| Often we can be our own worst enemy because | | | | big fella. |
| we project all of our negative attitudes outwards | | | | He was a little man and one of the best martial |
| onto people and situations and say I don't like this. | | | | artists I have ever seen. And he was gentle and |
| We don't want to admit that some of the worst | | | | friendly to everyone. He didn't need or want to |
| things we don't like about the world are already | | | | throw his weight around. His presence said it all |
| inside us; like our very own attitudes. | | | | and it seemed no harm would come his way. One |
| This is especially true when it comes to fear. Fear | | | | day, as we were sitting by the sea, I asked him |
| is a shadow that is very hard to pin down. It | | | | what made him so calm and confident. |
| takes many forms and just when you think you | | | | He told me that there was only one real fear |
| have it sussed and know what it looks like. it | | | | which was the fear of dying. Every defeat, every |
| changes shape and escapes you. We banish one | | | | loss of face, every humiliation was just the fear |
| insecurity and another one takes its place. This is | | | | of dying in a small way and that to overcome it |
| because fear is deep seated and can often have | | | | we needed to accept that who we are - our ego |
| its origins in childhood or traumatic experience. But | | | | - must die. This was to leave our true self our |
| should we try and dig it out and get rid of these | | | | fearless self, in its place. |
| fears inside us? I personally have never fancied | | | | So is fear a good thing for a martial artist to |
| years of whatever sort of therapy to achieve | | | | have? |
| this. | | | | I think that we shouldn't try to ignore our fears, |
| Have you ever met someone who was entirely | | | | whatever they may be, but work towards |
| fearless? | | | | accepting them. If we know that sometimes we |
| I have to admit that I am not fearless. There are | | | | will feel nervous, worried or filled with some |
| many things that make me afraid. Some days I | | | | negativity, then we can begin to accept this |
| feel stronger than others and sometimes I might | | | | feeling and allow it to be here. The more we fight |
| convince myself that I am without fear but not | | | | something inside us, the more it seems to hang |
| for long. I have only met one person who was | | | | on and get a grip on us. Eventually we may realize |
| like this and I have never forgotten him. This guy | | | | that fear is a sign that we are holding on to |
| was so open to life and what it may bring that he | | | | something which needs to go. Only then may we |
| took my breath away. The thing was he wasn't a | | | | find ourselves free of this shadow. |