What is SELF-SELF DEFENSE?The true martial arts way is self-self defense which means stop beating yourself up from past mistakes, pain, suffering, failures, ptsd, childhood trauma, divorce, grief, broken relationships and live the life of your dreams by knowing that our thinking of our self is the greatest gift of all. It’s difficult to stay positive in a high competitive environment but the only way to adapt is to create your martial arts training to be harder than the game of life. Loving and accepting yourself then and only then can we project that self love onto others. The problem is because we are a capitalist society where citizens think money, things, prestige, fame, wants and victory over others like in a cage-fight is most important. This is the wrong way to live and act. We need to teach our students, kids, Kata/Form because while we do want them to survive a life or death fight, LIFE will hit harder than any punch or kick but to conquer a man or woman is wrong, to conquer your mind is the only way. Form is the mental side of martial arts. We change our thinking that the enemy is not in front of me but the enemy IS me. My thinking is the enemy. Practicing kata/form you never conquer it but we fight through the kicks and stances, punches and blocks, breathing and kiyapping, balance and will, hyper awareness can iron out the wrinkles of your life. As we age we begin to realize all the friends that came and went, bad business relationships, even physical confrontation could have been avoided if we handled it better emotionally. It’s never anyone else’s fault for making you feel a certain way. We all love complements but what if someone offends you? That’s not a reflection on you unless you allow it. Understand your enemy is the way you react to pain, suffering and criticism, embrace it especially your past. Don’t blame others! Accept what was what is and what will be and above it all, have faith….through fighting we lose faith, hope, forgiveness, love…go beyond the win , go within…
Original Studio Pomona, California