Mostly Peaceful Self-Defense

To account for the uptick in interest our school of self-defense, just look around. The fragility of social order is evident. Effective self-defense training is hard to find. 

Real self-defense is not about cultivating anxiety. It is about eliminating it. It is not about cultivating aggression. It is about stopping it. 

We train to stay alert. Good training makes you confident. By training, hard, you get confidence in your ability to respond to a disturbance or a threat. You feel competent. Because you are. That comes from training. 

The kind of strength people see when they first take a look at what we are doing is unusual. It is not a performance. It is not a pose. It is for real. It is calm, confident and positive. It is formidable when the time is right. It is concealed but available all the time. 

If you are provoked there is no need to get triggered. If you want to turn the other cheek you can. But you shouldn’t be forced to, out of fear. 

In a conflict you cannot count on instinct, reflexes, hate, hope or plans to prevail. With experience – the kind of experience you get with good training – you get what you need: a clear head and well-honed skills embedded in muscle memory and available instantly. 

You do not want to go to the ground with a drug-crazed, hate-fueled predator, with curbs, broken glass, with unknown strangers and unpredictable vehicles inches away, if you don’t have to. You want to stop the threat before they make contact with you. On your feet, in an instant, ready to move, ready to respond as things change or to move on. 

You want a kind heart, good relationships and a calm clear mind. That will protect you from a lot of the unexpected difficulties in the world. 

But not all of them. There is no substitute for good, full-spectrum, defensive training. There is no short cut. No quick fix, no trick, seminar, video, award, championship or belt will do it. Training is day in and day out as a way of life works. That is something that all real martial artists can tell you. Skills work. But they don’t stick if you are not using them regularly, under pressure.

There is no guarantee in any battle, or in any debate, competition or contest. But there is a if you are fully prepared at the moment you engage you will have the best chance to get the best outcome. 

And the rest of the time, every day, at home or work or school, on the road, wherever you are – you will be fit and healthy and aware. You will know that you have done everything you could to prepare yourself – to take care of yourself, to take care of the people nearest to you, and even some far away. 

We cultivate a calm, clear mind, a positive attitude, a strong body, and the skills we need to prevail. That accounts for why people have been seeking us out for training. Despite the storms, instability, challenges, inconveniences and the competing demands we all face, we have decided the time and effort is worth it: To stay calm, purposeful and strong. No matter what. 

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Post copyright © 2024 Jeffrey Brooks, MountainKarateNC.com, Yamabayashi Ryu, Mountain Karate, Saluda, NC

Photo by Joseph Reynolds

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read True Karate Dō by Jeffrey Brooks

“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