Martial Arts

No matter which martial art you study or with whom you train, be sure there is a basic focus on preparing your every movement to be effective.  Be sure your training is purposefully goal-oriented in preparing you to survive the physical and situational threats you may face. Effective self-defense should never be an accidental ability, by-product, or secondary goal of training in martial arts; it should be the only goal. Movement martial arts – budo – prepares you to build the practical response into your every movement; to see the martial principle of every situation.

Nothing you study should be above questioning, no curriculum should be above challenging, and no teacher assumed to have your answers.  Judge for yourself if a technique or art is teaching you to move effectively – to survive attack – or if it merely is preparing you to look good for competition. Never be afraid to ask why, and never be afraid to walk away from training companions who cannot give you a solid answer! You are ultimately responsible for your own safety, your own success in self-defense situations, building your own effective martial capacity (Bu). You are responsible for setting your destinations, ensuring the effectiveness and fidelity of your martial training, of walking your path (Do). Take the time to review your destination frequently and to invest in good companions as you engage in Budo.