As I prepared to leave the house this morning I picked out a t-shirt that I have worn many times over the years. This t-shirt is a simple black shirt with faded silver printing on the chest. A shirt from a martial arts tournament I attended years ago, it has always held special meaning for me, not because of where it came from, but for what it says.
"BODY. MIND. SPIRIT."
Originally developed as a way of fighting on the field of battle without one's primary weapon, the empty hand martial arts have evolved over the years. This evolution has focused mainly on taking lethal, combat tested techniques and tactics and reducing them to safe sports and exercise methods. The martial arts have also been modified and codified in such a way as to develop ways people can learn to defend themselves from assault and other violent acts.
While the martial arts have made great progress in the area of physical skills and understanding the psychology of preditors and criminals, not all of them have addressed the deeper needs of today's society. Many people have asked the same question over the years, "Why should I train in the martial arts?". Some have even taken this question a step further and asked, "How can martial arts help me in my life?" These questions show that people understand that they need more than physical training to achieve their goals.
"BODY."
Today we need more than just "punching, kicking, and blocking". Self-Defense must include exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress reduction, and other forms of Health-Defense. In our world today you are far more likely to be struck down by a heart attack or diabetes than a criminal with a knife. The practice of martial arts should include training in, and practice of, healthy eating, stress and anger management, and sustainable exercise habits. Part of what we learn as martial arts students should be how to take care of our body, how to defend our health from all of the "environmental and habitual assaults" our bodies endure every day.
"MIND."
Training the mind needs to be much more than it is in many martial arts schools. Learning how criminals and preditors think and behave is a good start, but there is more that we must learn to be truly safe. Self-Defense training should also include how to think and behave to avoid trouble in the first place. Respect, Courtesy, and Integrity must become an integral part of our self-defense training. Ideas such as Compassion, Empathy, and Leadership should be taught as part of a structure that focuses on developing the mind as a tool to improve our communities.
"SPIRIT."
This is not something "religious", it speaks of the "human spirit". Martial arts training should develop self-confidence in students. Self-defense starts with projecting an aire of confidence that warns a would-be attacker that you are not a good target. Building confidence must include learning self-respect. Self-respect is not "cockiness" or egotism, it is knowing our strengths, our weaknesses, and the knowledge that we are doing everything we can to develop better health and way of life. Our "life training" should also include developing a "Perseverant Spirit". In today's world of fast food, rapid results, and instant gratification the idea of perseverance has been forgotten. A confident, perseverant spirit is required to not only survive, but instead thrive in the world today.
"BODY. MIND. SPIRIT."
Martial Arts are still relevant today. However, to remain relevant and effective we must push ourselves to go beyond the traditional focus on combative techniques. If more people participated in modern martial arts training, training that included the tenants of body, mind, and spirit development the world would become a safer place. True self-defense and safety starts with reaching out and caring for others, applying yourself, body-mind-spirit, to the support and betterment of those around you.
You can take your life to the next level of safety, happiness, and success by participating in a modern martial art. Find an art and instructor that focuses on the needs of today's world and learn how to improve your mind, body, and spirit!
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