed this is easier said than done… especially with a bully!
Here’s how to prepare your mind, body and spirit to be stronger in this way.
1. First seek inner peace. You must release any anger or fear you are harboring towards another human being, life circumstances or even yourself. These negative emotions prevent clarity of action and increase your stress levels. Stress = Distress. Distress = Disease. Disease = Death.
2. Begin a meditation practice. Even 1 minute a day can help clear your mind and will begin developing your inner peace. Some great books to get you started are… “Buddha’s Brain” by Rick Hanson, “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius and “Practicing Mindfulness” by Matthew Sockolov (Note: all these links take you to a purchase page on Amazon.)
3. Practice gratitude. Train your brain to look for things you are grateful for. No matter your circumstance, there are always things to be thankful for. I start each day by holding my hands up and counting off 10 things that I am grateful for in my life. In doing so, it helps the brain to focus more positively and to be more creative.
4. Exercise. Your physical health affects your mental health. Make a commitment to, at minimum, do something everyday that moves your body for 10 minutes or more. It can be as simple as taking a walk, actively moving around to clean your home or going to a gym.
5. Practice the martial arts. Specifically, I have found traditional martial arts to be more beneficial for mind, body and spirit than the sports-based styles. Traditional styles include anything that ends in “Ryu” (I.e. Japanese or Okinawan Karate), Tai Chi, Kung Fu, Wushu, Aikido, Jujitsu, Judo, Kobudo, Kendo, Kenpo, etc. Non-Traditional, modern or sports styles can also be helpful however, most don’t focus as heavily on the mind, body, spirit aspects. Non-traditional, sports styles include Taekwondo, MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), Kick Boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Juijitsu (BJJ), Krav Maga, Selat, Boxing, etc.
