Fighting Back

 

Like many people, I started in martial arts because I wanted to fight. Not fight per se, Fight Back. I had been bullied mercilessly for almost ten years in public school. Nearly every day I was assaulted, physically or emotionally. I had to have constant supervision by the school staff for my protection. I had to stay within sight of teachers during lunch and recess and was escorted to my classrooms by faculty to make sure I wouldn't get attacked in between lessons. I was sent home from school early so that the bullies could not catch me before I got home. Somehow, they still found a way. I wanted revenge more than anything. That's what I thought at the time, anyway.

Over several years, and with good instruction, I learned that I wasn't in martial arts to fight others so much as I was learning to fight myself - learning to combat my weakness, my laziness, my doubts and fears so that ultimately I would be immune to bullying. I would become strong enough to push past obstacles and confident enough to live my life my way regardless of anyone else. This took a long time, but it laid the foundation for everything I have become and achieved throughout my life. I truly believe that without martial arts training I would have failed as a person. The training has saved my life again and again, mostly from myself rather than from others. This is why I am dedicated to sharing this gift as an instructor, in the hopes that other lives can be saved, too.

Along the way I also learned that most fights are not in the streets or back alleys. Most fights are the fights we have every day to remain true to our beliefs and to resist the messages of media and propaganda that would pull us away from our center. The news is depressing and hopeless, hammering us with negativity and rage baiting us into hating one another. Social media pressures us to try to achieve unrealistic lifestyles at the cost of our physical and mental health. We are made to believe we are incomplete and lacking in everything we are told we should want; told repeatedly that "more is better" and that we are not enough. We are forced to have "hustle" in order to make other people wealthier while we suffer from burnout and depression. We define ourselves by our LinkedIn profile and our job title. Meanwhile we feel empty inside.

In the end, the simplicity of being happy feels unachievable. We start to accept that the world is in entropy and ending right before our eyes, and that we are powerless to save it. We are broken again and again. Mostly we are heartbroken over the never ending feelings of loss that engulf us. We are bewildered by the feeling that something fundamental is missing from our lives.

Martial arts training can help. Through our time in the dojo we can remove distractions. One step at a time, one class at a time, we can develop focus and discipline. We can challenge our minds and bodies. We can set and achieve goals and be recognized. We can be equal. We can find fellowship and develop lifelong friends who will support each other. We can develop the courage to fight back against all the negativity and strengthen our resolve to be the best version of ourselves, without tying that to guilt over who we are today. We can remember that we are enough. And that we can still be MORE. We realize we can make a difference. We matter. We are not alone.

These are trying times. Times that need warriors. Peaceful Warriors. Times that need people like us.

Let's make 2026 the year we FIGHT.

Together.

For all of us.