Martial arts for most students starts as a platform for self-defense; maybe a passion for combat sports; even a philosophical fulfillment; or maybe an instrument for re-mediating some kind of a cavernous, remote, and inaccessible psychological landscape that a student may not even be consciously aware of----at this point, he or she is just sensing an unknown gravitational pull that propels that individual towards a decision to get into martial arts. But regardless of why or how a person gets into it, it is clear that this field of study exposes an individual’s weaknesses and at the same time rebuilds a person thorough two main processes: 1) Technical/trait/attribute bankruptcy, and 2) Mental reflection and emotional tenacity. These two processes are neither perpendicular to each other, nor in a 180 degrees opposite directions, but [parallel]. They move together simultaneously. First of all, one trains physically and eventually finds out that there are certain things (i.e. attributes, traits, etc) that he or she will never have regardless of how hard they train (a perspective in physics and geometry of movement is born at this point). All in all, this is a limitation awareness. Second, the individual student comes into terms that there are things that he or she actually have, that CAN BE developed to an optimal level, IF they train hard at it. Third, the student finds out there are things that [do] come more natural to him or her and they don’t have to really work too hard to develop it.
As these two main processes, that involve constant struggle within an individual continue, the student starts to notice a [third process], and that is the process of shedding. They start to notice that all the hard works and reflections are nothing but tools to shed the unnecessary things that have been weighing them down, so they start feeling real light and good. This feeling becomes addictive in due time. The student starts to feel free both physically and mentally, and starts to see who they are in a blurry way at first, but later in life, the picture becomes much more clear. This process never ends of course; it continues to the final stages of one’s physical life.
In short, martial art is a healthy and addictive portal for growth and development. This is done through recognizing 1) Bankruptcies in technical abilities, trait, and attributes, 2) Mental reflection and emotional tenacity, and 3) Shedding things that have been weighing one’s full potential down. As the sincere student continues to train more and more, he or she would feel better in their outlook on, not just themselves, but also life in general. One thing you don’t want to do is constantly look and focus solely on your limitations, which may result in never taking the first step to get involved. You have to have a little bit of trust in yourself----mixed with a little bit of good faith and hope in your future.
Good luck my friend.
SHAHRAM MOOSAVI
