In the early 2000s I changed careers, and after a while, became a detective. One of the most interesting things I did in that job was speak to people. Some had witnessed terrible things. Some did them. Some were violated, trapped, terrified, or helpless.
Maybe I could do something for them. Even when someone they knew had been killed, or when they had killed someone, for love or money, under the influence of drugs, in other words, caught in a vortex of greed, hatred and delusion, I hoped I could help bring some justice into the world.
So, I paid attention. I listened to what these people had to say. I learned in more detail about how violent people think, what they do, and what happens to people when they do it.
I will tell you about what I learned. It will be useful. In your training, in your self-defense.
When I interviewed victims of assaults, robberies, sex crimes – I would ask about the moments leading up to the attack. Where were you? What did you hear? What did you see? Who else was there. What went through your mind?
One of the things many of them said was “I just thought I can’t believe this is happening.” “I just wished I wasn’t there.”
Many, froze under the pressure. It was a new situation for them.
They were scared to death. They didn’t know what to do.
I noticed when I interviewed the attackers, they would also try to edit reality: “I wasn’t there.” “That wasn’t me.”
Those false statements didn’t work when video, forensics or other evidence showed it was them.
False statements – wishful thinking in the heat of the moment – didn’t work for the victim either. They were there.
A cruel stranger invading their space, handling their body, hurting them, degrading them, taking their stuff, was something from the movies, not life. And in the movies, it didn’t go like this.
They reacted with denial, delay and despair. We do not.
In training, tonight, for months or years, you have had the experience of people in your space.
People throwing punches, kicks and elbows. People grabbing you. Forcefully trying to control you. Under pressure you are on familiar ground.
You practice responding, instantly. You practice being there 100%, not “wishing you were somewhere else.” When you are in it, you know how to take the initiative, dominate, persist and prevail. You get used to the stress. You can switch from peace to conflict and back.
That experience shows – in your face, your posture, your walk, your spirit. It is detectable by predators, who will look elsewhere for easy prey. It is detectable by allies, by people who need you. Maybe they sense you are someone they can depend on.
What you are doing is working. It matters. The world needs you.
Thanks for your hard training today.
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Post copyright © 2024 Jeffrey Brooks
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“One of the best books I’ve read in years, inviting and compelling. Jeff Brooks moves effortlessly from martial arts to Buddhism to consciousness studies, self-transformation, and related fields in this wide-ranging and Illuminating study that has much to offer both novice explorers and veteran practitioners. A splendid achievement.”
— Philip Zaleski, Editor, The Best Spiritual Writing series
True Karate Dō is available on Amazon in paperback, hardcover and Kindle Edition