Calm through martial arts

Yesterday a co-worker approached me at work and expressed an interest in martial arts. One of the reasons given was that he had observed me at work having a constant state of calm even when all around me are highly stressed in the busy and tense work environment. We had talked before of my focus on martial arts and he said that my training helps me maintain the sense of peace and control outside.

Maintaining a sense of peace in stressful situations is a very positive result of my training. In kung fu you are put in extreme mental and physical situations and learning to control the 'fight or flight' reflex is essential to surviving a combat situation. A Kendo masters' pulse rate does not rise when they are in combat, it is a samurai teaching that as soon as your emmotions get involved in combat you have lost. Bruce Lee wrote that in combat you must empty your mind and let your training react rather than trying to analyze too much. Something for us all to work on.

This ability to stay calm during a stressful situation will inevitably overlap into your day-to-day life.

Nick
White sash