Wellness Positive

Self Defense Part I: The Battle against Yourself

This section covers how to think and act in a hostile situation. Effective self defense and martial arts instruction begins with training the mind before we even begin to train the body. The martial arts as applied to self defense FIRST concentrate on putting you into the right mind-set - on training and instruction that will enable you to have a cool, clear head in a bad situation. This is the essence of this section. Read on to learn more...

The Battle against Yourself..

• First understand that you must NOT be caught unawares. If you are caught unawares, you give your enemy the element of surprise. When you walk a dark street, be aware of shadows, be aware of entrances to buildings that possible attackers could emerge from, be aware of dark alleys.
• In BROAD DAYLIGHT, in a crowded, public place, be EQUALLY aware. Look around you, take in your surroundings, walk alertly, DON'T make yourself an 'easy target'. Remember, your enemies WANT an easy target.

"Even a hunting tiger picks out the weakest in the herd."

DON'T be the weakest in the herd.

Think like a warrior..

Listen to that word - "warrior."

  I'm talking to the women out there as much as to the men. Go and look in your mirror and say - 'this person is a WARRIOR. This person is not prey'.

  If you can't convince yourself when you look in your mirror and say it the first time, say it again. And again. And again - as many times as it takes. You are a warrior. You are a hunter, a tiger - or tigress. If an enemy comes against you, you will fight with fang and claw, if necessary.

  Look in your mirror. See your first enemy. Yourself.

  Your mind will perhaps try to tell you that you are weak, that you cannot be alert, that you cannot fight. It lies to you, and it's lies are more dangerous than the attacks of an enemy. Defeat those lies with ALL THAT YOU HAVE, with your WILL, with your mind and soul. Know yourself for what you are, a being with a WILL.

You ARE a Warrior.

"Win this first battle, and you have already defeated a portion of your enemy before you even meet him."

  Try to think like a warrior, to move like a warrior, to be alert like a warrior, every minute of every day, from the moment you wake to the moment you sleep - and yes, perhaps even when you sleep and dream. This is the first lesson learned, the first battle fought and won.

"After this point, you can ONLY grow STRONGER."